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LatviaNations in the NHL

Latvian NHL players 2022–23

5 Latvian players played in the NHL in 2022–23. Together they scored 39 points, the 15th most of any country. The nations league needs at least five skaters, so Latvia was not part of it. Zemgus Girgensons scored the most, 18 points.

5
NHL players
39
Points
–
Nations league
10
Goalie wins
2022–23Last season82/82 games
2021–222023–24

LATVIAN LEADERS

In the nations league

The nations league needs five skaters, and Latvia has three. In raw numbers the country is 15th in points and eleventh in players.

Latvia accounts for 0.5% of the NHL's players and 0.2% of its points.

The full nations league

Latvian goalies

Regular season. Most games first.
GoalieGPW-L-OTLSV%GAASO
Elvis MerzlikinsCBJ
307-18-0.8764.230
Arturs SilovsVAN
53-2-0.9082.750

Every Latvian player in the NHL, team by team

5 players across 5 teams.
BUFBuffalo Sabres1 player
Zemgus Girgensons
C · 80 GP · 10G 8A18P
CBJColumbus Blue Jackets1 player
Elvis Merzlikins
G · 30 GP · 7 W · .8767W
TBLTampa Bay Lightning1 player
Rudolfs BalcersINACTIVE
LW · 17 GP · 3G 2A5P
VANVancouver Canucks1 player
Arturs Silovs
G · 5 GP · 3 W · .9083W
VGKVegas Golden Knights1 player
Teddy Blueger
C · 63 GP · 4G 12A16P

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
–
–
–
–5
–19
–
–
–
–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
Zemgus Girgensons
Latvia's top scorer in 2022–23.
The team
Buffalo Sabres
Where Zemgus Girgensons 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 2022–23
The countries compared per player rather than in raw totals.
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Team by team, with position and stats.