The globalization of the
National Hockey League has been occurring since its inception. The early years saw a largely Canadian league, with some Americans playing. As the league progressed it experienced an influx of European players, at first from Western European countries such as Sweden. After the fall of Communism, players from Eastern European countries, such as the former Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union, joined the league. The NHL eventually saw fewer European players, but more players from Canada and the United States. Today the NHL has players from five continents. The following is a list of countries and the first person born there that played in the National Hockey League. These players are not necessarily the first citizen of each respective country to play in the NHL, as nationality is determined under a nation's
nationality law and may differ. Additionally, some countries have had citizens play in the NHL, but have never had a native-born player reach the league.
Most statistical sources in the sport follow the convention of the
Hockey Hall of Fame in classifying players by the currently existing countries in which their birthplaces are located.
^Komarov was born in the
Estonian SSR of the former
USSR, which became the country of Estonia in 1991. However, he represents Finland.
^Pudas was born in the former area of the
Grand Duchy of Finland which was part of the
Russian Empire. It occupied the territory now known as Finland.
^Tkaczuk was born in the
Bizone, the combination of the American and British
occupation zones of Germany following the defeat of the Nazi regime in World War II.
^Riley was born in Ireland while it was a
constituent country of the United Kingdom.
^Shafranov was born in the
Kazakh SSR of the former
USSR, which became the country of Kazakhstan in 1991.
^Cotch was born in the
Russian Empire, in territory now known as Latvia.
^Kasparaitis was born in the
Lithuanian SSR of the former
USSR, which became the country of Lithuania
in 1990.
^Jerwa was born in the former country of the
Russian Empire, in territory that is now known as Poland.
^Schriner was born in the former country of the
Russian Empire, in territory that is now Russia.
^Smrke was born in the [[Kingdom of Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes]], in territory that is now known as Serbia.
^Mikita was born in the
Slovak Republic (1939-1945), a puppet state of Nazi Germany which occupied most of the territory now known as Slovakia.
^Podnieks, Andrew (2003). Players: The ultimate A–Z guide of everyone who has ever played in the NHL. Toronto: Doubleday Canada. p. 770.
ISBN0-385-25999-9.