398 CHL Graduates Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters
Published on October 10, 2023 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release
TORONTO, ON - As the National Hockey League (NHL) kicks off its 2023-24 season tonight, a total of 398 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) graduates from its three member leagues (WHL, OHL & QMJHL) were among those named to the NHL's Opening Night rosters. The 398 CHL alumni, which represent just over 50% of the players on the NHL's 32 teams, mark the most of any development hockey league in the world.
In total, there were 197 graduates hailing from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), 122 from the Western Hockey League (WHL), and 79 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
59 of the CHL's 60 clubs have at least one graduate on an NHL roster. Headlining the list are 18 recent alumni who competed in the CHL last season - a group that features Connor Bedard (Regina Pats/Chicago Blackhawks), Zach Benson (Wenatchee Wild/Buffalo Sabres), Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm/Boston Bruins), Kevin Korchinski (Seattle Thunderbirds/Chicago Blackhawks), Pavel Mintyukov (Ottawa 67's/Anaheim Ducks), Tristan Luneau (Gatineau Olympiques/Anaheim Ducks), Fraser Minten (Kamloops Blazers/Toronto Maple Leafs), and Jakub Demek (Kamloops Blazers/Vegas Golden Knights).
All 32 NHL clubs feature at least one former CHL player on their Opening Night roster (see complete list of players on all 32 NHL clubs linked here), with the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and the Chicago Blackhawks leading the way with 20 CHL graduates. Right behind them is the Tampa Bay Lightning who have 18, followed by the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers who each have 16 CHL alumni on their roster.
With over 390 graduates competing in the NHL for the fourth straight season, the CHL continues to be the number one supplier of talent to the NHL.
Stories To Follow:
Heading into this new NHL season, 27 CHL alumni are looking to make their NHL debuts including Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (Regina Pats), Sabres forward Zach Benson (Wenatchee Wild), Bruins forward Matthew Poitras (Guelph Storm), & Ducks defenceman Tristan Luneau (Gatineau Olympiques)
11 CHL graduates are chasing the 1,000th NHL career game including Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (Erie Otters), Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck (Oshawa Generals), Stars forward Matt Duchene (Brampton Battalion), Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (Niagara IceDogs), Bruins forward Brad Marchand (Moncton Wildcats), Kraken forward Jordan Eberle (Regina Pats), Predators defenceman Luke Schenn (Kelowna Rockets), Sabres forward Jeff Skinner (Kitchener Rangers), Capitals defenceman John Carlson (London Knights), Sharks forward Logan Couture (Ottawa 67's) & Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers (Kelowna Rockets)
Bedard will be aiming to become the 12th No.1 overall pick in NHL history to win the Calder Memorial Trophy. Of the previous 11 who have achieved the feat, nine of them were CHL alumni: Aaron Ekblad (Barrie Colts), Nathan MacKinnon (Halifax Mooseheads), Patrick Kane (London Knights), Bryan Berard (Detroit Junior Red Wings), Mario Lemieux (Laval Voisins), Dale Hawerchuk (Cornwall Royals), Bobby Smith (Ottawa 67's), Denis Potvin (Ottawa 67's), and Gilbert Perreault (Montreal Jr. Canadiens)
Oilers forward Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) could join fellow CHL alumni Mario Lemieux (Laval Voisins) and Phil Esposito (St. Catharines Teepees) as just the third player in NHL history to reach the 900- and 1000-point milestones in the same season. McDavid currently sits 50 points shy of 900 in his career and 150 shy of 1,000.
Wild goaltender Marc-André Fleury (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) enters this new season at 544 wins, just eight shy of surpassing fellow CHL alumnus Patrick Roy (Granby Bisons) for second-most by a netminder in NHL history, behind only Martin Brodeur (Saint-Hyacinthe Laser) who has 691 wins
News and Notes:
Bedard will make his much-anticipated NHL debut with the Blackhawks against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins tonight - a contest that will feature three No. 1 picks who originated from each of the CHL's three member leagues: Bedard (WHL - Regina Pats), Crosby (QMJHL - Rimouski Océanic) and first-year Chicago forward Taylor Hall (OHL - Windsor Spitfires)
12 of the NHL's 32 head coaches were previously bench bosses in the CHL including Ryan Huska (Calgary Flames), Pascal Vincent (Columbus Blue Jackets), and Spencer Carbery (Washington Capitals) who will be making NHL head coaching debuts this week. At the same time, outside of that dozen, seven additional NHL head coaches played in the CHL including Jared Bednar (Colorado Avalanche), Andrew Brunette (Nashville Predators), and Rick Bowness (Winnipeg Jets)
Entering the 2023-24 season, 17 CHL alumni are set to lead their clubs as captains, including Jets forward Adam Lowry (Swift Current Broncos), Blues forward Brayden Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings), Bruins forward Brad Marchand (Moncton Wildcats) and Flames forward Mikael Backlund (Kelowna Rockets) who are among the group of five new captains in the NHL.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2023
- Wolves Host Attack and 67's in Weekend Double Header - Sudbury Wolves
- 398 CHL Graduates Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters - OHL
- OHL Celebrates 10th Season of CMHA Talk Today Program - OHL
- Spirit Acquire Goaltender Lalonde, Fifth Round Pick in Trade with Sting - Saginaw Spirit
- Otters Acquire Overage Goaltender Ben Gaudreau from Sarnia - Erie Otters
- Gabe Landeskog, Ben Fanelli and Ben Thomson Return to Aud - Kitchener Rangers
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