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British NHL players 1996–97

5 British players played in the NHL in 1996–97. Together they scored 101 points, the ninth most of any country. The nations league needs at least five skaters, so United Kingdom was not part of it. Owen Nolan scored the most, 63 points.

5
NHL players
101
Points
–
Nations league
13
Goalie wins
1996–97Last season82/82 games
1995–961997–98

BRITISH LEADERS

In the nations league

The nations league needs five skaters, and United Kingdom has four. In raw numbers the country is ninth in points and ninth in players.

United Kingdom accounts for 0.6% of the NHL's players and 0.6% of its points.

The full nations league

British goalies

Regular season. Most games first.
GoalieGPW-L-OTLSV%GAASO
Byron DafoeLAK
4013-17-0.9053.110

Every British player in the NHL, team by team

5 players across 5 teams.
CHIChicago Blackhawks1 player
Steve SmithINACTIVE
D · 21 GP · 0G 0A0P
HFDHartford Whalers1 player
Kevin BrownINACTIVE
RW · 11 GP · 0G 4A4P
LAKLos Angeles Kings1 player
Byron DafoeINACTIVE
G · 40 GP · 13 W · .90513W
NJDNew Jersey Devils1 player
Steve ThomasINACTIVE
RW · 57 GP · 15G 19A34P
SJSSan Jose Sharks1 player
Owen NolanINACTIVE
RW · 72 GP · 31G 32A63P

Season by season

United Kingdom had 3 players in the NHL in 1985–86 and 1 in 2025–26. The peak was 1994–95, with 5. Under each bar is the nations league placing.
3
–85
–
–
–
–4
–92
–
–
–
–5
–98
–
–
–
–3
–03
–
–
–
–1
–12
–
–
–
–1
–20
–
–
–
–1
–25

In the NHL Draft

One British player was picked in the 2021 NHL Draft, not in the first round. Taige Harding went 91st overall to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Every pick in 2021 →The draft through the years →

British NHL players all time

Regular season, whole careers. The record seasons count completed seasons only.
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Top scorer
Owen Nolan
United Kingdom's top scorer in 1996–97.
The team
San Jose Sharks
Where Owen Nolan 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 1996–97
The countries compared per player rather than in raw totals.
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The rest of the site follows the Swedes in the NHL.
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Every Swede in the NHL
Team by team, with position and stats.