MADISON, Wis. -- Lucky 13 is the number of former Wisconsin hockey players to suit up on opening night for their respective NHL teams. The 2019-20 NHL season got underway on Wednesday with double-digit Badgers on the pro-level active rosters.

The Nashville Predators and the Minnesota Wild hold two former Badgers on their rosters including Craig Smith and Kyle Turris for Nashville, and Luke Kunin and Ryan Suter for Minnesota.

Some of the 13 Badgers are still fresh with their new team including nine-year veteran Jake Gardiner in his first season with the Carolina Hurricanes, Joe Pavelski starting his 14th season in the NHL and his first year with the Dallas Stars after spending his first 13 with the San Jose Sharks, and Cody Goloubef starting his second year as part of the Ottawa Senators to begin his eighteenth pro season.

The remaining six Badgers include veteran Brian Elliott, in his third with the Philadelphia Flyers, Ryan McDonagh with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Justin Schultz playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Brendan Smith with the New York Rangers, Jake McCabe with the Buffalo Sabres and Derek Stepan with the Arizona Coyotes.

Wisconsin has sent a total of 84 Badgers into the NHL throughout history and has 12 current draft picks on the 2019-20 roster.