Borna Rendulić
First Croatian-trained player to appear in the NHL.
Borna Rendulić (born 25 March 1992) is a Croatian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. His most recent team was the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). In 2014, Rendulić became the first player trained in Croatia to appear in an NHL game.
Rendulić started playing hockey in Croatia and made his professional debut at age 15 with hometown club KHL Medveščak in the Croatian Ice Hockey League during the 2006–07 season. He moved to Finland in 2008, joining Ässät, where he played for their U18 and U20 teams. In January 2011, he was loaned back to Medveščak, then playing in the Austrian Hockey League, for the rest of the season, recording one goal and one assist in 12 games. Returning to Ässät, he made his men's team debut in the 2011–12 season, playing three games, and also had a loan spell with SaPKo in the second-tier Mestis.
Out of contract with Ässät in May 2012, Rendulić agreed to a try-out with Liiga club HPK. After a successful trial, he signed a one-year contract in August 2012. In the 2012–13 season, he played mostly in a depth forward role, scoring eight goals in 37 games. He signed a one-year extension and, in the 2013–14 season, played his first full Liiga season, establishing himself in a top-nine role and posting career highs of 11 goals and 32 points in 57 games.
On 19 May 2014, Rendulić signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche, becoming the first Croatian-born and trained player to earn an NHL contract. After training camp, he was assigned to the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, to start the 2014–15 season. He received his first NHL recall on 9 December 2014, making his debut on the fourth line in a 3–0 loss to the Nashville Predators, becoming the first Croatian-born and trained player to play in the NHL. He scored his first NHL goal in his fourth game, on 31 December 2014, against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Steve Mason. A broken shinbone limited him to 11 NHL games and 26 AHL games that season.
After his entry-level deal ended, the Avalanche did not retain his rights. On 1 July 2016, Rendulić signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He made his Canucks debut on 28 February against the Detroit Red Wings, replacing Jannik Hansen, who was traded later that night.
Quick Facts
- Height
- 6 ft 4 in
- Weight
- 207 lb
- Team
- Free agent
- Position
- Right wing
- Shoots
- Right
- Born
- 25 March 1992
- Birthplace
- Zagreb, Croatia
- Draft
- Undrafted
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Rendulić began playing hockey in Croatia and made his professional debut with KHL Medveščak in 2006 at age 15. He moved to Finland in 2008, playing for junior teams before breaking into the SM-liiga with HPK, where he recorded career highs of 11 goals and 32 points in 57 games during the 2013–14 season. His success earned him a two-year entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche in May 2014, making him the first Croatian-born and trained player to earn an NHL contract. He made his NHL debut on 9 December 2014 against the Nashville Predators and scored his first NHL goal on 31 December 2014 against Steve Mason of the Philadelphia Flyers. A broken shinbone limited him to 11 NHL games that season. After his entry-level deal ended, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on 1 July 2016, making his Canucks debut on 28 February 2017 against the Detroit Red Wings as a late replacement for Jannik Hansen. He spent most of his time with the Canucks' AHL affiliate before returning to Europe.
Reader's Guide
Rendulić's significance lies in being the first Croatian-trained player to reach the NHL, breaking a barrier for his nation's hockey development. His path from the Croatian league through Finnish junior and professional hockey to an NHL contract with the Colorado Avalanche demonstrated a viable route for players from non-traditional hockey countries. Though his NHL tenure was brief—limited by injury to 11 games with the Avalanche and a single appearance with the Vancouver Canucks—his debut and first goal marked milestones for Croatian hockey. After leaving North America, he continued a lengthy professional career across Europe, playing in the Liiga, KHL, DEL, and SHL, with stints at HC Vityaz, Adler Mannheim, Örebro HK, HC Sochi, SKA Saint Petersburg, and Metallurg Magnitogorsk before joining the Shanghai Dragons. His career illustrates the expanding global reach of ice hockey and the increasing opportunities for players from emerging hockey nations.
Did You Know?
- He became the first Croatian-born and trained player to earn an NHL contract when he signed with the Colorado Avalanche in 2014.
- His first NHL goal was scored against Steve Mason of the Philadelphia Flyers on 31 December 2014.
- Rendulić made his Vancouver Canucks debut on 28 February 2017, replacing Jannik Hansen who was traded that night.
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