Six Saskatoon Blades Alumni Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters
Published on October 2, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce that six Alumni have been named to National Hockey League opening night rosters to start the 2019-20 season. Centre Kirby Dach is the latest Blade to earn an NHL roster spot. He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks 3rd overall at the 2019 NHL draft last June and signed an entry level deal with the club in July. Dach last played for the Blades during the 2018-19 season, notching 73 points (25G-48A) in 62 games played.
Czech blueliner Libor Hájek, who played five games for the New York Rangers last March, has also made his club's opening night roster for the first time. Hájek, originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning at 37th overall in 2016, played 167 games for the Blades and earned 77 points (15G-62A) in that span. He scored his first NHL goal against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on March 9th, 2019.
NHL mainstay Mike Green is entering his 15th professional season and could be poised to hit 900 career NHL games played this season, while Lloydminster local Braden Holtby is entering his 10th season on the Washington Capitals' roster and has over 400 games of NHL experience behind him.
Below is the full list of Saskatoon Blades Alumni who are on NHL opening day rosters to begin the 2019-20 season:
Chicago Blackhawks: Kirby Dach, F*
Detroit Red Wings: Mike Green, D
New York Rangers: Libor Hajek, D
St. Louis Blues: Brayden Schenn, F
Vancouver Canucks: Micheal Ferland, F
Washington Capitals: Braden Holtby, G
*Denotes player on the injured reserved list
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