How Many Players Are on an NHL Team?

The NHL (National Hockey League) is a professional ice hockey league in North America, consisting of 30 teams: 24 in the United States and 6 in Canada.

How Many Players Are on an NHL Team?

NHL teams are allowed a maximum of 23 players on their roster, which includes two goaltenders. Each team must have at least 20 players on their roster at all times during the regular season.

The Roster

The NHL (National Hockey League) is a professional ice hockey league in North America, currently comprising 31 teams: 24 in the United States and 7 in Canada. Each team has a roster of 20 to 23 players, with 18 skaters (forwards and defencemen) and 2 or 3 goaltenders.

Forwards

NHL teams carry a maximum of 22 players on their roster, made up of 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders.

Forwards are the position group responsible for the majority of scoring in hockey. They typically skate on one of three lines made up of a left winger, a center, and a right winger. The center is responsible for taking faceoffs and playing in both the offensive and defensive zones. Wingers are primarily responsible for generating offense by skating on the outside lanes and shooting the puck, but they also need to be able to defend against opposing players when necessary.

There are generally 4 types of forwards in hockey:
– Left wingers
– Centermen
– Right wingers
– Utility forwards

Defensemen

In the National Hockey League, each team is allowed to dress and play a maximum of 20 players in any given game. This includes two goaltenders and 18 skaters (forwards and defensemen). Of those 18 skaters, a minimum of six must be defensemen.

Goaltenders

NHL teams are required to carry a minimum of two goaltenders. Most teams choose to carry three goaltenders. Each team’s roster typically includes one starter, who plays the majority of the team’s games, and one or two backup goaltenders, who support the starter.

The third goaltender is often a young player who is learning the NHL game or an experienced player who is nearing the end of his career. This player serves as insurance in case the starting goaltender gets injured or needs a break from the action. He also practices with the team and acts as a mentor to the younger players.

The Lineup

The NHL is made up of 30 teams, with 23 players on each active roster. 18 of these skaters are forwards, which are further divided into three groups of six. The other six players on the roster are defensemen, who skating alongside the forwards in game play.

The Starting Lineup

Most NHL teams dress 20 players for each game – 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders. Of those 20, 18 are considered skaters and two are goalies. The starting lineup consists of 18 skaters – three forwards, two defensemen and one goalie – and all teams must start the game with at least three skaters (forwards or defensemen) and one goaltender on the ice.

The Bench

An NHL team is allowed a maximum of six players on the bench, including the goaltender. Of the six players, three are designated as forwards, and the other three are defensemen. In addition, each team is allowed one spare goaltender who is not dressed for the game but is available should one of the other two goalies get injured during play.

Injuries

During the course of an NHL season, it’s not uncommon for teams to be beset by injuries. In fact, it’s often said that the Stanley Cup is won by the team that suffers the fewest number of injuries.

So, how many players are on an NHL team? The answer is 23. But, of course, that number can fluctuate depending on the number of injuries suffered by a team.

For example, if a team has 10 players out with injuries, they will likely recall players from their AHL affiliate to fill those roster spots. So, in theory, a team could have as many as 33 players on their roster at one time.

But, for the most part, teams typically carry 23 players on their roster during the course of an NHL season.

Suspensions

Several NHL players have been suspended this season for various infractions. The most common reason for suspension is illegal hits to the head, followed by drug use.

NHL teams are allowed to have a maximum of 23 players on their roster. However, because of suspensions, trades, and injuries, teams often have fewer than 23 players available to them at any given time.