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Former Gophers on NHL Season Opening Rosters
10/11/2023 12:45:00 PM | Men's Hockey
21 representing 'U' in NHL
MINNEAPOLIS - After seeing 33 players take part in National Hockey League training camps, 21 former Golden Gophers men's hockey players earned an opening-night roster spot for the 2023-24 season, which got underway Tuesday night.
Minnesota had an NCAA-best 26 former skaters in the NHL last season, increasing the all-time number of Gophers in the NHL to an NCAA-best 123. This year the Maroon and Gold has begun the campaign as one of two NCAA programs with 20 or more players with a lineup spot in the NHL.
That list includes eight veterans with more than 10 years in the league (Nick Bjugstad, Alex Goligoski, Erik Haula, Erik Johnson, Nick Leddy, Kyle Okposo, Nate Schmidt, Blake Wheeler) as well as four on the other end of the spectrum, entering their rookie seasons (Logan Cooley, Brock Faber, Matthew Knies, Jackson LaCombe).
Gophers on NHL Season-Opening Rosters
Nick Bjugstad | Arizona Coyotes
Travis Boyd | Arizona Coyotes
Logan Cooley | Arizona Coyotes
Brock Faber | Minnesota Wild
Hudson Fasching | New York Islanders
Alex Goligoski | Minnesota Wild
Erik Haula | New Jersey Devils
Justin Holl | Detroit Red Wings
Erik Johnson | Buffalo Sabres
Matthew Knies | Toronto Maple Leafs
Jackson LaCombe | Anaheim Ducks
Nick Leddy | St. Louis Blues
Ryan Lindgren | New York Rangers
Casey Mittelstadt | Buffalo Sabres
Tommy Novak | Nashville Predators
Kyle Okposo | Buffalo Sabres
Mike Reilly | Florida Panthers
Nick Seeler | Philadelphia Flyers
Nate Schmidt | Winnipeg Jets
Brady Skjei | Carolina Hurricanes
Blake Wheeler | New York Rangers
Minnesota had an NCAA-best 26 former skaters in the NHL last season, increasing the all-time number of Gophers in the NHL to an NCAA-best 123. This year the Maroon and Gold has begun the campaign as one of two NCAA programs with 20 or more players with a lineup spot in the NHL.
That list includes eight veterans with more than 10 years in the league (Nick Bjugstad, Alex Goligoski, Erik Haula, Erik Johnson, Nick Leddy, Kyle Okposo, Nate Schmidt, Blake Wheeler) as well as four on the other end of the spectrum, entering their rookie seasons (Logan Cooley, Brock Faber, Matthew Knies, Jackson LaCombe).
Gophers on NHL Season-Opening Rosters
Nick Bjugstad | Arizona Coyotes
Travis Boyd | Arizona Coyotes
Logan Cooley | Arizona Coyotes
Brock Faber | Minnesota Wild
Hudson Fasching | New York Islanders
Alex Goligoski | Minnesota Wild
Erik Haula | New Jersey Devils
Justin Holl | Detroit Red Wings
Erik Johnson | Buffalo Sabres
Matthew Knies | Toronto Maple Leafs
Jackson LaCombe | Anaheim Ducks
Nick Leddy | St. Louis Blues
Ryan Lindgren | New York Rangers
Casey Mittelstadt | Buffalo Sabres
Tommy Novak | Nashville Predators
Kyle Okposo | Buffalo Sabres
Mike Reilly | Florida Panthers
Nick Seeler | Philadelphia Flyers
Nate Schmidt | Winnipeg Jets
Brady Skjei | Carolina Hurricanes
Blake Wheeler | New York Rangers
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