Most NHL training camps opened Friday, so we took a tour around the series of tubes to identify Alaska-connected players who are in camp with teams in the world's best league.
Granted, the vast majority will not make the big team -- they'll either get sent to AHL or ECHL teams -- but at least getting to a training camp gives a guy some kind of shot.
In any event, we found more than two dozen Alaska connections, 10 of which are with the St. Louis Blues. Here are the dudes:
Anaheim Ducks -- NHL C Nate Thompson of Anchorage and former UAA C Matt Bailey.
Arizona Coyotes -- W Joey Crabb of Anchorage, with 179 games of NHL experience.
Buffalo Sabres -- NHL G Chad Johnson, the former Nanook.
Calgary Flames -- Former Alaska Aces G Joni Ortio, who has played in the NHL for Flames each of last two seasons, and former Aces F Turner Elson.
Columbus Blue Jackets -- NHL C Brandon Dubinsky of Anchorage and former Aces D John Ramage.
Edmonton Oilers -- Former Aces G Laurent Brossoit, who made his NHL debut last season for Oilers.
Minnesota Wild -- Former Aces W Raphael Bussieres.
Ottawa Senators -- Former UAF G Scott Greenham and former Aces D Nick Tuzzolino.
St. Louis Blues (take a deep breath) -- NHL C Scott Gomez of Anchorage; former Aces W Evan Trupp of Anchorage; former UAF All-America D Colton Parayko; G Pheonix Copley of North Pole; former Aces G Niklas Lundstrom; NHLer and former Aces W Ryan Reaves; former Aces C Ryan Tesink; former Aces W Jacob Doty; former Aces F Zach Pochiro; former Aces W Cody Beach.
Tampa Bay Lightning -- NHL D Matt Carle of Anchorage; former Kenai River Brown Bears D Andrej Sustr.
Toronto Maple Leafs -- NHL W and former UAA skater Curtis Glencross; W Casey Bailey of Anchorage, who made his NHL debut last season, and W Justin Johnson, the former Ace and Seawolf who has NHL experience.
Washington Capitals -- NHL C/W and former UAA skater Jay Beagle.
Winnipeg Jets -- Former Aces W and NHLer Anthony Peluso.
Alaska Dispatch Publishing