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With the NHL’s opening night tonight, below is the breakdown of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program’s alumni who are on each NHL team’s opening night roster.
Eleven alumni are making an opening night roster for the first time including: Christian Fishcer (2013-15), Clayton Keller (2014-16), Anders Bjork (2012-14), Charlie McAvoy (2013-15), John Hayden (2011-13), J.T. Compher (2011-13), Sonny Milano (2012-14), Will Butcher (2011-13), Stephen Santini (2011-13), Tage Thompson (2014-16) and Andrew Copp (2010-12). The NTDP has 61 alumni total on NHL rosters currently.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have the most NTDP alumni with six, followed by the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks with five.
NTDP alumni Ian Cole (2005-07), Phil Kessel (2003-05), Bryan Rust (2008-10) and Matt Hunwick (2001-03) will start their season with the Penguins tonight after its banner raising ceremony and face-off against Tage Thompson (2014-15) and the St. Louis Blues.
Auston Matthews (2013-15), James van Riemsdyk (2005-07), Connor Carrick (2010-12), and Ron Hainsey (1997-99) of the Toronto Maples Leafs will open its season against Andrew Copp (2010-12), Jacob Trouba (2010-12) and the rest of the Winnipeg Jets.
Matthew Tkachuk (2013-15) will be the lone alum when his Calgary Flames take on the Edmonton Oilers tonight and Kevin Leblanc (2011-13) will be the NTDP representative in San Jose’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The remaining alumni will open their seasons later this week.
Last season 85 NTDP alums appeared in at least one NHL game.
Full NHL Opening Night Roster List
| NAME | NTDP Season(s) | COLLEGE /JUNIOR TEAM | NHL TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Eaves | 2000-02 | Boston College | Anaheim Ducks |
| Cam Fowler | 2007-09 | Windsor Spitfires(OHL) | Anaheim Ducks |
| John Gibson | 2009-11 | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) | Anaheim Ducks |
| Ryan Kesler | 2000-02 | Ohio State University | Anaheim Ducks |
| Christian Fischer (*) | 2013-15 | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) | Arizona Coyotes |
| Clayton Keller (*) | 2014-16 | Boston University | Arizona Coyotes |
| Adam Clendening | 2008-10 | Boston University | Arizona Coyotes |
| Anders Bjork (*) | 2012-14 | University of Notre Dame | Boston Bruins |
| Austin Czarnik | 2008-10 | Miami University (OH) | Boston Bruins |
| Matt Grzelcyk | 2010-12 | Boston University | Boston Bruins |
| Charlie McAvoy (*) | 2013-15 | Boston University | Boston Bruins |
| Frank Vatrano | 2010-12 | UMass-Amherst | Boston Bruins |
| Jack Eichel | 2012-14 | Boston University | Buffalo Sabres |
| Jake McCabe | 2009-11 | University of Wisconsin | Buffalo Sabres |
| Matthew Tkachuk | 2013-15 | London Knights (OHL) | Calgary Flames |
| Justin Faulk | 2008-10 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Noah Hanifin | 2013-14 | Boston College | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Ryan Hartman | 2010-12 | Plymouth Whalers (OHL) | Chicago Blackhawks |
| John Hayden (*) | 2011-13 | Yale University | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Patrick Kane | 2004-06 | London Knights (OHL) | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Connor Murphy | 2009-11 | Sarnia Sting (OHL) | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Brandon Saad | 2009-10 | Saginaw Spitfires (OHL) | Chicago Blackhawks |
| J.T. Compher (*) | 2011-13 | University of Michigan | Colorado Avalanche |
| Erik Johnson | 2004-06 | University of Minnesota | Colorado Avalanche |
| Matt Nieto | 2008-10 | Boston University | Colorado Avalanche |
| Colin Wilson | 2005-07 | Boston University | Colorado Avalanche |
| Nick Foligno | 2003-04 | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Jack Johnson | 2003-05 | University of Michigan | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Seth Jones | 2010-12 | Portland Winterhawks(WHL) | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Sonny Milano (*) | 2012-14 | Plymouth Whalers(OHL) | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Jordan Schroeder (IR) | 2006-08 | University of Minnesota | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Zach Werenski | 2013-14 | University of Michigan | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Stephen Johns | 2008-10 | University of Notre Dame | Dallas Stars |
| David Booth | 2001-02 | Michigan State University | Detroit Red Wings |
| Jimmy Howard | 2001-02 | University of Maine | Detroit Red Wings |
| Dylan Larkin | 2012-14 | University of Michigan | Detroit Red Wings |
| Jack Campbell | 2008-10 | Windsor Spitfires/Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) | Los Angeles Kings |
| Derek Forbort | 2009-10 | University of North Dakota | Los Angeles Kings |
| Ryan Suter | 2001-03 | University of Wisconsin | Minnesota Wild |
| Jason Zucker | 2008-10 | University of Denver | Minnesota Wild |
| Al Montoya | 2001-02 | University of Michigan | Montreal Canadiens |
| Will Butcher (*) | 2011-13 | University of Denver | New Jersey Devils |
| Jimmy Hayes | 2006-08 | Boston College | New Jersey Devils |
| Kyle Palmieri | 2007-09 | University of Notre Dame | New Jersey Devils |
| Stephen Santini (*) | 2011-13 | Boston College | New Jersey Devils |
| J.T. Miller | 2009-11 | Plymouth Whalers (OHL) | New York Rangers |
| Kevin Shattenkirk | 2005-07 | Boston University | New York Rangers |
| Brady Skjei | 2010-12 | University of Minnesota | New York Rangers |
| Ian Cole | 2005-07 | University of Notre Dame | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Matt Hunwick | 2001-03 | University of Michigan | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Phil Kessel | 2003-05 | University of Minnesota | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Bryan Rust | 2008-10 | University of Notre Dame | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Kevin Labanc | 2011-13 | Barrie Colts (OHL) | San Jose Sharks |
| Tage Thompson (*) | 2014-15 | University of Connecticut | St. Louis Blues |
| Connor Carrick | 2010-12 | Plymouth Whalers (OHL) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Ron Hainsey | 1997-99 | University of Massachusetts- Lowell | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Auston Matthews | 2013-15 | Zurich (Switzerland) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| James vanRiemsdyk | 2005-07 | University of New Hampshire | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Jon Merrill | 2008-10 | University of Michigan | Vegas Golden Knights |
| Andrew Copp (*) | 2010-12 | University of Michigan | Winnipeg Jets |
| Jacob Trouba | 2010-12 | University of Michigan | Winnipeg Jets |
| (*) Made Opening Night roster for the first time |
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