# List of countries with their first NHL player

The globalization of the National Hockey League has been occurring since its inception. The early years saw a largely Canadian league, with some Americans playing. As the league progressed it experienced an influx of European players, at first from Western European countries such as Sweden. After the fall of Communism, players from Eastern European countries, such as the former Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union, joined the league. The NHL eventually saw fewer European players, but more players from Canada and the United States. Today the NHL has players from five continents. The following is a list of countries and the first person born there that played in the National Hockey League. These players are not necessarily the first citizen of each respective country to play in the NHL, as nationality is determined under a nation's nationality law and may differ. Additionally, some countries have had citizens play in the NHL, but have never had a native-born player reach the league.
Most statistical sources in the sport follow the convention of the Hockey Hall of Fame in classifying players by the currently existing countries in which their birthplaces are located.

## Current countries

| Country | Name | Debut year |
| Australia | Nathan Walker | 2017–18 |
| Austria | Reinhard Divis | 2001–02 |
| Bahamas | Andre Deveaux | 2008–09 |
| Belarus | John Miszuk | 1963–64 |
| Belgium | Jan Benda | 1997–98 |
| Bulgaria | Alexandar Georgiev | 2017–18 |
| Brazil | Mike Greenlay | 1989–90 |
| Brunei | Craig Adams | 2000–01 |
| Canada | Multiple: all but one participant of the first NHL game were Canadian born | 1917–18 |
| Croatia | Goran Bezina | 2003–04 |
| Czech Republic | Jaroslav Jirik | 1969–70 |
| Denmark | Poul Popiel | 1965–66 |
| Estonia | Leo Komarov | 2012–13 |
| Finland | Albert Pudas | 1926–27 |
| France | Andre Peloffy | 1974–75 |
| Germany | Walt Tkaczuk | 1967–68 |
| Haiti | Claude Vilgrain | 1987–88 |
| Indonesia | Richie Regehr | 2005–06 |
| Ireland | Jack Riley | 1932–33 |
| Italy | Nelson DeBenedet | 1973–74 |
| Jamaica | Graeme Townshend | 1989–90 |
| Japan | Yutaka Fukufuji | 2006–07 |
| Kazakhstan | Konstantin Shafranov | 1996–97 |
| Latvia | Charlie Cotch | 1924–25 |
| Lebanon | Ed Hatoum | 1968–69 |
| Lithuania | Darius Kasparaitis | 1992–93 |
| Netherlands | Ed Kea | 1973–74 |
| Nigeria | Rumun Ndur | 1996–97 |
| Norway | Bill Johansen | 1949–50 |
| Paraguay | Willi Plett | 1975–76 |
| Poland | Joe Jerwa | 1930–31 |
| Republic of China (Taiwan) | Rod Langway | 1978–79 |
| Russia | Sweeney Schriner | 1934–35 |
| Serbia | Stan Smrke | 1956–57 |
| Slovakia | Stan Mikita | 1958–59 |
| Slovenia | Anze Kopitar | 2006–07 |
| South Africa | Olaf Kolzig | 1989–90 |
| South Korea | Jim Paek | 1990–91 |
| Sweden | Gus Forslund | 1932–33 |
| Switzerland | Mark Hardy | 1979–80 |
| Tanzania | Chris Nielsen | 2000–01 |
| United Kingdom | Joe Hall | 1917–18 |
| United States | George Geran | 1917–18 |
| Ukraine | Vic Hoffinger | 1927–28 |
| Venezuela | Rick Chartraw | 1974–75 |
| Uzbekistan | Arthur Kaliyev | 2020–21 |

## Former countries

| Country | Name | Debut year |
| Czechoslovakia | Anton Stastny Peter Stastny | 1980–81 |
| East Germany | Udo Kiessling | 1981–82 |
| Newfoundland | Alex Faulkner | 1961–62 |
| Russian Empire | Charlie Cotch | 1924–25 |
| Slovak Republic (1939–1945) | Stan Mikita | 1958–59 |
| Soviet Union | John Miszuk | 1963–64 |
| West Germany | Willie Huber | 1978–79 |
| Yugoslavia, Kingdom of | Stan Smrke | 1956–57 |
| Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of | Ivan Boldirev | 1970–71 |