OLEN ZELLWEGER #8

Notes accurate as of Sept. 1, 2026

PRONUNCIATION: ZEHL-wehg-uhr, OH-lehn

CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through 2028-29 ($3.1 million AAV)

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Selected by Anaheim in the second round (34th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft; Acquired by Buffalo from Anaheim in exchange for Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft (Jayden Kurtz).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Selected to represent the Pacific Division at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic after recording 25 points (8+17) in his first 34 games with San Diego.
Tallied 37 points (12+25) in 44 games with San Diego in his first professional season in 2023-24 and ranked third among all AHL rookie defensemen
Made his NHL debut with Anaheim on Jan. 23, 2024 vs. Buffalo and earned his first career point (0+1) in the game. Registered nine points (2+7) in 26 NHL games as a rookie in 2023-24.
Recorded the first goal of his career on March 31, 2024 at Vancouver.
Established career highs in games played (76), assists (15), points (22) and plus/minus (plus-4) in 2025-26 while matching his career high with seven goals.
Ranked fifth among NHL defensemen with 162 speed bursts between 20 and 22 miles per hour in 2025-26 and ranked sixth in bursts exceeding 22 miles per hour.
Made his NHL playoff debut with the Ducks on May 10, 2026 and recorded an assist. Appeared in three playoff contests and notched two total points (1+1).

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Led all CHL defensemen in points (78), assists (64) and points per game (1.42) in 55 games with Everett in 2021-22 and established a Silvertips single-season record for points by a defenseman.
Became the first player in Everett history to win the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as WHL Defenseman of the Year in 2021-22.
Set career highs in goals (32) and points (80) in 55 games split between Everett and Kamloops in 2022-23; led all WHL defensemen in goals, game-winning goals (six) and shots on goal (345), and ranked second in points.
Tied the WHL playoff record for points in one game by a defenseman with seven points (3+4) in Kamloops’ series-clinching win at Portland on April 20, 2023.
Led all CHL defensemen with 29 points (11+18) in 14 playoff games with Kamloops in 2023 and helped the Blazers advance to the Western Conference Championship.
Concluded his junior career by winning the 2023 CHL Defenseman of the Year Award after earning his second consecutive WHL Defenseman of the Year honor.
Appeared in 180 WHL regular-season games with Everett and Kamloops from 2018 to 2023 and registered 183 points (50+133) with a plus-100 rating; added 38 points (13+25) in 20 WHL playoff games.

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship and tied for the tournament lead among defensemen with eight points (1+7) in seven games.
Won gold at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and recorded 11 points (2+9) with a tournament-best plus-14 rating in seven games. Led all defensemen in points and finished third among all tournament skaters in that category.
Won a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and registered six assists and a plus-14 rating in seven games.
Made his senior international debut at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and recorded five assists in 10 games for Canada.

NHL FIRSTS

Game: 1/23/24 vs. BUF

Goal: 3/31/24 at VAN

Assist: 1/23/24 vs. BUF

AWARDS & HONORS

Professional:

N/A

International:

2022 IIHF World Junior Championship Gold Medal

2022 IIHF World Junior Championship Media All-Star Team

2023 IIHF World Junior Championship Gold Medal

Amateur:

2022 WHL U.S. Division First All-Star Team

2022 WHL U.S. Division Player of the Year

2022 Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy - WHL Defenseman of the Year

2023 WHL Player of the Month - April

2023 WHL B.C. Division First All-Star Team

2023 Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy - WHL Defenseman of the Year

2023 CHL Defenseman of the Year