Several Sea Dogs on NHL opening night rosters

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A new National Hockey League season is officially underway and a number of Saint John Sea Dogs alumni are on opening night rosters.

Seven former Sea Dogs will start the year on NHL rosters. On Tuesday, Mathieu Joseph and the St. Louis Blues were in Seattle while Charlie Coyle and the Boston Bruins visited the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Here's the full list.

Jonathan Huberdeau - Calgary Flames

Charlie Coyle - Boston Bruins

Matthew Highmore - Ottawa Senators

Thomas Chabot - Ottawa Senators

Mathieu Joseph - St. Louis Blues

Joe Veleno - Detroit Red Wings

Julien Gauthier - New York Islanders

While Highmore is officially on Ottawa's roster, he is listed on the team's season-opening injured reserve after sustaining an injury in a pre-season game. He'll likely be assigned to the Belleville Senators once healthy.

There are a few other former Sea Dogs who could be called up from the American Hockey League at some point this season. That list includes Boko Imama (Pittsburgh Penguins), Jeremie Poirier (Calgary Flames), Yan Kuznetsov (Calgary Flames), William Dufour (New York Islanders) and Joshua Roy (Montreal Canadiens).

Other Sea Dogs alumni likely to spend the season in the AHL and would be considered long shots to get an NHL call up: Spencer Smallman (Washington Capitals), Cedric Pare (Toronto Maple Leafs), William Villeneuve (Toronto Maple Leafs), Vincent Sevigny (Montreal Canadiens), Riley Bezeau (Carolina Hurricanes) and Philippe Daoust (Ottawa Senators).

One Sea Dogs alumnus who is absent above: Mike Hoffman. The 34-year-old spent last season with the San Jose Sharks and was released from his PTO with the Edmonton Oilers a few weeks ago. He remains a free agent.