NAHL presence on NHL Opening Night rosters remains significant

October 4, 2018

NAHL alum Connor Hellebuyck enters the season as one of the Vezina Trophy favorites in the NHL.

As the National Hockey League (NHL) opens its 2018-19 season, the NAHL alumni presence on opening night rosters is once again steady and significant.

The NAHL is pleased to announce that a total of 52 NAHL alumni are listed on opening night rosters of NHL clubs. 22 of the 31 NHL clubs begin the season with at least one NAHL alumni on the roster.

The list also includes former NAHL Coach of the Year Jon Cooper, who enters his sixth full season as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Cooper began his NAHL coaching career with the Texarkana Bandits in the 2003-04 season. He coached in the NAHL a total of five seasons. In 2004-05 and again in 2007-08, he was honored as the NAHL Coach of the Year.

The 52 players on opening night rosters continue the upward trend of the NAHL and NHL. Earlier this week, 15 current and former NAHL players were listed on the NHL Central Scouting players to watch list for the 2019 NHL Draft.

In the past five years, not only have 1,345 NAHL players made NCAA commitments, but 21 NAHL players have been taken in the NHL Draft.

Anaheim Ducks: Patrick Eaves, Cam Fowler, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Miller, Andrej Sustr

Buffalo Sabres: Matt Hunwick, Casey Nelson, Matt Tennyson

Calgary Flames: Austin Czarnik, Matt Taormina

Carolina Hurricanes: Scott Darling, Justin Faulk, Justin Williams

Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane, Brandon Saad

Colorado Avalanche: Ian Cole, Erik Johnson, Matt Nieto, Colin Wilson

Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Clendening, Nick Foligno

Dallas Stars: Ben Bishop, Roope Hintz, Stephen Johns

Detroit Red Wings: Jimmy Howard, Thomas Vanek

Los Angeles Kings: Paul LaDue, Derek Forbort

Minnesota Wild: Alex Stalock, Ryan Suter, Jason Zucker