Nations in the NHL

American NHL players 1978–79

44 American players played in the NHL in 1978–79. Together they scored 725 points, the second most of any country, and USA finished third of 3 in the nations league. Reed Larson scored the most, 67 points.

NHL players

725

Points

3rd

Nations league

Goalie wins

1978–79Active season80/82 games

1977–78 1979–80

AMERICAN LEADERS

In the nations league

3rd

of 3 ranked nations

league points

Rate3rdTop trio3rdBlue line2ndGoalies2ndPer million3rd

USA accounts for 8.8% of the NHL's players and 5.8% of its points.

The full nations league

American goalies

Regular season. Most games first.

Goalie	GP	W-L-OTL	SV%	GAA	SO
Pete LoprestiMNS	7	2-4-0	.822	4.88	0

Every American player in the NHL, team by team

44 players across 15 teams.

MNSMinnesota North Stars9 players

Mike FidlerINACTIVE

LW · 59 GP · 23G 26A49P

Gary SargentINACTIVE

D · 79 GP · 12G 32A44P

Tom YounghansINACTIVE

RW · 76 GP · 8G 10A18P

Mike PolichINACTIVE

C · 73 GP · 6G 10A16P

Pete LoprestiINACTIVE

G · 7 GP · 2 W · .8222W

BOSBoston Bruins5 players

Bob MillerINACTIVE

C · 77 GP · 15G 33A48P

Mike MilburyINACTIVE

D · 74 GP · 1G 34A35P

Bill BennettINACTIVE

LW · 7 GP · 1G 4A5P

Thomas SonginINACTIVE

RW · 17 GP · 3G 1A4P

Ab DeMarcoINACTIVE

D · 3 GP · 0G 0A0P

DETDetroit Red Wings5 players

Reed LarsonINACTIVE

D · 79 GP · 18G 49A67P

Dan BolducINACTIVE

RW · 56 GP · 16G 13A29P

NYRNew York Rangers4 players

Dean TalafousINACTIVE

C · 68 GP · 13G 16A29P

Nick FotiuINACTIVE

LW · 71 GP · 3G 5A8P

Mike McDougallINACTIVE

RW · 1 GP · 0G 0A0P

Dean TurnerINACTIVE

D · 1 GP · 0G 0A0P

STLSt. Louis Blues4 players

Jack BrownschidleINACTIVE

D · 64 GP · 10G 24A34P

Harvey BennettINACTIVE

C · 52 GP · 3G 9A12P

Doug PalazzariINACTIVE

C · 20 GP · 2G 3A5P

Dick LambyINACTIVE

D · 9 GP · 0G 4A4P

WSHWashington Capitals3 players

Tom RoweINACTIVE

RW · 69 GP · 31G 30A61P

Peter ScamurraINACTIVE

D · 30 GP · 3G 5A8P

Craig PatrickINACTIVE

RW · 3 GP · 1G 1A2P

BUFBuffalo Sabres2 players

Lee FogolinINACTIVE

D · 74 GP · 3G 19A22P

Richie DunnINACTIVE

D · 24 GP · 0G 3A3P

LAKLos Angeles Kings2 players

Steve JensenINACTIVE

LW · 72 GP · 23G 8A31P

Mark HeaslipINACTIVE

RW · 69 GP · 4G 9A13P

Show all 15 teams

PHIPhiladelphia Flyers2 players

Paul HolmgrenINACTIVE

RW · 57 GP · 19G 10A29P

Tom GorenceINACTIVE

RW · 42 GP · 13G 6A19P

PITPittsburgh Penguins2 players

Russ AndersonINACTIVE

D · 72 GP · 3G 13A16P

Bob ParadiseINACTIVE

D · 14 GP · 0G 1A1P

VANVancouver Canucks2 players

Curt FraserINACTIVE

LW · 78 GP · 16G 18A34P

Jere GillisINACTIVE

LW · 78 GP · 13G 12A25P

AFMAtlanta Flames1 player

Gerry O'FlahertyINACTIVE

LW · 1 GP · 1G 0A1P

CHIChicago Blackhawks1 player

Mike O'connellINACTIVE

D · 48 GP · 4G 22A26P

CLRColorado Rockies1 player

Mike ChristieINACTIVE

D · 68 GP · 1G 10A11P

NYINew York Islanders1 player

Richie HansenINACTIVE

C · 12 GP · 1G 6A7P

Season by season

USA had 121 players in the NHL in 1990–91 and 301 in 2025–26. The peak was 2021–22, with 324. Under each bar is the nations league placing, in gold for the 4 seasons USA won.

In the NHL Draft

57 American players were picked in the 2026 NHL Draft, seven of them in the first round. Chase Reid went first, at number 7 to the Seattle Kraken.

Every pick in 2026 →The draft through the years →

American NHL players all time

Regular season, whole careers. The record seasons count completed seasons only.

Most points by American players

Most goalie wins

Best seasons by a American player

USA against Sweden

The nations league's five categories plus raw points and player count. The higher value takes the round.

USA

3rd in the league

3–4

Sweden

2nd in the league

Sweden wins 4–3 against USA.

0.43Points per game0.59

177Best trio217

0.39Defencemen's points per game0.50

.877Goalies' save percentage–

0.1NHL players per million inhabitants1.5

725Total points627

44Players in the NHL16

USA against Sweden season by season

Pick a rival

Canada

Sweden

Continue reading

Top scorer

Reed Larson

USA's top scorer in 1978–79.

The team

Detroit Red Wings

Where Reed Larson 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 1978–79

The countries compared per player rather than in raw totals.

Against Sweden

Sweden vs USA

Seven rounds, season by season.

The Swedes

Every Swede in the NHL

Team by team, with position and stats.