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Photo by: Matt Krohn
Eight Gophers Set for NHL Playoffs in 2025
4/18/2025 12:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Stanley Cup quest begins Saturday
MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota men's hockey team will be represented by eight former players in the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025 when the postseason begins on Saturday.
For the first time in program history, a former member of the Golden Gophers raised the prestigious trophy in three-consecutive seasons as Kyle Okposo joined the elite company with the Florida Panthers a year ago. He followed in the footsteps of Phil Kessel (Vegas Golden Knights) and Erik Johnson (Colorado Avalanche) as Stanley Cup winners in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Johnson and Nick Leddy are searching for their second championships, while Jimmy Snuggerud gets his first taste of the NHL playoffs just two weeks after making his professional debut. Kessel remains the only player in program history to have his name engraved on the cup three times, while a total of 13 former Minnesota players or coaches hold the distinction of being a Stanley Cup champion.
Golden Gophers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Lindgren, Colorado Avalanche
Nate Schmidt, Florida Panthers
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
Erik Haula, New Jersey Devils
Nick Leddy, St. Louis Blues
Jimmy Snuggerud, St. Louis Blues
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
Golden Gophers on the Stanley Cup
Year Name, Team
1977 Mike Polich, Montreal Canadiens
1991 Frank Pietrangelo, Pittsburgh Penguins
1991 Bob Johnson (Coach), Pittsburgh Penguins
1992 Bob Johnson (Coach), Pittsburgh Penguins
1995 Tom Chorske, New Jersey Devils
1995 Neal Broten, New Jersey Devils
1995 Chris McAlpine, New Jersey Devils
2004 Ben Clymer, Tampa Bay Lightning
2009 Alex Goligoski, Pittsburgh Penguins
2013 Nick Leddy, Chicago Blackhawks
2016 Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
2017 Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
2020 Todd Richards (Coach), Tampa Bay Lightning
2022 Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
2023 Phil Kessel, Vegas Golden Knights
2024 Kyle Okposo, Florida Panthers
For the first time in program history, a former member of the Golden Gophers raised the prestigious trophy in three-consecutive seasons as Kyle Okposo joined the elite company with the Florida Panthers a year ago. He followed in the footsteps of Phil Kessel (Vegas Golden Knights) and Erik Johnson (Colorado Avalanche) as Stanley Cup winners in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Johnson and Nick Leddy are searching for their second championships, while Jimmy Snuggerud gets his first taste of the NHL playoffs just two weeks after making his professional debut. Kessel remains the only player in program history to have his name engraved on the cup three times, while a total of 13 former Minnesota players or coaches hold the distinction of being a Stanley Cup champion.
Golden Gophers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
Ryan Lindgren, Colorado Avalanche
Nate Schmidt, Florida Panthers
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
Erik Haula, New Jersey Devils
Nick Leddy, St. Louis Blues
Jimmy Snuggerud, St. Louis Blues
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
Golden Gophers on the Stanley Cup
Year Name, Team
1977 Mike Polich, Montreal Canadiens
1991 Frank Pietrangelo, Pittsburgh Penguins
1991 Bob Johnson (Coach), Pittsburgh Penguins
1992 Bob Johnson (Coach), Pittsburgh Penguins
1995 Tom Chorske, New Jersey Devils
1995 Neal Broten, New Jersey Devils
1995 Chris McAlpine, New Jersey Devils
2004 Ben Clymer, Tampa Bay Lightning
2009 Alex Goligoski, Pittsburgh Penguins
2013 Nick Leddy, Chicago Blackhawks
2016 Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
2017 Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
2020 Todd Richards (Coach), Tampa Bay Lightning
2022 Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche
2023 Phil Kessel, Vegas Golden Knights
2024 Kyle Okposo, Florida Panthers
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