The 2016-17 NHL season gets underway tonight and a total of 14 Wisconsin men’s hockey players find themselves on opening-day rosters.
NHL training camps started with 29 former Badgers spread around over 21 NHL training camps. Of those 29 players, 20 played in at least one NHL game last season.
When teams announced their rosters on Tuesday night, 14 Badgers appeared on NHL teams, while three were listed as injured. Another, forward Jack Skille is expected to sign a contract with the Vancouver Canucks.
Making NHL rosters are Jamie McBain (Arizona) Jake McCabe (Buffalo), Brian Elliott (Calgary), Rene Bourque (Colorado), Brendan Smith (Detroit), Tom Gilbert (Los Angeles), Ryan Suter (Minnesota), Craig Smith (Nashville), Ryan McDonagh (New York Rangers), Derek Stepan (New York Rangers), Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks) and Jake Gardiner (Toronto).