A star, a milestone, and a move headlines the Carlsberg WHL Alumni Spotlight

With over 100 graduates currently featured on NHL rosters, the Western Hockey League prides itself as one of the finest development leagues in the world.

By way of the Carlsberg WHL Alumni Spotlight, we aim to highlight notable achievements set by our alumni at the highest level of professional hockey.

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Yukon’s Dylan Cozens revitalized in new role with Ottawa

After a five-year tenure as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, Dylan Cozens has packed his bags and made the move to Canada’s capital. The former Lethbridge Hurricanes captain found himself in a 2025 NHL Trade Deadline deal that saw him, teammate Dennis Gilbert, and a draft pick join the Ottawa Senators organization in exchange for forward Josh Norris and defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

It was a move that proved to be an instant success for both parties. The migration back to his home country not only revitalized the forward’s offensive production, but, in turn, gave the Senators’ forward line-up a much needed boost of energy.

Since donning Ottawa’s red, white, and black uniforms, the forward – playfully dubbed the ‘Workhorse from Whitehorse’ – has stitched together five points (two goals–three assists) in six appearances. Cozens also recorded the game-winning goal – a late, power play tally – in his second start with Ottawa.

The 24-year-old is now up to 13 goals and 23 assists (36 points) in 67 games this season, and is on pace to surpass the 40-point plateau for the third time in his WHL career.

Dylan Cozens is an Ottawa Senator. pic.twitter.com/N29HBObGpK

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 12, 2025

With Cozens in their nightly line-up, the Senators’ push to NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs is very much alive. Having lost just one game following the addition of Cozens, the Atlantic Division club has rocketed up the standings and currently own the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.

Taking from his lessons learned with the Hurricanes, Cozens is right at home in the midst of Ottawa’s post-season push. The forward reached the WHL Playoffs on three occasions with Lethbridge – including two trips to the Eastern Conference Championship. In 35 playoff appearances, Cozens boasts 29 points (14 goals–15 assists).

Streaking Draisaitl hits century mark in points

For the sixth time in his NHL career, German-born superstar Leon Draisaitl has reached the century mark.

A two-goal performance – including the overtime winner – in the Edmonton Oilers’ meeting with New York Islanders on March 14 was all the sharpshooter needed to surpass the 100-point plateau, doing so in just 66 games.

Now boasting 101 points (49 goals–52 assists) on the season, Draisaitl currently sits two points behind the NHL’s leading point-getter, Nathan MacKinnon. However, the WHL alumnus is in firm command of the goal-scoring title, owning 11 more tucks than the League’s second-best scorer. He is one goal back from reaching the 50-goal plateau for the fourth time in his career.

Leon Draisaitl hits the 100 point mark… is he the Hart front runner? 👀🏆🤔 pic.twitter.com/3fWysCLMQz

— BarDown (@BarDown) March 15, 2025

Along with his recent milestone marker, Draisaitl has also set a career-high, point streak after recording one or more points for the 18th-consecutive game. Draisaitl’s personal best also adds up as the longest point streak in the NHL this season. The 18-game stint began on January 27 with an assist against the Seattle Kraken before concluding on March 18 after going pointless against the Utah Hockey Club. In that span, Draisaitl posted 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points.

The performance also marked the fourth player in Oilers history to record a point streak of 18 or more games. He joins Oilers legends Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, and Wayne Gretzky, as the only players to accomplish this feat.

At the WHL level, offensive production was also Draisaitl’s forte. Suiting up for both the Prince Albert Raiders and Kelowna Rockets in his three-season tenure, the product of Cologne, Germany amassed 216 points (78 goals–138 assists) in 160 appearances. Much like his NHL career, Draisaitl also reached the 100-point plateau with the Raiders, collecting 105 points (38 goals–67 assists) during the 2013-14 season.

In 2015, Draisaitl tied a bow on his junior hockey career by winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup as a member of the 2015 WHL Championship-winning Kelowna Rockets. Netting 28 points (10 goals–18 assists) in 19 post-season appearances, Draisaitl was also crowned the WHL’s Playoffs MVP.

WHL alumnus Kuemper named NHL’s First Star of the Week

Darcy Kuemper loves playing in front of a rowdy, home crowd – and who can blame him.

Backed by the energy provided by the Los Angeles Kings faithful inside the Crypto.com arena, the netminder has been nearly unsolvable on home ice. Since December 7, the former Spokane Chiefs and Red Deer Rebels puckstopper has strung together a home point streak of 13 games, equating to a formidable record of 12-0-1. Also posting a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.37 and save percentage (SV %) of .948, Kuemper’s home ice streak is now the longest in Kings history.

And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

You're a star, Darce 🌟 https://t.co/LWshUqQPOB pic.twitter.com/8p3f1MwsT9

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 17, 2025

Kuemper’s recent performance didn’t fly under the National League’s radar, as the 34-year-old was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week for the week ending on March 16.

In a seven-day span, the WHL alumnus notched a perfect, 3-0-0 record – including back-to-back-shutouts on March 13 and 15 against the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators, respectively. And, of the combined, 79 shots Kuemper faced over the week, only one managed to escape his grasp. Kuemper’s undefeated week paired nicely with us 0.33 GAA and .987 SV %.

In his 38 starts this season, the product of Saskatoon, Sask., boasts a 22-9-7 record and ranks second among all NHL goaltenders who’ve played 23 games or more in goals-against average (2.16) and third in save percentage (.919).

KUEMPER SHUTS THE DOOR AGAIN 🚪

Darcy Kuemper was perfect on Saturday night to capture back-to-back @pepsi shutouts! pic.twitter.com/iTQapafxfN

— NHL (@NHL) March 16, 2025

In his three-season stint in the WHL, Kuemper commanded the crease with both the Chiefs and Rebels organization. Kuemper made a total of 178 regular season starts and graduated from the Western League with an all-time record of 94-60-4-13.

During the 2010-11 WHL season, Kuemper cemented himself as a goaltending great by setting a Rebels record for best goals against average (1.86) and most shutouts in a single-season (13). He was later named the WHL’s Goaltender and Player of the Year for the 2010-11 season.