University of Minnesota Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS – After 31 former Golden Gophers were sent to National Hockey League training camps, 13 made the official opening rosters of 11 different organizations, while two more will begin the season on injured reserve for their respective NHL clubs.


A total of 26 former Minnesota hockey players appeared in the NHL during the 2023-24 season, setting a program record for the most players in a single year. The Maroon and Gold have had 125 players ever reach the NHL, more than any other NCAA hockey team. The program is seeking a fourth straight campaign in which a former Gopher lifts the Stanley Cup after Kyle Okposo etched his name 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 lineups
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