The Minnesota Wild are an iconic hockey team based in the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Founded on June 25th, 1997, they have since been a mainstay in the NHL as members of the Central Division in the Western Conference. With their home games at Xcel Energy Center, fans come to cheer on their beloved Wild. Come join over 19 years worth of history with this legendary franchise and show your support for one of North America’s most exciting teams.
1. Zach Parise
Left wing
Career
- 2000–01: Shattuck-Saint Mary's
- 2001–02: Shattuck-Saint Mary's
- 2001–02: US NTDP U18
- 2002–03: University of North Dakota
- 2003–04: University of North Dakota
- 2004–05: Albany River Rats
Zach Parise is a left wing who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2003. He has played for the Wild, New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes over his career.
In 2019, he signed with the Vegas Golden Knights as an unrestricted free agent. Parise has scored more than 700 goals and 1800 points in his NHL career so far.
He won two Stanley Cups with the Devils in 2012 and 2018, as well as two Olympic gold medals (2006 and 2010).
Zach Parise is married to Mandy LeBlanc-Parise; they have four children together – Jack (born October 25th 2006), Lillian Grace (born November 20th, 2009), Nicholas Owen (born April 3rd 2013) and Aidan Jameson LeBlanc-Parise( born January 26th 2020).[2] Zach Parise is a former first-round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils.
Zach Parise has spent his entire professional career with the Devils, and he has been an integral part of their team since 2005.
In 2008, Zach Parise was named to the All-Star Team for the first time in his career. He finished second in voting behind Sidney Crosby.
In 2013, Zach Parise led all NHL players with 54 points (20 goals and 34 assists) in 48 games played during the regular season.
He helped lead New Jersey to their fifth Stanley Cup championship that year. In 2015, Zach Parise was traded to Minnesota Wild along with Pekka Rinne for Mike Fisher and Martin Havlat.
The move reunited him with longtime teammate Devan Dubnyk, who had also been drafted by New Jersey as a goaltender back in 1997.
As of 2019, Zach Parise is fresh off yet another successful campaign where he scored 37 goals and added 41 assists for 78 points over 82 games played during the 2018–19 season - good enough for sixth overall in scoring on the league's most offensively potent team.
Also Played For: ncaa hockey, nhl 16
2. Jared Spurgeon
Defenseman
Jared Spurgeon is a 33-year-old Canadian Forward who currently plays for the Minnesota Wild. Jared has spent his entire professional career in the NHL, playing with the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and now the Minnesota Wild.
A versatile forward who can play both on offense and defense, Spurgeon has recorded over 500 points throughout his career including 128 goals and 341 assists.
He was selected by Montreal in the 3rd round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft after starring at Boston University where he won numerous awards including Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player in 2009-10 season.
In 2018 Spurgeon led all forwards in ice time (24:14) while also recording 3 goals and 10 assists during their run to the Stanley Cup playoffs which ended up being eliminated by Tampa Bay Lightning in 7 games.
At 6'9" tall and with plenty of energy on both sides of rink, Spurgeon is an intimidating force both offensively and defensively for any team he plays for - be it junior or professional level.
3. Kirill Kaprizov
Left wing
Career
- 2013–14: Kuznetskie Medvedi
- 2014–15: Metallurg Novokuznetsk
- 2014–15: Kuznetskie Medvedi
- 2015–16: Metallurg Novokuznetsk
- 2015–16: Kuznetski Medvedi
- 2016–17: Salavat Yulaev Ufa
- 2017–18: CSKA Moscow
Kirill Kaprizov is a Russian left winger who currently plays for Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Kaprizov made his debut in the KHL in 2015 and helped the team win the Gagarin Cup that year.
He also represented Russia at both the U18 and U20 World Championships, scoring six goals in 16 games at each tournament.
In 2019, Kaprizov was named to Russia's World Championship roster but did not play due to an injury suffered during training camp; he has since recovered and returned to playing with Metallurg Novokuznetsk.
Kaprizov has been praised for his speed, skill on the ice, and shot accuracy from distance; he is seen as one of Russia’s most promising young hockey players.
During his time with Metallurg Novokuznetsk, Kaprizov has developed a strong partnership with goaltender Igor Shestyuk which has led to them becoming known as “Kapri-Shea” within the club’s locker room.
Kirill Kaprizov is a left-handed shooting Russian forward who has spent the majority of his playing career in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild. Kaprizov was drafted by the Wild 135th overall in 2015 and made his debut that season.
He scored 10 goals and added 18 assists for 28 points in 79 games played as a rookie, helping lead Minnesota to their first-ever playoff berth.
In 2017–18, Kaprizov scored 17 goals and contributed 34 assists for 51 points in 82 games played, earning him a nomination for both the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (given to the best gentleman player) and Hart Memorial Trophy (the NHL's most valuable player).
Kaprizov signed an eight-year contract extension with Minnesota earlier this year worth $46 million CAD which will keep him with the team until 2024–25.
Kirill Kaprizov is considered one of Russia's top offensive talents and has represented his country at various international competitions including the World Championships, Olympic Games, Euro Hockey Championships and World Cup of Hockey.
4. Ryan Suter
Defenseman
Career
- 2002–03: U.S. NTDP U18
- 2003–04: Wisconsin Badgers
- 2004–05: Milwaukee Admirals
- 2005–06: Nashville Predators
- 2006–07: Nashville Predators
- 2007–08: Nashville Predators
Ryan Suter is a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild and has been in the NHL since 2005. He was drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2003 but never played with them as they traded him to the Minnesota Wild before he ever played a game.
In 2009, Suter signed an eight-year contract extension with Minnesota worth $60 million which made him one of the highest paid defensemen in hockey at that time.
He won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2011, 2016) and also helped Denmark win gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics where he scored Sweden's only goal in their semifinal loss.
Ryan Suter will turn 38 on January 21st 2020 and has said that if he can play another four or five years then it would be perfect but admitted that his body might not allow him to do so anymore.
Ryan Suter is a talented defenseman who has played in the NHL for 10 seasons. He was drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2003 and has been with them ever since.
In his career, he has won two Stanley Cups with the Predators and also appeared in several other championship games.
He is known as one of the best defensemen in the league and is often compared to teammate Shea Weber because of their dominant play on the ice together.
Also Played For: dallas stars, nhl 17
5. Marián Gáborík
Career
- National team: Slovakia
- NHL Draft: 3rd overall, 2000
- Minnesota Wild
Gaborik played for HC Trenčín of the Slovak Extraliga from 2000-2001 and then spent 4 years with HC Slovan Bratislava. He was signed by the Rangers on 17 July 2007, agreeing to a 5 year contract worth $21 million.
Gaborik recorded his first career hat trick in a 7-3 victory over Philadelphia on 25 November 2007.
On 1 February 2011 he scored two goals against Vancouver in a 3-1 win and was named the game's First Star; this marked only the second time that an Eastern Conference player had been honoured with this award (the other being Jaromír Jágr).
On 11 January 2014, Gaborik announced his retirement from professional hockey after 18 seasons in North America that included 12 seasons with the Rangers organization, scoring 265 goals and 219 assists for 499 points in 485 games.
In September 2018, he joined Sportovní Klub Baník Ostrava as head coach of their junior team.
Also Played For: 2011–12 nhl season
6. Mikko Koivu
Center
Koivu is a Finnish-born centre who has played in the NHL for most of his career, starting with the Minnesota Wild in 2001. Koivu was drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Wild and helped them win their first Stanley Cup in 2007.
He also won two Olympic gold medals with Finland, playing on the team that won in 2006 and 2010. After leaving Minnesota at the end of the 2017–18 season, Koivu signed a one-year contract with Columbus Blue Jackets before retirement at age 39 following playoffs where he recorded an assist against Boston Bruins.
Mikko Koivu is a Finnish ice hockey player who represented his country at the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Games, as well as the 2011 World Championships. Koivu also won gold medals at both the 2007 and 2008 World Cups, making him one of Finland's most successful athletes in terms of international competition.
Koivu has spent much of his career playing for teams based in Sweden, but he made a name for himself with HC Davos during his time in Switzerland before moving to Sweden permanently in 2009.
In 2016, Mikko Koivu moved back to Finland to play for TPS Turkku – once again representing his home country at international level.
Koivu is considered an excellent passer and scorer on the ice – attributes that have seen him earn numerous accolades over the years including being named one of Europe’s Top 100 Players by NHLPA Magazine twice (2010 & 2013).
7. Kevin Fiala
Left wing
Career
- NHL team: Los Angeles Kings
- Former teams: HV71
- Nashville Predators
- Minnesota Wild
- National team: Switzerland
- NHL Draft: 11th overall, 2014
- Nashville Predators
Kevin Fiala is a left wing who played with the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2015-2016 season.
Fiala was drafted by Nashville in the second round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and he made his debut with them in 2016-2017.
In 57 games for Nashville, he tallied 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. He signed a two-year contract extension with Nashville on 10 November 2017 worth $1 million per year, keeping him under contract through 2021-22 seasons.
On 7 October 2018, it was announced that Fiala had been traded to St Louis Blues in exchange for Ryan Reaves and Nick Schmaltz Kevin Fiala was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 11th round of the 2014 NHL Draft.
He has spent most of his career with the HV71 team in Sweden, but also played for the Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild over that time period. In 2017, he made his debut with Switzerland at the World Championships where they finished fourth overall.
Kevin is known for being an extremely powerful skater who can score goals from anywhere on the ice; he has a very well-rounded game which makes him dangerous both offensively and defensively.
Also Played For: milwaukee admirals, los angeles kings
8. Mats Zuccarello
Right winger
Career
- 2010–11: New York Rangers
- 2011–12: Connecticut Whale
- 2011–12: New York Rangers
- 2012–13: Metallurg Magnitogorsk
- 2012–13: New York Rangers
- 2013–14: New York Rangers
Mats Zuccarello was born on September 1, 1987 in Oslo, Norway. At just 35 years old, Mats is already a veteran of the NHL having been with the New York Rangers since 2012.
He has played his entire career on the right wing and is known for his excellent puck-handling skills as well as his deadly shot from distance.
In 2015 he won both the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award - awarded to Canada's MVP and most valuable player respectively at the annual NHL Awards Show.
Outside of hockey, Mats enjoys spending time with friends and family – particularly skiing. Mats Zuccarello is a prolific scorer in both the NHL and internationally. He has scored over 100 goals in each of his last 4 seasons, including 41 goals in 2016-17.
Zuccarello was undrafted out of Sweden but signed with the Minnesota Wild as an undrafted free agent.
After two years with the Wild, he was traded to New York Rangers where he has been ever since. In addition to his scoring ability, Zuccarello is known for being a hard worker on and off the ice.
He represents Norway at the international level and regularly participates in charity events throughout the year. As one of only 6 players remaining from when Dallas Stars won their first Stanley Cup championship (1999).
Mats is considered part of that club's history and enjoys supporting them whenever they play against any other team in either domestic or international competition.
Also Played For: new york rangers
9. Marcus Foligno
Left wing
Marcus Foligno is a big, physical player with good offensive instincts. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Foligno has played for the Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, and Carolina Hurricanes over his career. In 2016 he signed with the Minnesota Wild as a free agent.
Foligno has represented Team USA at both junior and international levels, including winning gold medals at both the World Junior Championship and Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014-16 respectively).
As of November 2018 he had scored 57 goals and added 128 assists for 181 points in 553 regular season games played across nine seasons in the NHL Marcus Foligno is a right wing for the Buffalo Sabres. He was drafted by them in the104th overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.
Marcus has spent his entire playing career with Minnesota and Buffalo, appearing in over 400 games combined between the two teams.
In 2011–12 he set career highs with 26 goals and 60 points, helping lead both squads to playoff appearances. At 24 years old, Marcus is just getting started on his professional hockey journey and looks poised to continue success moving forward.
10. Jonas Brodin
Defenseman
Jonas Brodin is a top-pairing defenseman for the Minnesota Wild. He was drafted by the Wild in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Brodin has represented Sweden at both junior and international levels, including winning gold medals at both World Junior Championships (2011) and World Championships (2015).
In 2018-19, he set career highs with 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) in 73 games played for Minnesota. Jonas is married to Emilia Andersson and they have two children together: Emilie born in December 2015 and Elias born in May 2017.
Jonas Brodin is a left-handed defenseman who played for the Färjestad BK of Sweden's top league before moving to North America and joining the Minnesota Wild in 2009.
He has spent most of his career with the team, appearing in 514 games and scoring 34 goals and 206 assists. Jonas was drafted 10th overall by the Wild at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
In 2014, he won silver medals with Sweden at both World Championships and IIHF World Championship tournaments, becoming only the second Swede (after Peter Forsberg) to do so successfully.
11. Matt Dumba
Defenseman
Matt Dumba was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He played college hockey at North Dakota and helped lead them to their fourth NCAA Championship in five years as a senior in 2015-16.
Dumba made his professional debut with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League, scoring two goals and four assists for six points in 13 games before being called up to play for Minnesota on December 12th, 2014.
In 62 games with Minnesota over three seasons (2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18), he has registered 16 goals and 54 assists for 80 points while averaging 21 minutes per game across those campaigns.
On July 1st, 2018, Dumba signed a six year contract extension with the Wild worth $30 million ($6 million AAV). In addition to playing defensemen regularly throughout his career - spending time both on special teams units as well as taking penalty shots.
Matt also fills various roles off ice such as community ambassador and fundraiser for various charitable organizations including Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).
Which is something that he takes very seriously having lost his father when he was just 10 years old so anything that can help families through tough times like cancer or other illnesses are important to him personally.
12. Andrew Brunette
Brunette played for the Colorado Avalanche from 2007-2010. Brunette was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.
He also played for Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks before joining Colorado Avalanche where he won a Stanley Cup in 2010 as a member of that team.
Brunette has two sons, one with his wife Lori and another one with former girlfriend Jenna Boyd who later married actor Will Smith Andrew Brunette was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 174th overall draft in 1993.
He played for Washington from 1993 to 2012 and then went on to play for Nashville, Atlanta, Minnesota, Colorado and Chicago before retiring in 2014. After retirement, he began coaching with the Hershey Bears of the AHL in 2015 and has since been promoted to head coach of their team.
Andrew is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion (2006 with Washington and 2009 with Nashville) as well as a Hart Memorial Trophy recipient (2007). He currently resides in North Chelmsford Township, New Jersey with his wife Tracey and four children - Jack, Lila Mae, Owen and Maddy Rosemary.
13. Nino Niederreiter
Right winger
Career
- NHL team: Winnipeg Jets
- Former teams: HC Davos
- New York Islanders
- Minnesota Wild
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Nashville Predators
- National team: Switzerland
- NHL Draft: 5th overall, 2010
- New York Islanders
Nino Niederreiter is a Swiss right wing who has spent his entire NHL career with the Minnesota Wild. He was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the Wild in 2010 and broke into the league as an rookie that year.
In 2013-14 he recorded 29 goals and 59 points to lead all rookies in scoring and helped lead Minnesota to their first playoff appearance since 2004.
His production dropped off somewhat in 2014-15 (24 goals, 58 points) but bounced back strongly in 2015-16 with 37 goals and 86 points over 79 games - good for third place among league forwards behind only Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane.
However, injuries limited him to just 46 games during the 2016-17 season which resulted in another lower point total of 31 markers – though still fourth on team scoring charts at this stage of his career.
6 Nino missed most of 2017 due to injury yet returned strong last year playing 77 games recording 32 assists en route tot he second wild card berth for Minnesota.
Nino has been very reliable offensively throughout his NHL career averaging around 22 goals per season while registering at least one assist every other game.
He will turn 30 years old before next season’s playoffs start so there might be some regression involved however given how consistent he has been offensively over time I would not count him out just yet.
14. Wes Walz
Center
Career
- 1991–92: Maine Mariners
- 1991–92: Hershey Bears
- 1991–92: Boston Bruins
- 1991–92: Philadelphia Flyers
- 1992–93: Hershey Bears
- 1993–94: Calgary Flames
- 1993–94: Saint John Flames
- 1994–95: Calgary Flames
- 1995–96: Adirondack Red Wings
- 1995–96: Detroit Red Wings
Wes Walz was born on May 15, 1970 in Calgary, Alberta. He played for the Boston Bruins between 1994 and 2001. Wes is known as a tough and physical centre who can score goals with either hand.
After leaving the NHL, Wes has turned his attention to coaching where he currently works in Switzerland's top league (NHL Europe). Wes is married with two children and enjoys spending time outdoors fishing or playing golfing when he's not working or travelling Wes Walz played for the Philadelphia Flyers from 1990 to 2007.
Wes Walz was drafted 57th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1989. Wes Walz had a playing career that lasted from 1990 to 2007. Wes Walz is currently an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild of the NHL.
Also Played For: saint john flames
15. Jason Zucker
Left wing
Career
- NHL team: Pittsburgh Penguins
- Former teams: Minnesota Wild
- NHL Draft: 59th overall, 2010
- Minnesota Wild
- Playing career: 2012–present
Jason Zucker is a 30-year-old forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and played his first three seasons with that team before being traded to Minnesota Wild in 2015.
In 2019, Zucker signed with the Penguins as an unrestricted free agent and has been playing well this season, scoring 12 goals and adding 10 assists through 54 games.
Jason Zucker is originally from Newport Beach, California but he currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife Taylor Warren and their two young daughters Addison (born 2018) and Harper (born 2017).
Jason Zucker enjoys spending time outdoors fishing or hiking with his family, as well as watching sports on television or going out to eat with friends when he isn't playing hockey or working out at home gymnasiums .
Also Played For: pittsburgh penguins
16. Brent Burns
Defenseman
Career
- 2001–02: Couchiching Terriers
- 2002–03: Brampton Battalion
- 2003–04: Minnesota Wild
- 2003–04: Houston Aeros
- 2004–05: Houston Aeros
- 2005–06: Minnesota Wild
Brent Burns is a defenseman and right wing for the San Jose Sharks. He was drafted by the Sharks in the third round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Burns has won two Stanley Cups with San Jose, in 2016 and 2017.
He also won a gold medal at the 2010 Olympics as part of Canada's team that defeated Sweden to claim their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
In 2019, he was named an ambassador for Team Canada at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics Brent Burns was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on December 5th, 1988.
He played junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL and then attended Michigan State University where he played for the Spartans' college team.
The Minnesota Wild drafted him in 2003 and he made his NHL debut that season playing 11 games for them.
In 2006-07 he had a breakout year scoring 35 goals and 74 points which helped him win the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2007-08 From 2008 to 2017.
Burns has been one of the best defensemen in the league averaging over 25 points per season while also serving as an important member of Team Canada at several international tournaments including winning gold medals at both World Championships (2011 & 2015) and Olympic Games (2010).
On July 1st, 2017 Brent signed a long term contract extension with the Minnesota Wild worth $58 million dollars making him their highest paid player ever.
17. Cal Clutterbuck
Right winger
Cal Clutterbuck is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the New York Islanders. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Clutterbuck has played in 624 regular season games over 10 seasons with Carolina and NYI, recording 277 points (129 goals and 158 assists). On February 25th, 2019 he signed a two-year contract extension with the Islanders worth $5 million dollars per year.
In 2018 he was named an alternate captain for Team Canada at the World Cup of Hockey where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Sweden. Cal also captained Canada to their gold medal victory at The World Juniors in 2007 and 2010 as well as winning silver medals at both tournaments in 2005 and 2009 respectively.
He became eligible for international play after his sophomore season with Northeastern University where he tallied 36 points (18 goals and 18 assists) en route to being selected as NCAA Division I Player of Year in 2006–07 campaign.
After signing his entry level contract with Carolina on March 26th 2008 Clutterbuck made his NHL debut against Ottawa on April 3rd that same year scoring one goal on three shots.
While averaging 12:22 minutes ice time over six games during what would turn out to be only full NHL season due to Hurricane Hugo striking Charlotte just prior.
18. Ryan Hartman
Right winger
Ryan Hartman is a right wing/centre for the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. He was drafted by Chicago Blackhawks in 2012 and has spent most of his career with them, playing 277 games over 4 seasons before signing as a free agent with the IceHogs in 2017.
Ryan Hartman is known for his speed and offensive ability, having scored 85 goals and 216 points in 279 NHL games. In 136 AHL games he has recorded 54 goals and 149 points. He made his debut with Rockford at just 18 years old, scoring two goals on his way to winning the Calder Cup championship that season.
In 2016-17 he led all IceHogs players in scoring with 56 points (22G, 34A) while helping lead Rockford to their first-ever playoff series victory against Milwaukee Admirals en route to becoming champions of the American Hockey League playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
Ryan Hartman participated at both the 2017 World Championships as well as 2018 Winter Olympics where he played six times including gold medal game against. Sweden which Australia lost 3-1 after leading 2-0 early in the third period but conceding two late penalties that cost them dearly.
Hartman's contract expires at season end 2019-20 so there's always potential for him to move up another level or sign with an NHL team again if things go well during this upcoming campaign.
19. Eric Staal
Center
Career
- NHL team: Florida Panthers
- Former teams: Carolina Hurricanes
- New York Rangers
- Minnesota Wild
- Buffalo Sabres
- Montreal Canadiens
- National team: Canada
- NHL Draft: 2nd overall, 2003
- Carolina Hurricanes
Eric Staal is a 37-year-old centre who has played in over 600 NHL games. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003 and has been with them his entire career.
Staal is known for his hard work on the ice, as well as his leadership qualities. In 2013 he won the Stanley Cup with Carolina, after they had made it to the finals twice before that.
Outside of hockey, Staal is involved in charitable work through The Eric Staal Foundation which helps needy children across Canada. Eric Staal currently lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario with his wife and two young daughters (born August 2014 and February 2017).
Eric Staal was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003 as the second overall pick. Eric Staal has played for the team since then, amassing over 800 career points. He is a two-time NHL All-Star and led his team to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2006.
In 2010, he signed with the New York Rangers and helped them win another championship in 2014. Eric Staal retired from professional hockey after playing with Minnesota Wild during the 2017 season - his 17th year of pro hockey.
20. Devan Dubnyk
Goaltender
Career
- Edmonton Oilers
- Nashville Predators
- Arizona Coyotes
- Minnesota Wild
- San Jose Sharks
- Colorado Avalanche
- National team: Canada
- NHL Draft: 14th overall, 2004
- Edmonton Oilers
Dubnyk is a 36-year-old goaltender who was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. Dubnyk has played for the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators in his NHL career.
In 2012, Dubnyk helped Canada win gold at the IIHF World Championships. Dubnyk is a three-time Vezina Trophy nominee and two-time winner of the Jennings Award as the top goalie in the NHL during the regular season.
In 2017, Dubnyk led all goaltenders with 41 wins and finished second in goals against average (2.01).
Dubnyk announced his retirement from professional hockey on April 13th, 2018 after 18 seasons with the Ottawa Senators Dubnyk is a well-known goaltender in the NHL, having played for Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks.
Dubnyk has been very successful in his career with a record of 478 wins and 347 losses which shows that he knows how to win games. Dubnyk was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2004 where he spent four seasons before being traded to Nashville in 2008.
After spending two more years with the Predators, Dubnyk was traded to the Coyotes where he had his most success as a starter until being traded to Minnesota at the end of the 2016-17 season.
In 2018-19 season, Dubnyk led all goaltenders with 42 wins putting him one victory away from breaking Patrick Roy's franchise record. Dubnyk will continue playing for both Arizona and Minnesota this upcoming season but is expected retire after 2020-21 campaign.
Also Played For: 2014–15 nhl season
21. Joel Eriksson Ek
Center
Joel Eriksson Ek was born on January 29, 1997 in Karlstad, Sweden. He is a left-handed centre who stands at 6'1" and weighs in at 208 pounds. Joel has played for Djurgården since he was 16 years old and made his senior debut with the club during the 2016 season.
In May of this year, Joel scored his first goal for Djurgården in a 2-1 victory over AIK. In October 2017, Joel signed an extension to his contract with Djurgården that will keep him at the club until 2020.
Outside of football, Joel is a student at the University of Technology Sydney where he studies business administration and sports management courses.
Earlier this year, Joel represented Sweden at U17 level and helped them win their qualifying tournament for the European Championships which takes place later this year. Look out for Joel as he continues to develop as one of Europe's top young talents.
22. Mikael Granlund
Right winger
Career
- NHL team: Pittsburgh Penguins
- Former teams: Oulun Kärpät
- HIFK
- Minnesota Wild
- Nashville Predators
- National team: Finland
- NHL Draft: 9th overall, 2010
- Minnesota Wild
Mikael Granlund is a 30-year-old centre/right wing who plays for the Minnesota Wild. He was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2010, but never played in their organization.
He then moved on to Finland's SM-liiga team Jokerit before signing with the Minnesota Wild as a free agent in 2016. In 2018, he led all NHL players with 82 points (41 goals and 41 assists) while playing for Finland at the World Championships.
His father, Timo, also played hockey professionally; Mikael has said that his motivation comes from wanting to emulate his father's success rather than any dreams of becoming one himself.
The 2019 playoffs were particularly impressive for Granlund – he scored five goals including Game 7 of the Western Conference Final against Vegas which propelled Minnesota into their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 2007 where they lost to Detroit 4–1.
Also Played For: 2017–18 nhl season, nashville predators
23. Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Center
Pierre-Marc Bouchard was drafted by the Quebec Remparts in 2003. He played for the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild before signing with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017.
Pierre-Marc is a two time Stanley Cup Champion (2011 with Montreal and 2014 with Calgary). In 2006, he was awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman and in 2010 he won his second consecutive Norris Trophy as league MVP.
Pierre-Marco has also been named to six All Star Games (2006–2010), captained Canada at both World Championships (2009 & 2015) and represented his country at four Olympic games (2002, 2006, 2010 & 2018). Pierre-Marc Bouchard was drafted 8th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2002.
He played his entire career with the team, eventually retiring in 2016. Pierre-Marc had a very successful stint with the Wild, winning a Stanley Cup and making several All-Star appearances along the way.
After his playing days were over, he remained involved with the franchise as an assistant coach for two seasons before leaving to pursue other interests.
24. Niklas Bäckström
Goaltender
Career
- NHL team: Washington Capitals
- Former teams: Brynäs IF
- Dynamo Moscow
- National team: Sweden
- NHL Draft: 4th overall, 2006
- Washington Capitals
Niklas Bäckström was born in 1987 in Valbo, Sweden. At the age of 23, he made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals in 2012.
He has played for the Capitals and Montreal Canadiens since then, winning two Stanley Cups with Washington (in 2018 and 2021).
In 2022, he moved to the Vegas Golden Knights where he currently plays as a centre. Nicklas Bäckström is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who plays for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).
He was drafted by the Capitals in the fourth round of the 2006 NHL Draft.
Bäckström has previously played for Brynäs IF and Dynamo Moscow in Sweden, as well as playing with HC Davos during his Swiss junior career. In 2004, he made his North American debut with Washington's AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.
The following year, he made his NHL debut with Washington and has since established himself as one of Washington's top players.
At international level, Bäckström has represented Sweden at numerous tournaments including World Championships and Winter Olympics games both on home soil and abroad; most notably winning a gold medal at Sochi 2014 Olympic Games representing Sweden alongside teammates Daniel Sedin and Henrik Zetterberg.
Nicklas' younger brother Johan also plays ice hockey professionally; he currently plays for Modo Hockey of the SHL in Sweden.
Also Played For: 2018–19 nhl season, washington capitals
25. Nick Schultz
Defenseman
Nick Schultz was born in 1982 in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan. He played his junior hockey for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Schultz then played four seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, appearing in 113 games and scoring six goals and 20 assists.
In 2007, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild where he has since been a regular player on their blue line. Schultz has also spent time with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers over his career.
Nick Schultz is currently an unrestricted free agent after having last played for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018-19 season Nick Schultz was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the 33rd overall spot in the 2000 NHL Draft.
Nick Schultz played for Canada at various world championships and World Junior Championships, reaching a career-high of 3rd place with Canada at the 2007 World Championships. Nick Schultz retired from professional hockey after playing for 7 seasons with HC Davos of Switzerland's Nationalliga A (NLA).
26. Kyle Brodziak
Center
Kyle Brodziak is a 38-year-old player who has spent most of his career with the Minnesota Wild. He was originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2001, but he never played for them because he was traded to the Wild before the 2002 season started.
Kyle Brodziak has scored over 200 goals and 500 points in his NHL career, which shows just how effective he can be on offense. He is also very versatile and can play both at center and on the wing, making him an important part of any team's lineup.
Injuries have been limiting Kyle Brodziak recently, but he still manages to contribute offensively when healthy enough to do so. If you're looking for a hardworking forward who will put in plenty of effort every game, then you should definitely check out Kyle Brodziak.
Kyle Brodziak played for the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues over a ten year NHL career. Kyle was drafted by the Oilers in 2003 and spent his entire playing career with them. He was a consistent scorer throughout his time in the league, averaging around 20 goals and 50 points per season.
Kyle retired from professional hockey at the end of 2019 after playing for Edmonton for 10 years total.
27. Richard Park
Park was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 4th round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He made his professional debut with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League A in 1997-98, scoring 8 goals and 16 points in 44 games.
Park spent two seasons with Genève-Servette HC of the Swiss National League B, before joining Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for three years from 2001 to 2003.
In 2006, he signed as a free agent with HC Ambrì-Piotta and has since played over 500 career regular season games for them, registering 191 goals and 379 assists for 616 points along with 231 penalty minutes.
On July 1st, 2012 Park signed a one year contract extension with HC Ambrì Piotta . On September 30th 2017 Richard retired from professional hockey at age 46 after playing 17 seasons in Switzerland , North America and Sweden.
28. Jordan Greenway
Left wing
Jordan Greenway is a 25-year-old American forward who was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the 1st round of the 2017 NHL Draft. He played college hockey at Boston University and helped them win two NCAA championships (2015,2017).
Jordan Greenway has quickly become one of the top young forwards in the NHL and led all rookies with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 2018-19.
In 2019 he signed an eight year contract worth $64 million with the Minnesota Wild. Jordan Greenway is known for his strong play on both sides of the puck and his ability to score goals from anywhere in front of the net.
His long reach and quick hands make him extremely difficult to defend against offensives while also being able to distribute passes efficiently down low to teammates on offence.
Jordan Greenway's toughness was evident throughout his freshman season at Boston University when he was diagnosed with mononucleosis just days before their first game of conference play against Maine resulting in him missing four games.
Despite this setback, BU went 3-1 without him during that stretch including a victory over then #1 ranked Harvard which snapped their 31 game losing streak against ECAC opponents.
Jordan Greenway had another successful collegiate career as a sophomore, leading all players in scoring with 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) en route to winning Frozen Four MVP honors as well as being named tournament MVP after leading BU to its second consecutive national title appearance.
The Hockey News named him an Honorable Mention All America selection for both seasons prior earning First Team All New England recognition from USCHO .com following his sophomore season.
Alongside fellow Hobey Baker Award finalists Quinn Hughes & Ryan Donato,Greenaway became only 4th player ever & 2nd Bruin behind Jack Parker II to earn those accolades twice each. At 24 years old it would be foolish not include Jordon into any conversation about future Habs or Bruins greats.
After graduating from Boston University following two highly successful collegiate careers where he won two NCAA Championships (2015/17), along with numerous awards across multiple organizations such.
Hockey News' Honorable Mention All America selections ('16/'17), First Team All New England honours from USCHO dot com ('16'), Named Tournament MVP ('18/'19) - Jorden announced April 12th 2019 via Twitter that he will be signing an 8 year contract extension worth.
29. Brian Rolston
Brian Rolston is a veteran center who has played in the NHL for 22 seasons. He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 1990 NHL Draft and spent his entire career with them, retiring after the 2013-14 season.
Rolston made his Stanley Cup playoff debut with New Jersey in 1996, helping to lead them to their first ever Finals appearance that year. In 1,061 regular season games over parts of 22 seasons, he registered 692 points (252 goals and 486 assists).
In 213 postseason contests – all but one as a starter – Rolston totaled 86 points (31 goals and 55 assists). After spending four years playing for Colorado Avalanche from 2009-13, Brian signed with Boston Bruins on July 1st, 2013.
Where he spent two more seasons before signing a one-day contract with Minnesota Wild on June 25th, 2017 at age 50 years old to retire as an active player after 19 total professional hockey seasons.
30. Matt Boldy
Left wing
Career
- 2016–17: Dexter School
- 2017–18: U.S. National Development Team
- 2018–19: U.S. National Development Team
- 2019–20: Boston College
- 2020–21: Boston College
- 2020–21: Iowa Wild
Matt Boldy is an American singer and songwriter. He first came to prominence in 2018 with the release of his debut EP, "Light Up The Night."
His singles "Good Times" and "Alone" both charted on Billboard's US Hot Country Songs charts. Boldy has since released two more albums - 2019's self-titled album and 2020's "Songs From A Room Full Of Strangers."
In addition to his music career, Boldy is also a model and actor who has appeared in campaigns for brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike, Coca-Cola Zero, Beats by Dre, and Lululemon Athletica among others.
Matt lives in Millis with his family Matt Boldy is a right-wing for the Minnesota Wild and has represented the United States at the international level. Matt was drafted 12th overall in 2019, and made his NHL debut that year.
He has since become an important part of the team, scoring 26 goals in 199 games played so far. Boldy is known for his speed and skill on the ice, which have helped him to develop into one of the league's best players.
He is dedicated to improving both as a player and person, hoping to help Minnesota Wild qualify for the playoffs soon. Matt will continue playing at a high level for many years to come- making him an excellent investment for any hockey fan.
31. Antti Miettinen
Antti Miettinen is a right wing player in the Finnish Liiga and was formerly with HPK. Antti Miettinen has had an impressive career, which includes winning league titles with both HPK and Hämeenlinna.
Antti Miettinet also played for Finland at the World Championships in 2006 and 2010, as well as at the Winter Olympics in Turin in 2006 where he helped his country to a silver medal.
Antti Miettinens game revolves around speed, strength, and skill on the ice; he's considered one of the best players in Finland today.
His goal is to help his team win games while playing hockey its own unique way- by using all his strengths to create chaos on opposing teams sheets. Antti Miettinen played for the Dallas Stars from 1999 to 2016. He was drafted by the Stars in the 2000 NHL Draft, 224th overall.
Antti Miettinen spent his entire playing career with the Stars organization, appearing in over 1000 games and scoring more than 200 points.
In 2011-12 he led Dallas in both goals (31) and points (64). Antti Miettinen is a three-time winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who displays outstanding sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct both on and off ice during his tenure with an NHL team.
32. Stéphane Veilleux
Left wing
Stéphane Veilleux was born in Saint-Georges, Quebec on November 16th 1981. He is a left wing player who has played for the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche in his NHL career so far.
In 2012 he signed with Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). After two seasons with Dinamo Riga, he returned to North America and signed with the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent in June 2015.
Stéphane Veilleux helped lead the Avalanche to their first ever Stanley Cup championship in 2016/17 season playing alongside captain Nathan MacKinnon and defenceman Erik Johnson .
The following year he featured prominently for Canada at both World Championships where they reached the final but lost 2-1 against Sweden, and at the Olympic Games where they finished 8th overall after losing bronze medal match 3-2 against Germany.
33. Thomas Vanek
Left wing
Career
- 1999–00: Sioux Falls Stampede
- 2000–01: Sioux Falls Stampede
- 2001–02: Sioux Falls Stampede
- 2002–03: Minnesota Golden Gophers
- 2003–04: Minnesota Golden Gophers
- 2004–05: Rochester Americans
- 2005–06: Buffalo Sabres
Thomas Vanek is a left winger who has played for the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers.
Thomas Vanek was born on January 19th 1984 in Baden bei Wien, Austria. Thomas Vanek stands at 6' 2" tall and weighs 218lbs (99kg). He began his career with Graz 99ers before moving to the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres in 2004-05.
In 7 seasons with Buffalo he recorded 427 goals and 375 assists for 850 points in 890 games - an impressive statistic.
After leaving the Sabres in 2013-14, Thomas Vanek joined the New York Islanders where he would remain until 2016-17 when he moved onto Montreal as part of a blockbuster trade involving P Carey Price and Max Pacioretty which saw Brendan Gallagher move to Long Island from Ottawa.
In 2017-18 season TomVanek returned to Minnesota where he finished up his illustrious professional career playing 54 games recording 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points helping them make it.
All the way to The Stanley Cup Final but unfortunately they were defeated by Nashville Predators four games to one a heartbreaking loss indeed.
Also Played For: 2012–13 nhl season
34. Matt Cullen
Center
Matt Cullen is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Mighty Ducks. He was originally drafted in the fifth round, 119th overall by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
Cullen made his debut with Anaheim during the 2000–01 season, scoring four goals and five assists in 21 games.
In 2003 he was traded to Pittsburgh where he would spend nine seasons before retiring at age 36 after playing all but 16 games of the 2017-2018 campaign due to an injury sustained on January 6th against the Ottawa Senators (1 goal, 4 assists).
After retirement from ice hockey, Matt started coaching youth teams within his home state of Minnesota before being appointed head coach of HC Bolzano Basket Italy for the 2018–19 season.
Matt Cullen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators. He was also selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1997 NHL Draft.
Matt Cullen spent his entire playing career with five different teams across North America. His longest stint with any one team was nine seasons with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes from 1998 to 2007.
In 901 games played over 19 seasons, Matt Cullen recorded 568 points (248 goals and 308 assists). He has since announced his retirement from professional hockey after appearing in one final game for HC Davos in Switzerland this past season.
After retiring as a player, Matt Cullen now works as an analyst on Fox Sports North following their acquisition of regional sports network Minnesota Wild broadcasts beginning this year-end season.
35. Martin Havlát
Career
- Oceláři Třinec
- Ottawa Senators
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Minnesota Wild
- San Jose Sharks
- New Jersey Devils
- St. Louis Blues
- National team: Czech Republic
- NHL Draft: 26th overall, 1999
- Ottawa Senators
Havlát was born in Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia on April 19th 1981. He played for HC Dukla Trenčín of the Slovak Extraliga from 2001-2004 and then moved to HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga from 2004-2008.
Havlát joined the New Jersey Devils during the 2008–09 season after being selected with the 42nd overall pick in that year's NHL Entry Draft by current head coach Peter DeBoer.
Havlát has recorded 63 goals and 134 assists for 207 points in 567 career NHL games, all with the Devils (except for one game he played with Toronto Maple Leafs).
His best statistical seasons came in 2009–10 when he scored 25 goals and 56 points, as well as 2011–12 when he registered 26 goals and 55 points while helping lead New Jersey to their first Stanley Cup championship since 2003.
Havlát was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He played for Oceláři Třinec, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils before retiring in 2015.
Havlát represented his country at both the World Junior Championships and the Olympics. After retirement from hockey, he started a coaching career with HC Jihlavského Dvora of the Czech Extraliga.
Also Played For: ottawa senators
36. Jason Pominville
Right winger
Career
- National team: United States
- NHL Draft:55th overall, 2001
- Buffalo Sabres
Jason Pominville is a 40-year-old Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays for the Buffalo Sabres.
Jason Pominville was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round (24th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and he has also played with the Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets and New York Islanders.
In 2013, Jason Pominville won a silver medal with Team Canada at the World Championships in Sweden. Accomplishments aside, Jason Pominville is known for his tenacious play on both offense and defense.
He has been nominated for an NHL award seven times including being named to the Second All-Star Team twice (2007–08 & 2008–09).
Married to Julie Landry since July 2010; they have two daughters together - Ella Grace (born May 1, 2012) and Isabella Rose (born January 16, 2016).
37. Marek Židlický
Defenseman
New Jersey Devils in the 3rd round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He has played for numerous teams over his career, including HC Brno (Czech Republic), Colorado Avalanche, and New Jersey Devils.
Czechoslovak champion with HC Brno in 1996 and 1998, as well as an Olympic silver medalist with Team Czech Republic at the 2002 Winter Olympics. European Championships from 1995 to 2009 inclusiveexcept for 2006 when he missed out due to injury.
In 2013 Židlický retired from professional hockey after playing eight seasons with the Devils organization Marek Židlický was a Slovak-born Czech professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild.
Slovakia with HC Kladno and Helsingin IFK. In 1997, he won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships as part of the Czech Republic team.
After his playing career ended, Židlický became an assistant coach with HC Kladno and then moved to Nashville to become an assistant coach with the Predators in 2010 before being promoted to head coach later that year.
On May 21st 2016, it was announced that Židlický had been diagnosed with cancer and would be unable to return to coaching or play again due to treatment costs.
38. Kim Johnsson
Kim Johnsson was born in 1976 in Malmö, Sweden. He played for the Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League from 1995-2002 and then moved to play for HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland.
Kim returned to Sweden in 2005 and signed with the New York Rangers. After two seasons he was traded to Philadelphia Flyers where he spent four years before being dealt to Chicago Blackhawks at the start of the 2009-10 season.
In 2014, Kim joined Minnesota Wild on a one year contract and re-signed with them ahead of the 2018-19 season Kim has represented Sweden at both international tournaments (the World Championships and Olympic Games) as well as multiple world junior championships.
In total, Kim has made 186 appearances for his country including winning a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics playing alongside current Vancouver Canucks player Henrik Sedin He's an excellent skater who can move around quickly on his feet" - Former NHL coach Barry Trotz about Kim Johnsson.
39. Alex Goligoski
Defenseman
Goligoski is a veteran defenseman with over 800 NHL games under his belt. He has been with the Arizona Coyotes for the past two seasons and has had success playing in their defense-heavy system.
Goligoski's strengths include his skating ability, positioning, and shot blocking ability. He will be an important part of Canada's Olympic team this year as they attempt to win gold at PyeongChang 2018.
Goligoski was born in Minnesota but played college hockey at Lake Superior State University before joining the Phoenix Coyotes organization in 2006 after being drafted by them in the second round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft Alex Goligoski is a professional hockey player who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL.
He has also played for the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, and Arizona Coyotes. Alex was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 61st overall in 2004 and he has since played with them continuously except for two seasons when he spent time with the US National Team.
Alex is considered to be one of the best defensemen in the NHL, as evidenced by his six All-Star appearances and three Stanley Cup championships (with Pittsburgh in 2009, 2016, and 2017).
He is also a member of both USA Hockey's World Junior Championship team (in 2007) and Olympic Gold Medal-winning team (in 2010).
Outside of hockey, Alex enjoys spending time with his family and friends as well as travelling to different parts of North America where he can watch hockey games live or take part in various community events during off-season periods.
40. Jon Merrill
Defenseman
Merrill is a defenseman for the New Jersey Devils. Merrill was drafted by the Devils in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Merrill has played in over 200 games with New Jersey, scoring 12 goals and 36 assists along the way.
Merrill was named to Team USA's World Junior Championship Gold Medal-winning team in 2013, and played in all six games at tournament earning four points (1 goal and 3 assists). Merrill signed an eight year contract extension with the Devils on July 1st, 2017 worth $52 million dollars ($10 million AAV).
Merrill was drafted 38th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2010 NHL Draft. Merrill has played for Minnesota Wild, NJ Devils, Vegas Golden Knights and Detroit Red Wings over his career. He is currently with the Montreal Canadiens.
Merrill has represented United States at international level on several occasions including World Championships and Olympic Games.
Merrill is a very physical player who can play both defense and forward positions effectively.
41. Charlie Coyle
Center
Career
- 2007–08: Thayer Academy
- 2008–09: Thayer Academy
- 2009–10: U.S. NTDP U18
- 2009–10: South Shore Kings
- 2010–11: Boston University
- 2011–12: Boston University
- 2011–12: Saint John Sea Dogs
- 2012–13: Houston Aeros
Charlie Coyle is a talented forward who has spent most of his career with the Minnesota Wild. He started playing hockey at an early age and quickly developed into one of the best players in the country.
In 2011, he was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round and made an immediate impact on their team. However, after two seasons with Boston he was traded to Minnesota where he has been a consistent performer ever since.
Charlie Coyle is known for his hard work ethic both on and off the ice which has helped him become one of the top forwards in the NHL Charlie Coyle was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2010, but was traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2013.
2. The 6'2", 211-pound forward has played for the Sharks since 2015 and is their leading scorer this season with 33 points (14 goals, 21 assists).
As a member of Team USA at the World Championships this year, he helped win a bronze medal after losing to Sweden in the final round.
4. Coyle will be entering his fourth NHL season in 2018-19 and is looking to improve on his previous achievements both on and off the ice.
42. Erik Haula
Center
Haula spent four seasons playing in the KHL with HC Sochi, before signing a two-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. He is known for his physical play and has recorded 197 penalty minutes over 269 NHL games.
In 2017–18, Haula led all players on the Golden Knights with 27 goals and 53 assists for 80 points in 82 games played. Haula was born in Pori, Finland, but grew up playing hockey primarily in Canada (with Kitchener Rangers of the OHL) and Russia (with HC Sochi).
He represented Finland at both junior levels (U16/17 & U20), as well as at World Championships (2014). Erik Haula is married to Hanna and they have one child together – son Eeli-Saku Erik Haula played for the Minnesota Wild from 2013-2018. He was drafted by the Wild in the 182nd overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.
Erik has played in 289 games over his career, scoring 56 goals and adding 102 assists for 158 points. Erik is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes respectively.
He represented Finland at several international tournaments including World Juniors, IIHF World Championships, and the Olympics where he won silver medal in 2018 Olympic tournament playing alongside Sebastian Aho of Finland who was also on this year's draft list of Columbus Blue Jackets but was picked by Nashville Predators instead.
43. Dany Heatley
Left wing
Career
- Atlanta Thrashers
- SC Bern
- Ak Bars Kazan
- Ottawa Senators
- San Jose Sharks
- Minnesota Wild
- Anaheim Ducks
- Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
- National team: Canada
- NHL Draft: 2nd overall, 2000
- Atlanta Thrashers
Dany Heatley is a left wing who has played for the Atlanta Thrashers and San Jose Sharks. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2001, but he never played with them because of contract disputes.
He signed with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2004 and helped them to win two Stanley Cups that year. In 2007, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks where he won another Stanley Cup in 2012.
Dany Heatley is one of only five players ever to score 50 goals and 100 points in a season (2003–04).
He retired from professional hockey after winning his fourth Stanley Cup with the Sharks in 2016-17 Dany Heatley was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2nd round of the 2000 NHL Draft.
He played for SC Bern, Ak Bars Kazan, Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks before joining the Minnesota Wild in 2016.
In 2001 he won his first Stanley Cup with the Ottawa Senators. He also earned a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics with Team Canada respectively.
On March 9th, 2017 Dany Heatley announced his retirement from professional hockey after 17 seasons playing in over 1000 games.
Also Played For: san jose sharks
44. Owen Nolan
Right winger
Career
- Quebec Nordiques
- Colorado Avalanche
- San Jose Sharks
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Phoenix Coyotes
- Calgary Flames
- Minnesota Wild
- ZSC Lions
Owen Nolan started his professional career with the Quebec Nordiques. He had a successful season in 1995-96, scoring 41 goals and adding 46 assists for 87 points.
In 1997, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche where he played until 2002 when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks.
After playing two seasons with the Sharks, Nolan signed with Toronto Maple Leafs in 2004-05 but only played one season before being traded to Phoenix Coyotes in 2006-07 where he retired after 14 years of playing professionally hockey.
Owen Nolan was drafted 1st overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1990 NHL Draft. He played his entire career with the Quebec Nordiques, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2004. In 2011, he retired from professional hockey after playing for 11 seasons.
Owen Nolan is currently an assistant coach for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships 2019 in Denmark. He also works as a color commentator on Canadiens games on TVA Sports and TSN Radio 690 Montreal.
As a player, Owen Nolan was known for his gritty play and playoff heroics including scoring the golden goal against Finland to win gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and helping Canada reach their first world championship final in 1997 Helsinki (where they lost to Russia).
Owen has two children - one daughter born in 2007 and another son born in 2013 - both of whom are active athletes themselves.
Also Played For: quebec nordiques
45. Éric Bélanger
Bélanger was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He played for three seasons with their AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, before making his NHL debut during the 2001-02 season.
From 2002 to 2007, he played for four different teams - Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames - before returning to L.A., where he has since remained a fixture on their roster. In 2012-13, Éric made his first appearance in Europe when he joined HC Davos of Switzerland's National League A (NLA).
He holds Canadain citizenship through his mother and also has dual French/Canadian citizenship after spending time playing for Canada at both junior levels and internationally over the years.
This makes him eligible to represent either nation at international tournaments such as The World Cup or Olympic Games should they be held in his home country (he did compete for Canada at several IIHF World Championships).
Los Angeles and Sherbrooke, Quebec where he owns an ice rink named after himself which serves as a training ground for local minor hockey players aged 6 to 18 years old; it is also used regularly by adults who want to learn how to play professional level hockey.
46. Kurtis Foster
Kurtis Foster was born on November 24, 1981 in Carp, Ontario. He played defence for the Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2004), Minnesota Wild (2005-2008) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2009-2011).
In 2006, he won a Stanley Cup with the Thrashers. Foster has also represented Canada at international level, playing at the 2002 World Junior Championships and 2008 Olympic Games.
Kurtis is married to wife Jenna and they have two children together - daughter Kaleigh and son Caden.
Kurtis Foster was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2000 NHL Draft. He played for several teams throughout his playing career, including the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers. In 2016, he retired from professional hockey after 11 seasons of play.
Kurtis Foster is currently a scout with the Florida Panthers organization.
47. Nico Sturm
Center
Career
- NHL team: San Jose Sharks
- Former teams: Minnesota Wild
- Colorado Avalanche
- NHL Draft: Undrafted
- Playing career: 2019–present
Nico Sturm was born in Germany on May 3, 1995. He is a centre forward and has played for Augsburg since the age of 16. Sturm has scored over 100 goals in his career so far and helped Augsburg reach the Bundesliga playoffs in 2018-19.
In December 2019, he signed with Belgian side KRC Genk after being released by Augsburg at the end of their season.
Sturm is known for his powerful striking ability and good movement off the ball; he is also capable of creating chances for teammates with accurate passing or through poaching defenses with quick runs into space.
Sturm has represented Germany at under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels before making his senior international debut in February 2018 against Sweden Nico Sturm is a left-handed shooter who played for the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks in the NHL.
He has also spent time with HC Davos of the Swiss League. Sturm was undrafted but has been successful in his career nonetheless, playing in over 200 games across three seasons.
The 28-year-old scored 21 goals and added 30 assists during the 2019–20 season and is looking to improve those totals this upcoming campaign with new team, Vegas Golden Knights.
Nico Sturm will always be remembered as one of the most consistent goal scorers from Switzerland’s top hockey league - National League A - having tallied 189 points (76G+113A) across four campaigns between 2014 and 2018 alone.
48. Filip Kuba
Filip Kuba was born on December 29, 1976 in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia. He played for HC Vitkovice of the Czech Extraliga from 1997-2001 and had 39 points (8 goals, 27 assists) in 131 games.
Kuba made his North American debut with the Florida Panthers during the 2002-03 season and then moved to Minnesota Wild where he played until 2007-08 season when he signed a one-year contract with Tampa Bay Lightning.
In 2008-09 season, Kuba returned to Europe playing for HC Plzeň of the Czech Extraliga before joining Ottawa Senators for the 2009-10 NHL season. Filip has also represented his country at both World Championships (2002 & 2006) as well as at two Winter Olympics (2002 & 2010).
After spending three years with Ottawa Senators organization, Kuba left as an unrestricted free agent to sign a one year deal worth $1 million with HC Vityaz of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League on July 1st, 2013.
49. Frédérick Gaudreau
Center
Career
- 2009–10 Magog Cantonniers
- 2010–11 Magog Cantonniers
- 2011–12 Shawinigan Cataractes
- 2012–13 Shawinigan Cataractes
- 2013–14 Shawinigan Cataractes
- 2013–14 Drummondville Voltigeurs
- 2014–15 Milwaukee Admirals
- 2014–15 Cincinnati Cyclones
- 2015–16 Milwaukee Admirals
- 2016–17 Milwaukee Admirals
- 2016–17 Nashville Predators
Frédérick Gaudreau is a 29-year-old forward who plays for the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Gaudreau was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
He has also played for the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames. In 2016, he led all AHL players with 33 goals and 76 points.
Gaudreau was named to Team Canada's roster for their appearance at the World Cup of Hockey, but did not play in any games due to injury.
He is married and has two young children. Frédérick Gaudreau is a talented hockey player who has spent his entire career playing for the Minnesota Wild.
He was drafted by Nashville Predators in the 6th round of the 2014 NHL Draft, but he never signed with them and instead joined the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After two seasons with Pittsburgh, Gaudreau moved on to play for Nashville where he has continued to be one of their top players. In 2018, Gaudreau won his first Stanley Cup with Nashville after they defeated Tampa Bay Lightning in the finals.
Frédérick Gaudreau is an exciting and skilled player who can score goals at any time during a game, making him one of the most dangerous forwards in today's NHL landscape.
50. Pascal Dupuis
Pascal Dupuis is a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Dupuis played his first professional season with Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 2001, he joined Montreal and made an immediate impact as a top offensive scorer for the club winning both Rookie of The Year and MVP Awards that year.
In 2003, he led all players in scoring during playoffs helping lead Montreal to their fourth Stanley Cup championship against Carolina Hurricanes in six games which remains one of most dramatic series ever seen in hockey history.
After four seasons with Habs where he again won multiple accolades including being named captain on two occasions, Dupuis was traded to Pittsburgh along with Eric Desjardins and Rene Bourque on June 24th 2006 for Tomas Kaberle, Ben Scrivens, Mikhail Grabovski and draft picks(Jaroslav Spacek).
It wasn’t until 2009 when Dupuis finally broke through offensively leading Pens to their second consecutive cup victory over Detroit Red Wings.
Becoming just 1 player (alongside Mario Lemieux) to win 2 cups consecutively while playing at least 6 full seasons with one team (#8 Wayne Gretzky holds this distinction but played only 7 years total between Edmonton Oilers & Los Angeles Kings).
Pascal Dupuis signed a five-year contract extension worth $27 million dollars ($4 million annually)with Pittsburgh Penguins on November 17th 2013 keeping him under contract through 2021.
51. Calen Addison
Calen Addison was born on April 11, 2000 in Brandon, Manitoba. He is 5'11" and 173 lbs. Calen has a background in track and field and played soccer as a child before switching to rugby at the age of 16.
In 2016, he made his provincial debut for Manitoba Rugby Union's senior side and helped lead them to victory in the Canada East Championship game that year.
In 2017, Calen represented Canada West at the U20 World Cup where they reached the semi-finals but lost to England 24-21 after leading 21-0 at halftime thanks largely to an outstanding performance from Addison himself who scored two tries during regulation time (one conversion).
Following his successful junior career with Manitoba Rugby Union (including winning both Canadian Rugby Championships), he signed with English Premiership club Northampton Saints ahead of their 2018/19 season opener against Bristol Bears on September 1st.
At just 22 years old, it will be interesting to see how much further Calen can take him given his impressive resume thus far including representing Canada internationally at such a young age while still having several seasons left in professional rugby league playing days - something which very few players manage even if they achieve long term success.
Final Words
. . The Minnesota Wild are an iconic hockey team based in the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapoli. The team has had some great players over the years, but there is no one player who stands out as the best ever.
