In case anyone’s forgotten, we’re in a golden age for Nova Scotia content in the NHL.
Three of the best players in the world are from here and all of them have won the Stanley Cup. Nathan MacKinnon joined friends Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand on that distinguished list a few months ago and gave Halifax Regional Municipality its fifth Cup parade in the past 13 years. That’s a pretty incredible success rate for a province of just under a million people.
“I feel like it’s a privilege every year you can play in the NHL.”
– Sidney Crosby
Now that the 2022-23 season is underway, here’s a look at the players who are either from Nova Scotia or played for one of the province’s two QMJHL teams, the Halifax Mooseheads and Cape Breton Eagles.
Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins: The superstar center from Cole Harbor really doesn’t need an introduction since he’s not only one of the elite players in the league but also one of the very best of all-time. Crosby is now in his 18th season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, which breaks Mario Lemieux’s record for the most ever for the franchise.
“I feel like it’s a privilege every year you can play in the NHL,” Crosby said. “You just appreciate the opportunity you have to do what you love every day. You hope you can do it for as long as possible.”
But just because Crosby broke a Penguins longevity record and is now 35 years old, don’t assume he’s slowing down. He’s averaging close to two points per game (6 GP, 11 points) to start the season and is just one point off the league scoring lead.
Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche: Crosby’s Cole Harbor heir apparent and close friend is at the peak of his powers after breaking through for his first Cup in 2021-22. The former Mooseheads star is in the Hart trophy conversation every year and surely isn’t satisfied with one championship, given his famously competitive nature. He only just turned 27 so it’s frightening to imagine the best may still be to come.
Nathan MacKinnon makes it look easy. 😅 pic.twitter.com/lZqJRLpXtS
— NHL (@NHL) October 23, 2022
Brad Marchand, LW, Boston Bruins: Whether you love him or hate him, you cannot deny Marchand is also one of the very best players in the league. The 34-year-old from Hammonds Plains has the fifth-most points in the NHL since 2015 and has actually outscored both Crosby and MacKinnon during that stretch. The only thing that will slow that production is a late start to this season. Marchand is in the final stretch of his recovery from hip surgery but is scheduled to return to the lineup within the next month or so.
Most NHL Points Since 2015-16:
1. 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘀 – 𝟳𝟬𝟬
2. Patrick Kane – 624
3. Leon Draisaitl – 610
4. Artemi Panarin – 570
5. Brad Marchand – 567
6. Sidney Crosby – 556
7. Nathan MacKinnon – 549
8. Johnny Gaudreau – 544
9. Nikita Kucherov – 534 pic.twitter.com/44SGRqFiz7— Eric Friesen 🏒 (@EricJFriesen) October 13, 2022
Drake Batherson, RW, Ottawa Senators: Now that the New Minas native is in his fifth season, Batherson looks poised to take it up another notch. The former Eagles winger hit a new level in 2021-22 when he put up roughly a point per game and it’s conceivable he improves on that standard at 24 years old. If he does, we might have to start mentioning him in the same breath as the other three.
Ryan Graves, D, New Jersey Devils: This will be the Yarmouth native’s second season in New Jersey after the Colorado Avalanche were forced to trade him two summers ago leading up to the expansion draft. Coaches and teammates love the six-foot-five defender because he’s reliable in his own end and quietly chips in 20-30 points every season.
Liam O’Brien, LW, Arizona Coyotes: The rugged Haligonian is such a great success story. He sprinkled 29 NHL games into his first seven pro seasons but is now playing regularly with his third organization. Perhaps helped by having his former QMJHL coach Andre Tourigny on the bench in Arizona, O’Brien appeared in 39 games for the Coyotes last year and is on track for even more this season as a 28-year-old.
Liam O’Brien 🔥 pic.twitter.com/K1L1WzSTm1
— PHNX Coyotes (@PHNX_Coyotes) September 25, 2022
Morgan Barron, C, Winnipeg Jets: The big center (six-foot-four, 220 pounds) seems to have found a more stable home after being traded to the Jets by the New York Rangers at last year’s trade deadline. Barron is a regular in Winnipeg’s bottom six and has the smarts and versatility to stick there. Having fellow Halifax native Rick Bowness behind the bench might not hurt, either.
MacKenzie Weegar, D, Calgary Flames: An off-season salary cap trade saw him move from South Florida to Alberta, where the ex-Moosehead promptly signed a $50-million contract. Weegar’s path to the NHL started in the East Coast League after he was the sixth-to-last pick in the 2013 NHL draft – his second year of eligibility no less. The all-purpose defender is now a low-key Norris trophy candidate and excels in just about every area of the game.
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets: This is the Danish speedster’s eighth season in Manitoba, where he has been one of the Jets’ most reliable figures over an up and down period for the franchise. Ehlers had the highest points-per-game season of his career in 2021-22 (62 GP, 55 points) and he’s in the thick of his prime at 26 years old.
Jonathan Drouin, LW, Montreal Canadiens: This is a make-or-break season for the ex-Moosehead. He had a 53-point season for Montreal in 2018-19 but has otherwise never really fulfilled the high expectations of being the 2013 third overall pick. Drouin has only averaged 35 games per season since that high-water mark three years ago and his highest point total during that stretch was 23 in 2020-21. Some of that is because of injuries and illness but this is the final year of his contract so he has to deliver.
Timo Meier, LW, San Jose Sharks: Just like in junior with the Mooseheads, the Swiss winger is getting better every year. He set a new career high last season with 76 points and is one of San Jose’s primary pieces.
Nico Hischier, C, New Jersey Devils: The Swiss center is only 23 years old but is already entering his third season as Devils captain. Injuries limited Hischier to 21 games two years ago, but he rebounded with 60 points last season. Every franchise would be lucky to have a player with his character and all-around ability.
Filip Zadina, Lw, Detroit Red Wings: After being the sixth overall pick in 2018, it felt like it was just a matter of time before the Czech sniper hit his groove. Zadina has made modest progress every season with the famously patient franchise and is turning 23 next month so keep an eye on him to break out at some point.
Jakub Voracek, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets: Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago that Voracek was lifting Mooseheads fans out of their seats and, in some ways, it really was that long ago. The 33-year-old is now in his 15th NHL season but is still productive in his second tour in Columbus. Voracek had 62 points last season for the Blue Jackets.
Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Minnesota Wild: Speaking of players who have seemingly been around forever, can you believe Fleury played his first NHL game nearly two decades ago? The beloved former Eagle made his debut with the Penguins in 2003 and is now with his fourth franchise but remains a top tier No. 1 netminder at 37 years old.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Winnipeg Jets: After a couple of difficult years that included a messy trade out of Columbus, Dubois returned to form with 60 points last season in Winnipeg. Dubois has everything required to be an NHL all-star – size, skill and grit – and is still only 24 years old.
“I think the fans got their money’s worth, it was a crazy game!”
Drake Batherson on what he thought of tonight’s home opener win pic.twitter.com/MGs7fgeyEH
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 19, 2022
William Carrier, LW, Vegas Golden Knights: After spending his first three pro seasons just on the periphery of the NHL in the Buffalo Sabers system, the ex-Eagle has settled in as a serviceable depth forward in Vegas. Carrier’s career high is only 20 points but he’s racked up nearly 300 games with the Golden Knights since they took him in the 2017 expansion draft.
Evgeny Svechnikov, LW, San Jose Sharks: Dubois’ former Eagles linemate has a new lease on life in Northern California after a bunch of false starts in Detroit to start his pro career and a respectable 72-game season last season in Winnipeg. The Russian winger always had a big personality to go with his impressive tools so there may still be time for him to fulfill the potential that made him the 19th overall pick in 2015.
Others who are starting in the American Hockey League but may see time in the NHL this season include: Matt Highmore, C, St. Louis Blues; Marty Frk, RW, St. Louis Blues; Zachary Fucale, G, Washington Capitals; Logan Shaw, C, Toronto Maple Leafs; Justin Barron, D, Montreal Canadiens and Bo Groulx, C, Anaheim Ducks.
