MINNEAPOLIS – Ten former players from the University of Minnesota men’s hockey program are set for the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2024 with nine that will take the ice. The first playoff puck will be dropped Saturday afternoon as the Carolina Hurricanes host the New York Islanders.
Last season, it was former Golden Gophers forward Phil Kessel that raised hockey’s historic trophy for the third time in his professional career, winning a title with the Vegas Golden Knights. He is the first-ever player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup three times, while a total of 12 former Minnesota players or coaches hold the distinction of being a Stanley Cup champion.
The Gophers have had an NCAA-record 125 players skate in an NHL game, including 26 this season after Logan Cooley (Arizona Coyotes) and Ryan Johnson (Buffalo Sabres) made their professional debuts in 2023-24.
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Golden Gophers in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Brady Skjei, Carolina Hurricanes
Casey Mittelstadt, Colorado Avalanche
Kyle Okposo, Florida Panthers
Tommy Novak, Nashville Predators
Hudson Fasching, New York Islanders
Mike Reilly, New York Islanders
Ryan Lindgren, New York Rangers
Blake Wheeler, New York Rangers (on Injured Reserve)
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nate Schmidt, Winnipeg Jets
Golden Gophers on the Stanley Cup
Year Name, Team
1977 Mike Polich, Montreal Canadiens
1991 Frank Pietrangelo, Pittsburgh Penguins
1991 Bob Johnson (Coach), Pittsburgh Penguinsnhl 23 team builder
1992 Bob Johnson (Coach), Pittsburgh Penguins
1995 Tom Chorske, New Jersey Devils
1995 Neal Broten, New Jersey Devils
1995 Chris McAlpine, New Jersey Devils
2004 Ben Clymer, Tampa Bay Lightning
2009 Alex Goligoski, Pittsburgh Penguins
2013 Nick Leddy, Chicago Blackhawks
2016 Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
2017 Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
2020 Todd Richards (Coach), Tampa Bay Lightning
2022 Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
2023 Phil Kessel, Vegas Golden Knights
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