NHL Nationality Breakdown

Looking back at over 100 years of NHL history, the league has evolved from having an almost exclusively Canadian player base to a highly diverse league with player nationalities ranging from Canada to Japan.

After the 1960s, the Canadian dominance gradually diminished as players from the Unites States, Sweden and Finland began to find their way to the NHL in greater numbers. By the end of the 1980s, the share of Canadians in the league had dropped to approximately 75%.

Next wave of internationalization began when the collapse of the Eastern Bloc allowed players from the former Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia to compete in the NHL. In 10 years time, the share of Canadians dropped to little over 50%. During the last ten years, player production from United States and Sweden has increased further and the share of Canadians is now closer to 40%.

The chart below shows the relative proportions of different nationalities in the NHL starting from the 1917-1918 season. Season specific data used in the chart can be found on the nationality totals statistics pages.

Canada

Regular Season

Canadian NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Canadian NHL players Season records for Canadian NHL players Game records for Canadian NHL players

Playoffs

Canadian NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Canadian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Canadian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Canadian NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Canadian NHL players - last night's leaders Canadian NHL players - last week's leaders Canadian NHL players - last month's leaders

United States

Regular Season

American NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for American NHL players Season records for American NHL players Game records for American NHL players

Playoffs

American NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for American NHL players - playoffs Season records for American NHL players - playoffs Game records for American NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

American NHL players - last night's leaders American NHL players - last week's leaders American NHL players - last month's leaders

Sweden

Regular Season

Swedish NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Swedish NHL players Season records for Swedish NHL players Game records for Swedish NHL players

Playoffs

Swedish NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Swedish NHL players - playoffs Season records for Swedish NHL players - playoffs Game records for Swedish NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Swedish NHL players - last night's leaders Swedish NHL players - last week's leaders Swedish NHL players - last month's leaders

Russia

Regular Season

Russian NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Russian NHL players Season records for Russian NHL players Game records for Russian NHL players

Playoffs

Russian NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Russian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Russian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Russian NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Russian NHL players - last night's leaders Russian NHL players - last week's leaders Russian NHL players - last month's leaders

Czech Republic

Regular Season

Czech NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Czech NHL players Season records for Czech NHL players Game records for Czech NHL players

Playoffs

Czech NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Czech NHL players - playoffs Season records for Czech NHL players - playoffs Game records for Czech NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Czech NHL players - last night's leaders Czech NHL players - last week's leaders Czech NHL players - last month's leaders

Finland

Regular Season

Finnish NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Finnish NHL players Season records for Finnish NHL players Game records for Finnish NHL players

Playoffs

Finnish NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Finnish NHL players - playoffs Season records for Finnish NHL players - playoffs Game records for Finnish NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Finnish NHL players - last night's leaders Finnish NHL players - last week's leaders Finnish NHL players - last month's leaders

Slovakia

Regular Season

Slovak NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Slovak NHL players Season records for Slovak NHL players Game records for Slovak NHL players

Playoffs

Slovak NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Slovak NHL players - playoffs Season records for Slovak NHL players - playoffs Game records for Slovak NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Slovak NHL players - last night's leaders Slovak NHL players - last week's leaders Slovak NHL players - last month's leaders

Germany

Regular Season

German NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for German NHL players Season records for German NHL players Game records for German NHL players

Playoffs

German NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for German NHL players - playoffs Season records for German NHL players - playoffs Game records for German NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

German NHL players - last night's leaders German NHL players - last week's leaders German NHL players - last month's leaders

Switzerland

Regular Season

Swiss NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Swiss NHL players Season records for Swiss NHL players Game records for Swiss NHL players

Playoffs

Swiss NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Swiss NHL players - playoffs Season records for Swiss NHL players - playoffs Game records for Swiss NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Swiss NHL players - last night's leaders Swiss NHL players - last week's leaders Swiss NHL players - last month's leaders

United Kingdom

Regular Season

British NHL players - 1999-2000 leaders All-time records for British NHL players Season records for British NHL players Game records for British NHL players

Playoffs

British NHL players - 2000 leaders - playoffs All-time records for British NHL players - playoffs Season records for British NHL players - playoffs Game records for British NHL players - playoffs

Latvia

Regular Season

Latvian NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Latvian NHL players Season records for Latvian NHL players Game records for Latvian NHL players

Playoffs

Latvian NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Latvian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Latvian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Latvian NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Latvian NHL players - last night's leaders Latvian NHL players - last week's leaders Latvian NHL players - last month's leaders

Denmark

Regular Season

Danish NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Danish NHL players Season records for Danish NHL players Game records for Danish NHL players

Playoffs

Danish NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Danish NHL players - playoffs Season records for Danish NHL players - playoffs Game records for Danish NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Danish NHL players - last night's leaders Danish NHL players - last week's leaders Danish NHL players - last month's leaders

Austria

Regular Season

Austrian NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Austrian NHL players Season records for Austrian NHL players Game records for Austrian NHL players

Playoffs

Austrian NHL players - 2022 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Austrian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Austrian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Austrian NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Austrian NHL players - last night's leaders Austrian NHL players - last week's leaders Austrian NHL players - last month's leaders

Belarus

Regular Season

Belarussian NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Belarussian NHL players Season records for Belarussian NHL players Game records for Belarussian NHL players

Playoffs

Belarussian NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Belarussian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Belarussian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Belarussian NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Belarussian NHL players - last night's leaders Belarussian NHL players - last week's leaders Belarussian NHL players - last month's leaders

France

Regular Season

French NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for French NHL players Season records for French NHL players Game records for French NHL players

Playoffs

French NHL players - 2023 leaders - playoffs All-time records for French NHL players - playoffs Season records for French NHL players - playoffs Game records for French NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

French NHL players - last night's leaders French NHL players - last week's leaders French NHL players - last month's leaders

Ukraine

Regular Season

Ukrainian NHL players - 2012-2013 leaders All-time records for Ukrainian NHL players Season records for Ukrainian NHL players Game records for Ukrainian NHL players

Playoffs

Ukrainian NHL players - 2012 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Ukrainian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Ukrainian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Ukrainian NHL players - playoffs

Italy

Regular Season

Italian NHL players - 2001-2002 leaders All-time records for Italian NHL players Season records for Italian NHL players Game records for Italian NHL players

Playoffs

Italian NHL players - 1985 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Italian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Italian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Italian NHL players - playoffs

Kazakhstan

Regular Season

Kazakh NHL players - 2012-2013 leaders All-time records for Kazakh NHL players Season records for Kazakh NHL players Game records for Kazakh NHL players

Playoffs

Kazakh NHL players - 2010 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Kazakh NHL players - playoffs Season records for Kazakh NHL players - playoffs Game records for Kazakh NHL players - playoffs

Norway

Regular Season

Norwegian NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Norwegian NHL players Season records for Norwegian NHL players Game records for Norwegian NHL players

Playoffs

Norwegian NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Norwegian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Norwegian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Norwegian NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Norwegian NHL players - last night's leaders Norwegian NHL players - last week's leaders Norwegian NHL players - last month's leaders

Netherlands

Regular Season

Dutch NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Dutch NHL players Season records for Dutch NHL players Game records for Dutch NHL players

Playoffs

Dutch NHL players - 2023 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Dutch NHL players - playoffs Season records for Dutch NHL players - playoffs Game records for Dutch NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Dutch NHL players - last night's leaders Dutch NHL players - last week's leaders Dutch NHL players - last month's leaders

Poland

Regular Season

Polish NHL players - 2005-2006 leaders All-time records for Polish NHL players Season records for Polish NHL players Game records for Polish NHL players

Playoffs

Polish NHL players - 2004 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Polish NHL players - playoffs Season records for Polish NHL players - playoffs Game records for Polish NHL players - playoffs

Slovenia

Regular Season

Slovenian NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Slovenian NHL players Season records for Slovenian NHL players Game records for Slovenian NHL players

Playoffs

Slovenian NHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Slovenian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Slovenian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Slovenian NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Slovenian NHL players - last night's leaders Slovenian NHL players - last week's leaders Slovenian NHL players - last month's leaders

Lithuania

Regular Season

Lithuanian NHL players - 2015-2016 leaders All-time records for Lithuanian NHL players Season records for Lithuanian NHL players Game records for Lithuanian NHL players

Playoffs

Lithuanian NHL players - 2016 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Lithuanian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Lithuanian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Lithuanian NHL players - playoffs

Australia

Regular Season

Australian NHL players - 2024-2025 leaders All-time records for Australian NHL players Season records for Australian NHL players Game records for Australian NHL players

Playoffs

Australian NHL players - 2022 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Australian NHL players - playoffs Season records for Australian NHL players - playoffs Game records for Australian NHL players - playoffs

Intra Season Stats

Australian NHL players - last night's leaders Australian NHL players - last week's leaders Australian NHL players - last month's leaders

Croatia

Regular Season

Croatian NHL players - 2016-2017 leaders All-time records for Croatian NHL players Season records for Croatian NHL players Game records for Croatian NHL players

Jamaica

Regular Season

Jamaican NHL players - 1993-1994 leaders All-time records for Jamaican NHL players Season records for Jamaican NHL players Game records for Jamaican NHL players

South Korea

Regular Season

South Korean NHL players - 2011-2012 leaders All-time records for South Korean NHL players Season records for South Korean NHL players Game records for South Korean NHL players

Hungary

Regular Season

Hungarian NHL players - 2002-2003 leaders All-time records for Hungarian NHL players Season records for Hungarian NHL players Game records for Hungarian NHL players

Ireland

Regular Season

Irish NHL players - 1953-1954 leaders All-time records for Irish NHL players Season records for Irish NHL players Game records for Irish NHL players

Playoffs

Irish NHL players - 1953 leaders - playoffs All-time records for Irish NHL players - playoffs Season records for Irish NHL players - playoffs Game records for Irish NHL players - playoffs

Japan

Regular Season

Japanese NHL players - 2006-2007 leaders All-time records for Japanese NHL players Season records for Japanese NHL players Game records for Japanese NHL players