Saskatchewan represents in opening-night NHL rosters

The Western Hockey League is known for producing tons of NHL talent, and this time, the numbers speak for themselves.

A total of 133 current NHL players once called the WHL home including 18 NHL players born from Saskatchewan.

Several names that come from the prairies have new homes for the 2021-22 season such as Regina’s Jordan Eberle (Seattle Kraken), Lloydminster’s Braden Holtby (Dallas Stars), and Ochapowace Nation’s Ethan Bear (Carolina Hurricanes).

More than 20 players from Saskatchewan teams made the roster:

• Anaheim Ducks: Josh Mahura (Regina Pats); Sam Steel (Regina Pats)
• Calgary Flames: Glenn Gawdin (Swift Current Broncos)
• Chicago Blackhawks: Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades)
• Dallas Stars: Braden Holtby (Saskatoon Blades); Anton Khudobin (Saskatoon Blades)
• Montreal Canadiens: Josh Brook (Moose Jaw Warriors); Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
• Nashville Predators: Tanner Jeannot (Moose Jaw Warriors)
• New York Islanders: Johnny Boychuk (Moose Jaw Warriors)
• New York Rangers: Libor Hajek (Regina Pats); Dryden Hunt (Moose Jaw Warriors)
• Ottawa Senators: Parker Kelly (Prince Albert Raiders)
• St. Louis Blues: Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon Blades)
• San Jose Sharks:  Lane Pederson (Swift Current Broncos)
• Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle (Regina Pats)
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors)
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Morgan Rielly (Moose Jaw Warriors); Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders)
• Vancouver Canucks: Justin Dowling (Swift Current Broncos); Micheal Ferland (Saskatoon Blades)
• Vegas Golden Knights: Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors); Chandler Stephenson (Regina Pats)
• Washington Capitals: Beck Malenstyn (Swift Current Broncos)
• Winnipeg Jets: Adam Lowry (Swift Current Broncos)

All 32 NHL teams have at least one former WHL player that competed in the league. Several of those players suited up for one of the five WHL teams here in Saskatchewan, and have developed into key roles at the highest professional level.

A total of 18 Saskatchewan players have been named to an opening night NHL roster:

• Ryan Getzlaf – Regina, SK (Anaheim Ducks)
• Dustin Tokarski – Saskatoon, SK (Buffalo Sabres)
• Connor Zary – Saskatoon, SK (Calgary Flames)
• Ethan Bear – Ochapowace Nation, SK (Carolina Hurricanes)
• Brandon Hagel – Saskatoon, SK (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Darcy Kuemper – Saskatoon, SK (Colorado Avalanche)
• Ryan Murray – Regina, SK (Colorado Avalanche)
• Blake Comeau – Meadow Lake, SK (Dallas Stars)
• Braden Holtby – Lloydminster, SK (Dallas Stars)
• Josh Brook – Yorkton, SK (Montreal Canadiens)
• Matt Dumba – Regina, SK (Minnesota Wild)
• Tanner Jeannot – Oxbow, SK (Nashville Predators)
• Brayden Schenn – Saskatoon, SK (St. Louis Blues)
• Lane Pederson – Saskatoon, SK (San Jose Sharks)
• Jordan Eberle – Regina, SK (Seattle Kraken)
• Kole Lind – Swift Current, SK (Seattle Kraken)
• Luke Schenn – Saskatoon, SK (Vancouver Canucks)
• Chandler Stephenson – Saskatoon, SK (Vegas Golden Knights)

The 2021-22 NHL season kicked off Tuesday evening with the Tampa Bay Lightning raising their second-consecutive Stanley Cup Banner as they hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Tuesday also marked the debut of the Seattle Kraken, who were on the road to play the Vegas Golden Knights.