10 former University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey players in all landed National Hockey League roster spots ahead of the 2026-27 opening Tuesday.

Four players return to the Winnipeg Jets, including former Hermantown natives and defenseman Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg. Winger Alex Iafallo and forward Cole Koepke -- another Hermantown, Minn. product -- make Winnipeg the NHL team with the most former Bulldogs for yet another season. Ironically, both Iafallo and Pionk were not drafted prior to their UMD careers and played their ways into the professional ranks as Bulldogs -- both signed as free agents in the spring of 2017.

Long-time NHL defenseman Justin Faulk -- who starts the season having already skated in 1,058 games -- returns to the Detroit Red Wings for his 16th pro season and first season start with the Wings after being traded in season from the St. Louis Blues last season.  Three other former Bulldogs with roster spots around the league include forward Noah Cates with the Philadelphia Flyers, and a pair of defenseman -- Wyatt Kaiser with the Chicago Blackhawks and Mikey Anderson -- newly named an alternate captain -- with the Los Angeles Kings. UMD's most recent alum in the league, Dominic James, returns to the Tampa Bay Lightening after cracking the roster as a rookie in 2025-26. After breaking his right hand in offseason training, James is expected to miss the first two weeks of the regular season.

Carson Soucy officially signed with the Columbus Bluejackets on Tuesday. The veteran defenseman signed a one-year contract after he joined Columbus' camp on a professional try-out. 

UMD is tied for the seventh most current NHL players (10) and ranks ninth all-time in the NCAA for NHL alums (69).


The Bulldogs are also represented on benches, in several front offices around the league, and even have an NHL linesman among alumni in the NHL. 

Former Hobey Baker Finalist Norm Maciver is the associate general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, while fellow Hobey Baker Finalist Derek Plante, also father to current Bulldogs Zam, Max and Victor Plante, is in his second full season as an Amateur Scout for the Ottawa Senators. Derik Johnson is in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the LA Kings, where he has been a part of the organization in some capacity since 2018.

Additional Bulldogs include: Jim Johnson (Anaheim Ducks Director of Player Development, fourth season), Parker Mackay (sixth season as a Boston Bruins Amateur and College Scout), and UMD alum Travis Gawryletz returns for his ninth season as an NHL linesman.