8 Vancouver Giants Alumni on NHL Rosters to Open 2026-27 Campaign
Langley, B.C. – Eight former Vancouver Giants are listed on NHL rosters to open up the 2026-27 regular season, which officially kicks off on Tuesday, September 29 with a five-game slate.
The list of Giants alumni includes: Bowen Byram (Chicago), Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver), Sam Honzek (Calgary), Brett Kulak (Colorado), Jordan Martinook (Carolina), Trent Miner (Colorado), Zack Ostapchuk (San Jose) and Justin Sourdif (Washington).
Bowen Byram – Chicago Blackhawks
Byram, 25, was traded to Chicago this offseason (along with forward Jordan Greenway) in exchange for defenseman Louis Crevier, a first-round pick (4th overall) and a second-round pick (45th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft. Not long after arriving in Chicago, Byram signed a six-year contract extension worth $75 million, with an average annual value of $12.5 million. The deal kicks in next year, and will make him the second-highest paid defenceman in the NHL (as of this writing).
Byram is coming off a career-year with Buffalo, after putting up 42 points (11G-31A) in 82 games. He also contributed strongly to the Sabres playoff-run, scoring seven points (4G-3A) in 13 games to help his team reach Game 7 of the second round.
As a Giant, Byram played three full seasons (2017-20) and ranks fourth in all-time points by a defencemen with 150 (46G-104A). He also holds the third-most productive single season point total for Giants defencemen, thanks to a 71-point campaign in 2018-19. During Vancouver’s run to the 2019 WHL Championship Final, Byram also put up 26 points in 22 games (8G-18A).
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Brendan Gallagher – Vancouver Canucks
Gallagher, 34, is coming home! The 5-foot-9 forward who was raised in Tsawwassen surpassed the 900-game mark in his NHL career last season with Montreal, before being traded to the Canucks for future considerations in late June.
He suited up in 77 games for the Habs last year, producing 23 points. The winger has spent all 14 seasons of his NHL career with the Canadiens, during which he produced 487 points (246G-241A), including two 30-goal seasons and two additional 20-goal seasons.
Gallagher was an alternate captain for the Habs for the past 11 seasons and will be a welcome addition to the Canucks leadership group.
Gallagher is the Giants all-time leader in points with 280 (136G-144A), which included three consecutive 40-goal seasons from 2009-12. He was selected by the Habs in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Gallagher ranks sixth in Giants playoff scoring all-time, with 36 points in 42 games (19G-17A).
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Sam Honzek – Calgary Flames
Honzek, 21, is the most recent Giant to make the jump to the NHL. The former first round pick (16th, 2023) has battled significant injuries in his first two professional seasons, totalling 23 games with the Flames (2G-2A) and 52 games with the AHL’s Wranglers (8G-13A) over that timespan.
The 6-foot-4 Slovakian forward is now healthy and primed for a breakout season. He was skating in the preseason on a line with Flames captain Mikael Backlund and Joel Farabee.
Honzek was the Giants first ever European captain in 2023-24. In 76 games across two WHL seasons as a Giant, Honzek tallied 87 points (33G-54A).
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Brett Kulak – Colorado Avalanche
Kulak, 32, had the rare distinction of getting traded twice last season, getting flipped first from Edmonton to Pittsburgh, and then from Pittsburgh to Colorado in February. He scored a massive overtime goal for the Avs in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, notching the series clincher in Game 5 to eliminate the Minnesota Wild and send Colorado to the Western Conference Final.
Kulak has now suited up in 663 career regular season games, having recorded 137 points (29G-108A) with five teams. The Edmonton native played in 13 post-season games (1G-4A) with Colorado this spring, giving him 29 career playoff points (4G-25A) in 111 playoff games. He has played in at least 10 playoff games in seven consecutive seasons.
As a Giant, Kulak played three full seasons (2011-14), culminating in a standout 60-point campaign in 2013-14, during which he was also an alternate captain. He was selected by the Flames in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and originally a ninth-round pick by the Giants in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft.
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Jordan Martinook – Carolina Hurricanes
Martinook, 34, achieved the ultimate goal this summer: winning the Stanley Cup.
The Brandon, Man. native helped the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in six games to give the Hurricanes their first championship in 20 years.
Martinook posted five points in 19 playoff games, and is now closing in on 100 career playoff games (38 points in 95 career playoff games). He is three games shy of 800 in the regular season, currently with 262 career points (107G-155A) in 797 career games.
As a Giant, Martinook scored 51 goals and 41 assists for 92 points during his two seasons with the club from 2010-12. Following his 40-goal campaign in 2011-12, the (then) Phoenix Coyotes made him a second-round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
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Trent Miner – Colorado Avalanche
After making his NHL debut in 2024, Miner, 25, picked up his first career NHL win and shutout last season on January 10 against Columbus.
Miner had a tremendous showing in the 2026 AHL playoffs with the Colorado Eagles, posting a .925 save percentage and 1.87 G.A.A. in 17 games, helping the Eagles reach the Western Conference Final. In four appearances with the Avs last season, the Brandon, Man. native went 1-0-3 with a .933 SV% and 2.03 G.A.A.
As a Giant, Miner played four seasons from 2017-2021, going 48-28-5 across 84 appearances with a 2.49 GAA and .910 save percentage. His 48 wins are the fourth-most in franchise history. The Avs selected Miner 202nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
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Zack Ostapchuk – San Jose Sharks
Ostapchuk, 23, signed a four-year contract extension with the Sharks this summer worth $9.4 million ($2.35 million AAV).
He played a career-high 59 games with the Sharks in 2025-26, tallying seven points (4G-3A) and 45 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound forward was originally selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round (39th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Ostapchuk was the Giants’ first round pick (12th overall) in 2018, later becoming team captain in 2022. He was traded to Winnipeg at the 2023 WHL trade deadline for multiple draft picks and players, including three first-round selections.
Ostapchuk tallied 134 career WHL points in 187 games over four seasons. He also won two World Junior gold medals during his time with the Giants.
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Justin Sourdif – Washington Capitals
Sourdif, 24, had a standout rookie season with the Caps in 2025-26, recording 35 points (15G-20A) in 78 games, along with a +15 rating.
The Richmond, B.C. product was acquired by Washington in the summer of 2025 from Florida, and was coming off an AHL season where he had produced 34 points (16G-18A) in 43 games for the Charlotte Checkers. The jump to the NHL full-time was seamless for the 6-foot, 200 lb. forward, who is now expected to start the year as the Caps fourth-line centre.
Prior to graduating to the professional ranks, Sourdif was the third overall selection by the Giants in the 2017 WHL Draft and went on to play 171 games with Vancouver, registering 166 points. He was the captain for the G-Men to start the 2021-22 season, before getting dealt to the Edmonton Oil Kings at the 2022 WHL Trade Deadline for two first-round picks and Jacob Boucher, who he went on to help win the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
Over 199 career WHL Regular Season games, Sourdif recorded 205 points (86G-119A).
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* = Injured and/or Non-Roster Player
