University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Minnesota Sends 13 to NHL's Opening Night
10/8/2024 10:30:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Seeking four-straight Cup wins from a Gopher
MINNEAPOLIS - After sending 31 former Golden Gophers to National Hockey League training camps, 13 made the official opening night roster for 11 different organizations, while two more begin the season on injured reserve for their respective NHL clubs.
During the 2023-24 season, a total of 26 former Minnesota men's hockey players took the ice in the NHL, which tied a program record for the most in a single year. The Maroon and Gold has had 125 all-time players reach the NHL, the most of any NCAA hockey team. The program is seeking a fourth-consecutive campaign where a former Gopher hoists the Stanley Cup after Kyle Okposo had his name etched in history in June. Phil Kessel (Vegas Golden Knights-2023) and Erik Johnson (Colorado Avalanche-2022) also won the trophy during the stretch.
NHL Opening Night Rosters
Nick Bjugstad | Utah Hockey Club (Injured Reserve)
Logan Cooley | Utah Hockey Club
Brock Faber | Minnesota Wild
Erik Haula | New Jersey Devils
Erik Johnson | Philadelphia Flyers
Matthew Knies | Toronto Maple Leafs
Jackson LaCombe | Anaheim Ducks
Nick Leddy | St. Louis Blues
Ryan Lindgren | New York Rangers (Injured Reserve)
Casey Mittelstadt | Colorado Avalanche
Tommy Novak | Nashville Predators
Mike Reilly | New York Islanders
Nate Schmidt | Florida Panthers
Nick Seeler | Philadelphia Flyers
Brady Skjei | Nashville Predators
During the 2023-24 season, a total of 26 former Minnesota men's hockey players took the ice in the NHL, which tied a program record for the most in a single year. The Maroon and Gold has had 125 all-time players reach the NHL, the most of any NCAA hockey team. The program is seeking a fourth-consecutive campaign where a former Gopher hoists the Stanley Cup after Kyle Okposo had his name etched in history in June. Phil Kessel (Vegas Golden Knights-2023) and Erik Johnson (Colorado Avalanche-2022) also won the trophy during the stretch.
NHL Opening Night Rosters
Nick Bjugstad | Utah Hockey Club (Injured Reserve)
Logan Cooley | Utah Hockey Club
Brock Faber | Minnesota Wild
Erik Haula | New Jersey Devils
Erik Johnson | Philadelphia Flyers
Matthew Knies | Toronto Maple Leafs
Jackson LaCombe | Anaheim Ducks
Nick Leddy | St. Louis Blues
Ryan Lindgren | New York Rangers (Injured Reserve)
Casey Mittelstadt | Colorado Avalanche
Tommy Novak | Nashville Predators
Mike Reilly | New York Islanders
Nate Schmidt | Florida Panthers
Nick Seeler | Philadelphia Flyers
Brady Skjei | Nashville Predators
Highlights: Gophers 2, Wisconsin 5
Thursday, October 30
Highlights: Gophers 1, UMD 4
Saturday, October 25
Highlights: Gophers 0, UMD 3
Friday, October 24
Highlights: Gophers 5, North Dakota 1
Saturday, October 18