Curtis Lazar

In February 2011, Lazar captained Team British Columbia to win the gold medal in ice hockey at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.[2] He broke the tournament goal scoring record previously set by Steven Stamkos (12) and Sidney Crosby's points mark (17) in six games.[3] He was the second overall choice in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.[3] Lazar played at the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy before playing in the CSSHL with the Okanagan Hockey Academy during the 2010–11 season.[4] During the 2011–12 season he helped his Edmonton Oil Kings team capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as the WHL Champions.[5] During the 2012–13 season he played with Team Canada to win a gold medal at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament,[6] and was an invited participant at the 2013 CHL Top Prospects Game.[7]

Lazar's playing style had been compared to that of Milan Lucic[8] and former Senators' forward Mike Fisher.[9] At the NHL Entry Draft on June 30, 2013, he was selected 17th overall in the first round by the Ottawa Senators. On September 17, 2013, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Senators.[10]

Lazar made the Senators' 2014–15 opening night lineup and scored his first NHL goal against Jhonas Enroth of the Buffalo Sabres on December 15, 2014. Lazar was given permission by the Senators to represent Team Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship in which Canada would win gold. In the tournament Lazar served as the team captain.[11] Following the tournament's conclusion, Lazar rejoined the Senators.

In the 2016–17 season, Lazar's development with the Senators stalled as his produced 1 assist in 33 games including a demotion to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Binghamton Senators. On March 1, 2017, Lazar was dealt at the NHL trade deadline by the Senators along with Michael Kostka to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2017 second-round pick and Jyrki Jokipakka.[12]

On July 14, 2017, the Flames re-signed Lazar to a two-year, $1.9 million contract extension.[13]

In the 2018–19 season, Lazar, after clearing waivers, was assigned to play the majority of the year with the Stockton Heat. He appeared in just one game for the Flames. On June 25, 2019, the Flames chose not to tender Lazar a qualifying offer, making him a free agent.[14] Lazar

On July 1, 2019, Lazar signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[15] He split the 2019-20 season between the Sabres and Rochester Americans.

On September 24, 2020, the Sabres signed Lazar to a two-year, $1.6 million contract extension.[16]