The 2022 National Hockey League playoffs get underway on Monday and 25 players with BC Hockey League experience are on the quest for the Stanley Cup.
The Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and Nashville Predators each lead the way with three BCHL alumni on their playoff roster as of this writing, while the Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals each have two. Every team participating in the playoff marathon has at least one former BCHL player on its roster except for the Florida Panthers.
The Penticton Vees have produced the most playoff performers with eight alumni on the list followed by the Victoria Grizzlies with five while the Coquitlam Express has three. The Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Surrey Eagles, and West Kelowna Warriors are each featured with two alumni.
The 2021-22 NHL season was the league’s 105th season of operation. Nashville forward Ryan Johansen (Penticton Vees) is tops among all former BCHL players in scoring in the NHL this season with 26 goals and 63 points in 55 games. New York star Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam Express) is next with 15 goals and 59 points in 73 games, but his Islanders didn’t qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Only one of the top five point-getters among BCHL alumni in the NHL this season was a defender as Colorado blueliner Devon Toews (Surrey Eagles) had 13 goals and 57 points in 66 games.
With the playoff match-ups set, the second season begins as the Tampa Bay Lightning, which features forward Riley Nash (Salmon Arm Silverbacks), looks to defend its back-to-back titles.
BCHL alumni on NHL playoff rosters
Most recent BCHL club is listed in brackets.
Boston Bruins (1)
Mike Reilly (Penticton Vees)
Calgary Flames (1)
Milan Lucic (Coquitlam Express)
Carolina Hurricanes (1)
Jack LaFontaine (Penticton Vees)
Colorado Avalanche (3)
Devon Toews (Surrey Eagles)
Alex Newhook (Victoria Grizzlies)
Josh Manson (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Dallas Stars (2)
Jamie Benn (Victoria Grizzlies)
Adam Scheel (Penticton Vees)
Edmonton Oilers (3)
Tyson Barrie (Victoria Grizzlies)
Duncan Keith (Penticton Panthers)
Kyle Turris (Burnaby Express)
Los Angeles Kings (1)
Troy Stecher (Penticton Vees)
Minnesota Wild (3)
Brandon Duhaime (Merritt Centennials)
Jordie Benn (Victoria Grizzlies)
Tyson Jost (Penticton Vees)
Nashville Predators (3)
Ryan Johansen (Penticton Vees)
Colton Sissons (Westside Warriors)
Dante Fabbro (Penticton Vees)
New York Rangers (1)
Dryden Hunt (Trail Smoke Eaters)
Pittsburgh Penguins (1)
Danton Heinen (Surrey Eagles)
St. Louis Blues (1)
Tyler Bozak (Victoria Grizzlies)
Tampa Bay Lightning (1)
Riley Nash (Salmon Arm Silverbacks)
Toronto Maple Leafs (1)
Alexander Kerfoot (Coquitlam Express)
Washington Capitals (2)
Justin Schultz (Westside Warriors)
Matt Irwin (Nanaimo Clippers)
