The ECHL has 70 players on National Hockey League Phase 4 player rosters for the 24 clubs contesting the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers that begin Saturday. It marks the 15th year in a row that there have been at least 30 former ECHL players and the 17th consecutive season that over 25 players with ECHL experience have competed in the NHL postseason.
The Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League, the ECHL has a player or coach on each of the 24 teams and has affiliations with 25 of the 31 teams in the NHL in 2019-20, marking the 23rd consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.
RELATED: ECHL has 91 former players on NHL Return to Play Rosters
Former ECHL coaches and players on NHL Return to Play Rosters (ECHL affiliate listed in parentheses):
Arizona Coyotes (Rapid City Rush) – Goaltending Coach Corey Schwab (Cincinnati, 1991-92); Goaltending Development Coach Zac Bierk (Augusta, 2001-02); Adin Hill (Rapid City, 2016-17) and Darcy Kuemper (Ontario, 2011-12 and Orlando, 2012-13)
Boston Bruins (Atlanta Gladiators) – Head Coach Bruce Cassidy (Jacksonville, 1996-98 and Trenton, 1999-00); Assistant Coach Kevin Dean (Cincinnati, 1991-92 and Trenton, 2010-11); Jarsolav Halak (Long Beach, 2005-06); Maxime Lagace (Missouri, 2014-15; Bakersfield, 2014-15 and Idaho, 2015-16) and Dan Vladar (Atlanta, 2016-18 and 2019-20)
Calgary Flames (Kansas City Mavericks) – Interim Head Coach Geoff Ward (Arkansas, 1999-00); Assistant Coach Ray Edwards (Dayton, 1991-94; Birmingham, 1992-93; Huntington, 1994-2000; Cincinnati, 2001-02); Byron Froese (Toledo, 2011-13 and Cincinnati, 2013-15); Alan Quine (Stockton, 2013-14); Buddy Robinson (Elmira, 2013-14) and Cam Talbot (Greenville, 2010-11)
Carolina Hurricanes (Greenville Swamp Rabbits) –Clark Bishop (Florida, 2016-17); Steven Lorentz (Florida, 2017-19); Petr Mrazek (Toledo, 2012-13); Alex Nedeljkovic (Florida, 2014-15 and 2016-17) and James Reimer (Reading and South Carolina, 2008-09)
Chicago Blackhawks (Indy Fuel) – Collin Delia (Indy, 2017-18) and Kevin Lankinen (Indy, 2018-19)
Colorado Avalanche (Utah Grizzlies) – Head Coach Jared Bednar (Huntington, 1993-96 and South Carolina, 1996-09); Assistant Coach Nolan Pratt (Richmond, 1995-96); Jacob MacDonald (Elmira, 2014-16 and Toledo, 2016-17); Philipp Grubauer (South Carolina, 2011-12 and Reading, 2012-13) and Michael Hutchinson (Reading, 2010-12 and Ontario, 2013-14)
Columbus Blue Jackets – Goaltending Coach Manny Lagace (Richmond, 1996-97) and Matiss Kivlenieks (Kalamazoo, 2018-19)
Dallas Stars (Idaho Steelheads) – Landon Bow (Idaho, 2018-19); Justin Dowling (Utah, 2011-12 and Idaho, 2012-13); Joel Hanley (Gwinnett, 2014-15) and Anton Khudobin (Texas, 2007-08 and Florida, 2008-09)
Edmonton Oilers (Wichita Thunder) – Associate Coach Jim Playfair (Dayton, 1993-96); Assistant Coach Glen Gulutzan (Las Vegas, 2003-09); Josh Archibald (Wheeling, 2014-15); Mikko Koskinen (Utah, 2009-10); Stuart Skinner (Wichita, 2018-20) and Mike Smith (Lexington, 2002-03)
Florida Panthers – Assistant Coach Andrew Brunette (Hampton Roads, 1993-94); Goaltending Coach Rob Tallas (Charlotte, 1994-95); Josh Brown (Manchester, 2015-16); Philippe Desrosiers (Idaho, 2015-19 and Norfolk, 2016-17); Chris Driedger (Elmira, 2013-14 and Evansville, 2014-15); Mike Hoffman (Elmira, 2010-11); Dryden Hunt (Manchester, 2016-17) and Mackenzie Weegar (Cincinnati, 2014-15)
Minnesota Wild (Allen Americans) – Assistant Coach Bob Woods (Johnstown, 1990-94; Hampton Roads, 1995-96; Mobile, 1996-97; Tallahassee, 1997-98 and Mississippi, 1998-05); Devan Dubnyk (Stockton, 2006-07) and Alex Stalock (Stockton, 2011-12)
Montreal Canadiens – Alex Belzile (Gwinnett, 2012-14; Alaska, 2013-14; Idaho, 2014-15; Fort Wayne, 2015-16 and Colorado, 2016-17); Ben Chiarot (Colorado, 2011-12); Brett Kulak (Colorado, 2014-15) and Michael McNiven (Brampton, 2017-19; Adirondack, 2019-20; Jacksonville, 2019-20 and Norfolk, 2019-20)
Nashville Predators (Florida Everblades) – Connor Ingram (Adirondack, 2017-18 and Orlando, 2018-19)
New York Islanders (Worcester Railers) – Christopher Gibson (Orlando, 2013-14); Thomas Greiss (Fresno, 2006-07); Ross Johnston (Missouri, 2015-16) and Tom Kuhnhackl (Wheeling, 2012-14)
New York Rangers (Maine Mariners) – Video Coach Jerry Dineen (Winston-Salem, 1990-92 and Raleigh, 1991-92); Brandon Crawley (Maine, 2019-20);
Philadelphia Flyers (Reading Royals) – Nate Thompson (Alaska, 2012-13) and Kirill Ustimenko (Reading, 2019-20)
Pittsburgh Penguins (Wheeling Nailers) – Goaltending Coach Mike Buckley (Mississippi, 2002-04 and Gwinnett, 2003-04); Casey DeSmith (Wheeling, 2015-16) and Emil Larmi (Wheeling, 2019-20)
St. Louis Blues – Jordan Binnington (Kalamazoo, 2013-14) and Ville Husso (Missouri, 2016-17)
Tampa Bay Lightning (Orlando Solar Bears) – Assistant Coach Derek Lalonde (Toledo, 2014-16); Yanni Gourde (San Francisco, 2012-13 and Kalamazoo, 2013-14); Carter Verhaeghe (Missouri, 2015-17) and Scott Wedgewood (Trenton, 2012-13 and Adirondack, 2015-16)
Toronto Maple Leafs (Newfoundland Growlers) – Goaltending Coach Steve Briere (Mississippi, 2000-01; Cincinnati, 2001-02 and Toledo, 2001-02); Jack Campbell (Idaho, 2014-16); Kyle Clifford (Ontario, 2012-13); Justin Holl (Indy, 2014-15) and Kasimir Kaskisuo (Orlando, 2016-18)
Vancouver Canucks (Kalamazoo Wings) – Jay Beagle (Idaho, 2006-07); Jordie Benn (Victoria, 2008-09); Louis Domingue (Gwinnett, 2012-15); Micheal Ferland (Utah, 2012-13) and Antoine Roussel (Reading, 2010-11)
Vegas Golden Knights (Fort Wayne Komets) – Assistant Coach Ryan Craig (Pensacola, 2003-04); Oscar Dansk (Kalamazoo, 2014-15); Deryk Engelland (Las Vegas, 2003-05; South Carolina, 2005-06 and Reading, 2006-07); Keegan Kolesar (Quad City, 2017-18); Gage Quinney (Wheeling, 2016-17) and Ryan Reaves (Alaska, 2007-08 and Orlando, 2012-13)
Washington Capitals (South Carolina Stingrays) – Head Coach Todd Reirden (Raleigh, 1994-95; Tallahassee, 1994-96 and Jacksonville, 1995-96); Assistant Coach Reid Cashman (Columbia, 2007-08; Wheeling, 2008-09 and Cincinnati, 2009-10); Professional Development Coach Olaf Kolzig (Hampton Roads, 1990-92); Pheonix Copley (South Carolina, 2013-14); Braden Holtby (South Carolina, 2009-10); Nick Jensen (Toledo, 2013-14); Tyler Lewington (South Carolina, 2015-16) and Vitek Vanecek (South Carolina, 2015-16 and 2017-18)
Winnipeg Jets (Jacksonville Icemen) – Assistant Coach Charlie Huddy (Huntington, 1997-98); Assistant Coach Jamie Kompon (Hampton Roads, 1989-90; Cincinnati, 1990-91 and Winston-Salem, 1990-91); Goaltending Coach Wade Flaherty (Greensboro, 1989-90); Mikhail Berdin (Jacksonville, 2018-19; Anthony Bitetto (Cincinnati, 2012-13); Laurent Brossoit (Alaska, 2013-14 and Bakersfield, 2013-14); Jansen Harkins (Jacksonville, 2017-18); Mark Letestu (Wheeling, 2007-08) and Logan Shaw (Cincinnati, 2013-14)