Gophers showcase most former college talent in NHL playoffs

The Wild recalled Mike Reilly on Sunday with the first-round playoff series against Dallas shifting to Minnesota. The move means 12 former Gophers standouts will be showcased in the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, the most from any single NCAA program.

North Dakota and Wisconsin each have nine former players in the postseason. Michigan and Boston College each have eight.

Pittsburgh and the Wild have the most college products on their playoff rosters with 15 apiece. The Penguins feature former Gophers star Phil Kessel. The Wild have four former Gophers: Thomas Vanek, Jordan Schroeder, Erik Haula and Reilly.

Minnesota Duluth has four alumni in the 2016 playoffs: Justin Fontaine, J.T. Brown, Jason Garrison and Matt Niskanen. Minnesota State is represented by Ryan Carter and David Backes, Bemidji State by Matt Read, and St. Cloud State by Matt Cullen.

Gophers in the postseason:

Paul Martin, San Jose Sharks — Gophers 2001-2003
The defenseman from Minneapolis has appeared in the playoffs in each of his 12 NHL seasons and compiled a total of 40 points (five goals, 35 assists) in 85 games. He has a plus-3 rating in the first two games of the 2016 postseason.

Thomas Vanek, Wild — Gophers 2002-2004
Vanek is making his seventh postseason appearance and second straight with the Wild. The forward missed the first two games of the 2016 playoffs with an upper-body injury. He has 20 goals and 14 assists throughout his playoffs career.

Alex Goligoski, Dallas Stars — Gophers 2005-2007
The defenseman from Grand Rapids, Minn., won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009 and has appeared in the postseason four times. He has three goals and 11 assists in the playoffs.

Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins — Gophers 2006
The forward is making his fourth playoff appearance, the third with a different team, and already has two goals and one assist in two 2016 postseason games with Pittsburgh. He has 15 goals, nine assists in his playoffs career.

Kyle Okposo, New York Islanders — Gophers 2007-2008
The forward from St. Paul is playing in this third postseason and has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 12 playoff games. He has five points (one goals, four assists) in his first three games of the 2016 postseason.

Nick Bjugstad, Florida Panthers — Gophers 2010-2013
The forward from Minneapolis is making his postseason debut in his third full NHL season. He helped guide Florida to an Atlantic Division title and has two goals and two assists in his first three playoff games.

Erik Haula, Wild — Gophers 2010-2013
The forward is playing in his third straight postseason with the Wild. He has five goals, three assists in 16 playoff games, but has yet to score in the 2016 postseason.

Brady Skjei, New York Rangers — Gophers 2012-2015
The defenseman from Lakeville, Minn., is making his playoff debut in his rookie season. He contributed an assist in the Rangers' Game 2 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Jordan Schroeder, Wild — Gophers 2008-2010
The forward from Lakeville, Minn., is making his second playoff appearance with the Wild.