7 Pats Alumni Listed on 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Rosters
Regina, Sask. – Seven Regina Pats alumni are on the rosters of the 16 teams that will battle in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin tonight, Monday, April 17.
Jordan Eberle – Seattle Kraken
Eberle completed his second season with the Kraken, helping the club to a 46-28-8-4 record, recording 100 points, finishing first in the Western Conference Wild Card standings as they gear up for a first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche. The Regina, Sask. product tallied 63 points (20G-43A) in 82 games this past season, playing 82 contests for the second time in his 13 year NHL career. He also picked up his second straight 20+ goal season and reached 60+ points for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
Now 32, the 5-foot-11, 187 lb. forward began his journey to the NHL here in Regina, where he played for his hometown Pats from 2006-2010. The winger amassed 310 points (155G-155A) in 254 games across four seasons, ranking 9th in franchise history in goals and 15th in points.
Cale Fleury – Seattle Kraken
Fleury, like Eberle, helped the Kraken to their first playoff berth in franchise history, playing in 12 games (0G-1A) with Seattle this past season. The Calgary, Alta. product has played in 62 NHL games (1G-1A) across parts of three seasons in the NHL split between the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle.
The 6-foot-1, 212 lb. defenceman totaled 41 points (6G-35A) in 51 games with the Pats during the 2017-18 season after being acquired from the Kootenay ICE.
Libor Hajek – New York Rangers
Hajek was recalled by New York from the club’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on April 14, in anticipation of their first-round matchup with the New Jersey Devils. The 25-year-old has skated in 16 games with the Rangers this season, scoring one goal and recording a plus-2 rating. In 110 regular season NHL games, all with the Blueshirts, the Smrcek, Czech Republic native has posted four goals and eight assists for 12 points. Hajek has played in 24 contests with the Wolf Pack this season, collecting six points (2G-4A).
Hajek was acquired by the Pats at the 2018 WHL Trade deadline, and recorded 14 points (4G-10A) in 25 games.
Jake Leschyshyn – New York Rangers
Leschyshyn was also recalled by the Rangers from Hartford on April 14. The 24-year-old played in 13 games for the Rangers this season after being claimed off waivers from Vegas on January 11.
The former Pats captain has played in 76 career NHL regular season games between the Rangers and Golden Knights, notching six points (2G-4A). The 5-foot-11, 195 lb. forward has accumulated five goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 18 games with Hartford this season.
Leschyshyn played for the Pats from 2015-2018, where he posted 131 points in 213 games. He was traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in November of 2018 in exchange for a number of players and draft picks — one of which turned into the pick that selected Connor Bedard first overall in 2020.
Josh Mahura – Florida Panthers
Mahura spent this past season with the Panthers, producing 16 points (4G-12A) in 82 games, setting career-highs in goals, assists, points and games played. The St. Albert, Alta. product spent parts of four seasons with the Anaheim Ducks before joining the Panthers via waivers on October 10, 2022. That then led to a contract extension on February 20 where the 6-foot, 190 lb. defenceman signed a one-year deal worth $925,000.
Mahura was acquired by Regina from the Red Deer Rebels during the 2016-17 season. In the 2017-18 season, he tallied 69 points (22G-47A) in 60 games. Florida finished the 2022-23 campaign with 92 points, going 42-32-8-1, finishing second in the Eastern Conference Wild Card standings. They will play the first place Boston Bruins in the opening round.
Sam Steel – Minnesota Wild
Steel, signed with Minnesota on August 30, 2021 following a 2021-22 season where he collected 20 points (6G-14A) in 68 games with the Anaheim Ducks. The Ardrossan, Alta. product set career-highs in goals (10), assists (18) and points (28) in 65 games with the Wild this past season, helping them to a third place finish in the Central Division, going 46-25-11-6. They will face the Dallas Stars in round one.
The former Pats captain played for Regina for parts of five seasons from 2013-2018, recording 338 points (123G-215A) in 258 career WHL games, helping the Pats reach to the 2018 Memorial Cup, and later being named Memorial Cup MVP leading all players in scoring with 13 points (2G-11A) in five contests. The former Ducks 2016 first-round pick ranks seventh in Pats history in assists.
Chandler Stephenson – Vegas Golden Knights
Stephenson posted his second straight 60+ point season with Vegas, scoring a career-best 65 points (16G-49A) in 81 games this past season. Now in his fourth season with Vegas, the Saskatoon, Sask. product has played in 420 regular season NHL contests, recording 219 points (73G-146A), including 18 points (5G-13A) in 66 playoff games. The Golden Knights will face the Winnipeg Jets in round one after Vegas finished first in the Pacific Division, going 51-22-9-4 with 111 points.
The 5-foot-11, 190 lb. forward played for the Pats from 2010-2014, producing 89 points (30G-59A) in his final season.
