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LatviaNations in the NHL

Latvian NHL players 2019–20

5 Latvian players played in the NHL in 2019–20. Together they scored 44 points, the 13th most of any country. The nations league needs at least five skaters, so Latvia was not part of it. Teddy Blueger scored the most, 22 points.

5
NHL players
44
Points
–
Nations league
14
Goalie wins
2019–20Active season69/82 games
2018–192020–21

LATVIAN LEADERS

In the nations league

The nations league needs five skaters, and Latvia has three. In raw numbers the country is 13th in points and eleventh in players.

Latvia accounts for 0.5% of the NHL's players and 0.3% of its points.

The full nations league

Latvian goalies

Regular season. Most games first.
GoalieGPW-L-OTLSV%GAASO
Elvis MerzlikinsCBJ
3213-9-0.9232.355
Matiss KivlenieksCBJ
61-1-0.8982.950

Every Latvian player in the NHL, team by team

5 players across 4 teams.
CBJColumbus Blue Jackets2 players
Elvis Merzlikins
G · 32 GP · 13 W · .92313W
Matiss KivlenieksINACTIVE
G · 6 GP · 1 W · .8981W
BUFBuffalo Sabres1 player
Zemgus Girgensons
C · 69 GP · 12G 7A19P
OTTOttawa Senators1 player
Rudolfs BalcersINACTIVE
LW · 15 GP · 1G 2A3P
PITPittsburgh Penguins1 player
Teddy Blueger
C · 69 GP · 9G 13A22P

Season by season

Latvia had 1 players in the NHL in 1989–90 and 7 in 2025–26. The peak was 1998–99, with 7. Under each bar is the nations league placing.
–
–
–4
–93
–
–
–
–7
498
6
9
–
–4
–03
–
–
–
95
1009
–
–
–
–2
–14
–
–
–
–4
–20
–
–
–
–7
1125

In the NHL Draft

Four Latvian players were picked in the 2026 NHL Draft, one of them in the first round. Alberts Smits went first, at number 5 to the New York Rangers.

Every pick in 2026 →The draft through the years →

Latvian NHL players all time

Regular season, whole careers. The record seasons count completed seasons only.
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Top scorer
Teddy Blueger
Latvia's top scorer in 2019–20.
The team
Pittsburgh Penguins
Where Teddy Blueger plays.
Nations in the NHL
Every nation in the NHL
How many players each country has in the NHL, with a page for each.
Nations league
NHL battle of the nations 2019–20
The countries compared per player rather than in raw totals.
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