University of Minnesota Athletics
Leddy Skates in NHL Game No. 1,000 Saturday
3/23/2024 3:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Eighth Gopher to reach NHL milestone
ST. PAUL - Former University of Minnesota men's hockey defenseman Nick Leddy returned to his home state Saturday to skate in game No. 1,000 of his National Hockey League career when his St. Louis Blues took on the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center.
Originally the 16th-overall selection in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Wild, the Eden Prairie, Minn., native is currently playing in his 14th NHL season. In February of 2010, during his freshman season with the Golden Gophers, the Wild traded Leddy's rights to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he made his NHL debut in the 2010-11 season opener. He spent four years in the Windy City and won the 2013 Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks, bringing the legendary trophy back to campus. He went on to play seven seasons for the New York Islanders before splitting the 2021-22 campaign between the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues and has spent the last two full years with the Blues.
During his NHL career, Leddy has tallied 407 points behind 73 goals and 334 assists, including a career-best 11 goals, 35 assists, and 46 points for the Islanders in the 2016-17 season. He has appeared in at least 80 games during a single season six times in his professional tenure. The 2009 Minnesota Mr. Hockey winner also has skated in 130 career NHL playoff games, just five shy of Neal Broten's program record of 135.
Leddy played just one season in Dinkytown, appearing in 30 games, and was named the Maroon and Gold's Frank Pond Rookie of the Year in 2009-10. He recorded three goals and eight assists for 11 total points and led Minnesota behind a plus-6 rating.
Most NHL Games by a Former Gopher
Phil Kessel - 1,209
Blake Wheeler - 1,172
Neal Broten - 1,099
Alex Goligoski - 1,072
Mike Ramsey - 1,070
Kyle Okposo - 1,047
Thomas Vanek - 1,029
Nick Leddy - 1,000
*Regular season only*
Originally the 16th-overall selection in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Wild, the Eden Prairie, Minn., native is currently playing in his 14th NHL season. In February of 2010, during his freshman season with the Golden Gophers, the Wild traded Leddy's rights to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he made his NHL debut in the 2010-11 season opener. He spent four years in the Windy City and won the 2013 Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks, bringing the legendary trophy back to campus. He went on to play seven seasons for the New York Islanders before splitting the 2021-22 campaign between the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues and has spent the last two full years with the Blues.
During his NHL career, Leddy has tallied 407 points behind 73 goals and 334 assists, including a career-best 11 goals, 35 assists, and 46 points for the Islanders in the 2016-17 season. He has appeared in at least 80 games during a single season six times in his professional tenure. The 2009 Minnesota Mr. Hockey winner also has skated in 130 career NHL playoff games, just five shy of Neal Broten's program record of 135.
Leddy played just one season in Dinkytown, appearing in 30 games, and was named the Maroon and Gold's Frank Pond Rookie of the Year in 2009-10. He recorded three goals and eight assists for 11 total points and led Minnesota behind a plus-6 rating.
Most NHL Games by a Former Gopher
Phil Kessel - 1,209
Blake Wheeler - 1,172
Neal Broten - 1,099
Alex Goligoski - 1,072
Mike Ramsey - 1,070
Kyle Okposo - 1,047
Thomas Vanek - 1,029
Nick Leddy - 1,000
*Regular season only*
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