Here is a list of each team's EBUG for the 2026-27 season, as announced by teams:
Anaheim Ducks: Devon Bobak
The 24-year-old spent the past four seasons at Trinity College, an NCAA Division III school. Prior to that, he played for Twin City in the National Collegiate Development Conference (2020-21) and Shreveport of the North American Hockey League (2021-22).
The 24-year-old played 34 games for the University of New Hampshire last season. He played his first three seasons of NCAA hockey at Union College. Following his senior season, he joined the Sharks as their EBUG before becoming the EBUG and assistant video coordinator with the Bruins.
Buffalo Sabres: Jack McNaughton
The 24-year-old spent the past four seasons at the University of Western Ontario, including playing in 23 games last season. He also previously played for Calgary in the Western Hockey League (2018-22) and Okotoks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (2021-22). He was hired as the Sabres' goalie scout as well as their EBUG this offseason.
The 35-year-old has served as the EBUG for the Flames for more than a few years now. He backed up Dan Vladar on Nov. 27, 2023, after Jacob Markstrom fell ill before the game. He previously played with Calgary of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (2009-11), Kindersley of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (2010-11), and Mount Royal University (2011-12). Nickel owns his own construction business and also works as a coach for Apex Goaltending.
The 47-year-old is entering his second season as the Hurricanes head equipment manager and 15th season as a full-time equipment manager. He played the final 7.6 seconds in a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 31, 2016. After graduating from North Carolina State University in 2004, Alves played for Asheville in the Southern Professional Hockey League (2004-05), and Greenville, South Carolina, Charlotte and Pensacola of the ECHL (2005-07).
Chicago Blackhawks: Jackson Bernard
The 25-year-old spent the previous four years at Adrian College, a Division III school. He played in six games last season. Bernard previously played for New York and Maryland in the Eastern Hockey League and is currently the Blackhawks equipment assistant.
Colorado Avalanche: Will Slohm
The 27-year-old, who also serves as the assistant strength and conditioning coach, spent four years at Keene State College (2021-25), where he played on their club hockey team. He also appeared in six games with the school's NCAA team in 2024-25.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Reid Robertson
The 27-year-old is the Blue Jackets manager of travel and logistics. He played four seasons at Manhattanville College, a Division III school, from 2018-22.
Dallas Stars: Jack Williams
The 25-year-old recently completed his senior season at Notre Dame, where he played in six games over four seasons. He also played for Muskegon and Waterloo in the USHL from 2019-22. Williams is cousins with former Stars goalie Ben Bishop.
Detroit Red Wings:
Edmonton Oilers: Brett Epp
The 28-year-old goalie is an Edmonton native who last played at MacEwan University in 2024-25. He has also played for Nichols College (NCAA Division III) from 2018-20, Nipissing University (U Sports) from 2020-22, Newfoundland (ECHL) in 2022, Vermilion County and Fayetteville (SPHL), as well as Norfolk and Atlanta (ECHL), in 2022-23, and St. Walburg of the Sask-Alta Hockey League and Wetaskiwin of the North Central Hockey League in 2023-24.
Florida Panthers: Noah Altman
The 26-year-old spent four seasons with Quinnipiac from 2021-25. As a senior, Altman served as an assistant captain, becoming the first goalie to wear a letter for the Bobcats since 1996-97. Altman spent the 2020-21 season with Bismarck of the NAHL and 2019-20 with Wenatchee of the BCHL.
Los Angeles Kings:
The 29-year-old was hired by the Wild as a hockey operations analyst on Aug. 25, the same day he was named their EBUG. Thome, who was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round (No. 155) of the 2016 NHL Draft, played four seasons at the University of North Dakota (2017-21), going 19-14-4 with a 2.24 goals-against average, .904 save percentage and three shutouts in 45 games He most recently played two games with Maine in the ECHL in 2022-23.
Montreal Canadiens:
The 33-year-old is a Tennessee native who played four seasons at Mount Juliet High School from 2007-11. He was most recently the Nashville Youth Hockey League's hockey director while also serving as one of the two Predators EBUGs.
The 33-year-old played four seasons in NCAA Division III with the University of Southern Maine (2014-17) and New England College (2017-18). He served as the Devils' backup to Jon Gillies in a 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Jan. 13, 2022. Shapiro was an assistant coach with the New Jersey Titans of the NAHL from 2019-24.
New York Islanders: Thomas Sullivan
The 28-year-old Floral Park, New York, native played for Stony Brook University of the NCAA from 2019-23 appearing in seven games. He also served as the backup for Bridgeport in an AHL game in 2024, but never played. Sullivan had been working at Between the Pipes as a goalie coach.
New York Rangers: Remington Keopple
The 24-year-old spent the past four seasons at Cornell in the NCAA from 2022-26, appearing in 19 games, including seven last season. He also played for Des Moines of the USHL (2020-22).
Ottawa Senators: Bradley Mitchell
The 24-year-old has been a locker room attendant and practice goalie with the Senators and a member of the team's staff since 2019-20. He played two seasons with Carleton Place of the CCHL and EOJHL from 2019-22.
Philadelphia Flyers: Daniel Spencer
The 32-year-old goalie spent the past three seasons as the local EBUG for the Flyers. He played four years of Division III hockey at Finlandia University from 2015-19.
The 40-year-old has been with the Penguins since May 2015, serving as their manager of youth hockey from 2015-19 and their goaltending development coach since August 2019. He is from Sidney Crosby's hometown of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, and like Crosby, Chiasson played for Rimouski of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (2005-07). He then spent four seasons with Acadia University (2007-11).
San Jose Sharks: Nathan Airey
The 23-year-old spent the past three seasons with the University of Minnesota, where he went 16-11-3 with a 2.86 goals-against average, .893 save percentage and one shutout in 35 games. Prior to that, he played for Cranbrook of the British Columbia Hockey League from 2020-23.
Seattle Kraken: Dolan Gilbert
The 25-year-old spent the past two seasons with Michigan State, where he appeared in two games. He began his collegiate career with Concordia University Wisconsin (NCAA Division III), where he played in 10 games. Gilbert currently works for the Kraken in research and development.
St. Louis Blues:
Tampa Bay Lightning:
Toronto Maple Leafs: Brandon Bonello
The 27-year-old has served as a practice goalie for the Maple Leafs and their AHL affiliate over the past few seasons, and he dressed with the San Jose Barracuda (the Sharks' AHL affiliate) once during the 2024-25 season. Bonello played with Saginaw and Kingston in the OHL from 2015-20. He last played for Cincinnati of the ECHL (three games) in 2021-22.
Utah Mammoth:
Vancouver Canucks:
Vegas Golden Knights:
Washington Capitals: Connor Leslie
The 24-year-old played 29 games over four seasons at Amherst College, an NCAA Division III school, from 2021-25. Leslie was born in Leesburg, Virginia, and grew up a Capitals fan, having played eight years of Little Caps until 2020.
The 28-year-old last played with Altona of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League from 2023-25. Kehler attended Jets development camp in 2017 and training camp in 2017-18 and 2020-21. Kehler signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings in 2017 and played in the ECHL and American Hockey League before joining Manitoba, Winnipeg's AHL affiliate, in 2021. His last professional season came in 2021-22, when he played for Rapid City, Cincinnati and Utah in the ECHL.
