Are There Any Ukrainian NHL Players?
Contents
NHL players from Ukraine are few and far between. In fact, as of 2019, there is only one Ukrainian player in the NHL – Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
Introduction
Yes, there are a few Ukrainian NHL players! Here is a list of some of them:
-Artemi Panarin
-Vladimir Tarasenko
-Sergei Bobrovsky
-Mark Scheifele
– Blake Wheeler
NHL Players from Ukraine
Although there are no Ukrainian-born players currently in the NHL, there have been several players from Ukraine who have made it to the NHL. The most notable Ukrainian NHL player is probably Washington Capitals defenseman Sergei Gonchar.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Sergei Bobrovsky is a Ukrainian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s best goaltender and was named a Second Team All-Star in 2016. Bobrovsky was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round, 45th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He began his NHL career with the Flyers in 2010. During his second season with Philadelphia, he recorded a career-high 37 wins and was awarded the Vezina Trophy.
Artemi Panarin
Artemi Panarin is a Russian-born Ukrainian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round, 28th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. After spending four seasons in the Blackhawks organization, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2017.
Panarin is widely regarded as one of the best wingers in the NHL. He was voted as a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist for rookie of the year in 2015–16 after scoring 77 points, and has been named to both the Second All-Star Team and the First All-Star Team once each.
Vladimir Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko is a Russian professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Blues.
Tarasenko was born in Yaroslavl, Russia, but he grew up in Novosibirsk, Russia. His father, Andrei, is a former professional hockey player who played for HC Sochi of the Russian Hockey League (VHL).
Tarasenko began playing hockey at age five. He played in various youth leagues in Russia before making his professional debut in 2009–10 with HC Sibir Novosibirsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). In his first season with Sibir, he was named to the league’s All-Rookie team after scoring 19 points in 42 games.
Conclusion
To date, there have been a total of 36 Ukrainian NHL players. Among these players, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has had the most successful career, winning the Vezina Trophy in 2013 and 2017.
