MUSKEGON, MI – The Muskegon Lumberjacks will be well represented across the National Hockey League as the 2026-27 season gets underway, with 11 Jacks alumni on NHL opening-night rosters.
All 11 Lumberjacks alumni have already made their NHL debuts, with several more former Jacks poised to make the jump to the NHL throughout the season.
2026 Stanley Cup champions Andrei Svechnikov and Brandon Bussi headline the group, joined by Charles Alexis-Legault on the Carolina Hurricanes roster.
Joey Daccord returns to Seattle for another season with the Kraken, while Devin Cooley provides goaltending depth for the Calgary Flames. Fellow Flame Matvei Gridin enters the season looking to build on a strong 2025-26 campaign, during which he split time between the NHL and AHL with Calgary and the Calgary Wranglers.
The Columbus Blue Jackets added a pair of Lumberjacks alumni to their organization since last opening night. Columbus acquired Conor Garland at last season's trade deadline, while Ryan Lomberg signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent during the offseason.
The Lumberjacks are also represented on opposite sides of the Battle of Pennsylvania. Nick Seeler, a longtime Philadelphia Flyer, returns to the City of Brotherly Love, while Declan Carlisle begins his first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins after spending time with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization.
Max Sasson rounds out the group of Lumberjacks alumni on NHL opening-night rosters as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
Several other notable former Lumberjacks are expected to see NHL action during the 2026-27 season. Quinn Hutson (EDM), Sacha Boisvert (CHI), Ivan Ryabkin (CAR), Jack Williams (CBJ), Gavin McCarthy (BUF), and Jake Richard (BUF) all spent time with their respective NHL clubs during the preseason before returning to the AHL.
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About the Muskegon Lumberjacks
The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud and dedicated members of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league and leading producer of NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The club's goal is to create an environment where student-athletes develop into successful young men, both on and off the ice. This includes playing the game the right way while maintaining academic excellence in the classroom and staying actively involved in the West Michigan community. The organization is committed to providing high-quality, affordable, and top-notch family entertainment while serving as positive role models for the youth and local community.
