List of countries with their first National Hockey League 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. One current example of this is Australia; while the country saw its first citizen reach the league in 2017, said player (Nathan Walker) had been born in the United Kingdom.
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 of birth	Name 	Debut year
 	Nathan WalkerNHL goes mad for 'Thunder from Down Under' Nathan Walker after Aussie scores first goal for St Louis Blues 	2017-18
 	Reinhard DivisThe 2011 Invitees: Part One in a Two-Part Epic 	2001–02Reinhard Divis
 	Andre DeveauxAndre Deveaux 	2008–09Andre Deveaux
 	John MiszukMiszuk was born in the Byelorussian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Belarus in 1991. 	1963–64John Miszuk
 	Jan BendaSIHR – Global Hockey Facts: Belgium 	1997–98Jan Benda
 	Alexandar GeorgievGeorgiev was born in Bulgaria, but has represented Russia at the 2019 IIHF World Championship. 	2017–18https://www.newsday.com/amp/news/region-state/niemi-canadiens-defeat-rangers-3-1-to-snap-6-game-skid-1.16918700
 	Mike Greenlay 	1989–90Mike Greenlay
 	Craig AdamsAdams was born in Brunei prior to its independence from the UK, while it was still a protectorate 	2000–01Craig Adams
 	Multiple: all but one participant of the first NHL game were Canadian born 	1917–18Rosters of First NHL game
 	Goran BezinaBezina was born in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in the territory now known as Croatia. 	2003–04Goran Bezina
 	Jaroslav JirikJirik was born in the former area of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia which was part of Nazi Germany. It occupied most of the territory now known as the Czech Republic. 	1969–70Jaroslav Jirik
 	Poul Popiel 	1965–66Poul Popiel
 	Leo KomarovKomarov was born in the Estonian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Estonia in 1991. However, he represents Finland. 	2012–13Leo Komarov
 	Albert PudasAlbert PudasPudas was born in the former area of the Grand Duchy of Finland which was part of the Russian Empire. It occupied the territory now known as Finland. 	1926–27Albert Pudas
 	Andre Peloffy 	1974–75Andre Peloffy
 	Walt TkaczukLA Kings News Clips 12–23–10Tkaczuk was born in the Bizone, the combination of the American and British occupation zones of Germany following the defeat of the Nazi regime in World War II.	Walt Tkaczuk
 	Claude VilgrainEarthquake hits home for Vilgrain 	1987–88Claude Vilgrain
 	Richie Regehr 	2005–06Richie Regehr
 	Jack RileyRiley was born in Ireland while it was a constituent country of the United Kingdom. 	1932–33
 	Nelson DeBenedet 	1973–74Nelson DeBenedet
 	Graeme Townshend 	1989–90Graeme Townshend
 	Yutaka FukufujiYutaka Fukufuji 	2006–07Yutaka Fukufuji
 	Konstantin ShafranovShafranov was born in the Kazakh SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Kazakhstan in 1991. 	1996–97Konstantin Shafranov
 	Charlie CotchCotch was born in the Russian Empire, in territory now known as Latvia. 	1924–25Charlie Cotch
 	Ed HatoumEd Hatoum 	1968–69Ed Hatoum
 	Darius KasparaitisKasparaitis was born in the Lithuanian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Lithuania in 1990. 	1992–93Darius Kasparaitis
 	Ed Kea 	1973–74Ed Kea
 	Rumun NdurRumun Ndur 	1996–97Rumun Ndur
 	Bill Johansen 	1949–50Bill Johansen
 	Willi Plett 	1975–76Willi Plett
 	Joe JerwaJerwa was born in the former country of the Russian Empire, in territory that is now known as Poland. 	1930–31Joe Jerwa
 	Rod LangwayRod Langway 	1978–79Rod Langway
 	Sweeney SchrinerSchriner was born in the former country of the Russian Empire, in territory that is now Russia. 	1934–35Sweeney Schriner
 	Stan SmrkeStan SmrkeSmrke was born in the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia, in territory that is now known as Serbia. 	1956–57Stan Smrke
 	Stan MikitaMikita was born in the Slovak Republic (1939-1945), a puppet state of Nazi Germany which occupied most of the territory now known as Slovakia. 	1958–59Stan Mikita
 	Anze KopitarMalkin not lock as NHL's no. 1 rookieKopitar was born in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in territory that is now Slovenia. 	2006–07Anze Kopitar
 	Olaf Kolzig 	1989–90Olaf Kolzig
 	Jim PaekCan I Play, Too?; Korean Athletes In U.S. Sports; Jim Paek, the First Korean to Hoist the Stanley Cup 	1990–91Jim Paek
 	Gus ForslundSwedish Ice Hockey Year By Year 	1932–33Gus Forslund
 	Mark Hardy 	1979–80Mark Hardy
 	Chris Nielsen 	2000–01Chris Nielsen
 	Joe HallJoe Hall 	1917–18Joe Hall
 	George Geran 	1917–18George Geran
 	Vic HoffingerHoffinger was born in the Russian Empire, in territory now known as the Ukraine 	1927–28Vic Hoffinger
 	Rick ChartrawRick Chartraw 	1974–75Rick Chartraw
==Former countries==
Country 	Name 	Debut Year
 	Anton StastnyPeter Stastny 	1980–81Anton StastnyPeter Stastny
 	Udo KiesslingUdo Kiessling 	1981–82Udo Kiessling
Not to be confused with the modern day Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. 	Alex Faulkner 	1961–62Alex Faulkner
Not to be confused with modern day Russia. 	Charlie Cotch 	1924–25
Not to be confused with modern day Slovakia. 	Stan MikitaNHL Great Stan Mikita Has Oral Cancer	1958–59
 	John Miszuk 	1963–64
 	Willie Huber 	1978–79Willie Huber
Not to be confused with either the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.	Stan SmrkeStan Smrke 	1956–57
Not to be confused with either the Kingdom of Yugoslavia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 	Ivan BoldirevIvan Boldirev 	Ivan Boldirev
==Notes==
==References==
==See also==
*List of NHL statistical leaders by country
Countries, first