Edmonton Oilers: Celebrating Danish Heritage in Hockey

In their biggest addition via free agency this offseason, the Edmonton Oilers signed goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year contract.

Andersen is fresh off winning the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes. During the 2026 NHL Playoffs, he went 13-2 with a 1.89 goals-against average (GAA) and .910 save percentage (SV%).

A native of Herning, Denmark, Andersen is one of only 18 Danish players to ever play in the NHL. But he’s coming to a team that has long welcomed Danes, as the Oilers are one of just six NHL franchises to have at least three players from Denmark in their history. Here’s a look:

Poul Popiel

The first NHL player born in Denmark, defenceman Poul Popiel suited up for what would turn out to be his final games of major pro hockey as a member of the Oilers during their inaugural NHL season in 1979-80.

A native of Sollested, Popiel was playing for Edmonton’s top minor league affiliate, the Houston Apollos of the Central Hockey League (CHL), when he was recalled by the Oilers after the NHL club was hit with a rash of injuries to their blue line.

The 36-year-old made his regular season debut at Northlands Coliseum against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 4, 1979, in what was just the 12th NHL regular season game in Oilers history. He remained in the lineup for Edmonton’s next nine games, including its historic first-ever NHL road win, a 5-3 victory over the host Washington Capitals on Nov. 13, 1979.

After appearing in 10 games with the Oilers — over which he totalled zero points, zero penalty minutes, and 12 shots on goal – Popiel was sent back to Houston, where he spent the rest of the season. He never skated another shift at hockey’s top level, finishing his NHL career with 54 points in 225 games.

As of the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, Popiel is still the NHL’s all-time leader among Danish-born defencemen in every major statistical category, including games played (225), goals (13), assists (41), points (54), penalty minutes (212) and shots on goal (305).

Philip Larsen

Esbjerg native Philip Larsen was acquired by Edmonton via trade with the Dallas Stars on July 5, 2013. The defenceman spent the first few weeks of the 2013-14 season with the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL) before being recalled by the Oilers.

At Rexall Place on Nov. 3, 2013, Larsen drew into Edmonton’s lineup against the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the first Danish player to suit up for a regular season game with the Oilers in nearly 34 years.

The rearguard spent the rest of the season with the Oilers, appearing in 30 games, scoring three goals and recording nine assists. He recorded three assists in one game, the most by any Edmonton defenceman that season, against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 10. In an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 5, Larsen was plus-four, the highest plus/minus of any Oilers player in 2013-14.

Following the season, Larsen left Edmonton to play in Russia. The Oilers ultimately traded his rights to the Vancouver Canucks in 2016.

Now 36, Larsen continues to play professionally, spending 2025-26 with the Esbjerg Energy in his hometown. He ranks second to Popiel among Danish-born defenceman in NHL history for games played (151), goals (nine), assists (28), points (37), penalty minutes (46) and shots on goal (190).

Patrick Russell

Forward Patrick Russell is the only Danish player to spend multiple seasons in Edmonton, totalling seven points over 59 games from 2018-19 to 2020-21.

The Holte native originally signed with the Oilers on May 9, 2016, following two seasons of NCAA hockey at St. Cloud State. After spending all of 2016-17 and 2017-18 in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors, Russell was recalled by the Oilers six weeks into their 2018-19 schedule. At age 25, he made his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames on Nov. 17, 2018, and suited up for five more games before being sent back down to the AHL.

For the next two seasons, Russell held a spot on Edmonton’s roster. He effectively served as the team’s 13th forward in 2019-20, suiting up for six games. During the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, he appeared in eight games.

Russell has since played overseas, including last season in Germany with the Cologne Sharks. He was part of the Danish men’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics in both 2022 and 2026.

Denmark’s 2026 Olympic roster also included Andersen, who is now poised to make history with the Oilers: When the netminder plays his first game for Edmonton, the Oilers will tie the Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks for the NHL franchises with the most Danish players.

Edmonton opens its 2026-27 season at Rogers Place on Sept. 29 against the Canucks, and there’s a chance Andersen could be between the pipes for opening night.

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