The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin Thursday night, will be filled with former NCAA hockey stars as more than 60 alums continue their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
NHL Matchup Tool | Record 305 NCAA Alums in NHL | NCAA Alums Who Won the Stanley Cup
Twenty-nine NCAA schools have a former player still alive in the chase for the Stanley Cup, led by Boston College (7) and Wisconsin (6). Twelve other schools have multiple players on the eight remaining teams.
Former college players - who made up a record 31% of the NHL this season - were dramatic contributors in the opening round. Zach Parise (North Dakota) and Paul Stastny (Denver), whose teams faced off in round one, share the league lead in playoff scoring to this point with 10 points. The top two scoring defensemen are Pittsburgh teammates Matt Niskanen (Minnesota Duluth) and Paul Martin (Minnesota). Martin and fellow former Golden Gopher Alex Goligoski share the NHL lead in plus/minus.
In all, 4 of the top 6 playoff scorers and 7 of the top 14 played college hockey.
Each second round series will feature at least 10 former college players on the ice. Each series also features a general manager who played college hockey.
With at least 4 NCAA alums on each of the remaining teams, the number of former college players who have won the Stanley Cup is assured of reaching at least 200 this season.
Check out some of the NCAA-related storylines below, with the number of former college players on each roster in parentheses, and find even more detail by visiting our NHL Matchup Tool.
CHICAGO (6) vs. MINNESOTA (11)
Former NCAA champions
Chicago: Ben Smith (Boston College, twice)
Minnesota: Keith Ballard (Minnesota, twice), Justin Fontaine (Minnesota Duluth)
Notes
ANAHEIM (6) vs. LOS ANGELES (4)
Former NCAA champions
Anaheim: Nick Bonino (Boston University)
Notes
BOSTON (7) vs. MONTREAL (7)
Former NCAA champions
Montreal: Brian Gionta (Boston College), Thomas Vanek (Minnesota)
Notes
PITTSBURGH (13) vs. NY RANGERS (8)
College Teammates
Brian Gibbons vs. Chris Kreider (Boston College)
Former NCAA champions
Pittsburgh: Brian Gibbons (Boston College, twice), Paul Martin (Minnesota, twice), Brooks Orpik (Boston College), Rob Scuderi (Boston College)
NY Rangers: Chris Kreider (Boston College, twice)
Notes