Deryk Engelland

Lore & Background

Engelland was selected in the sixth round, 194th pick overall, by the New Jersey Devils at the 2000 NHL entry draft. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2009 after six years in the minor leagues. He played five seasons of junior hockey in the WHL for the Moose Jaw Warriors. He turned professional in 2003–04 and split that season between the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL and the Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL. After several seasons shuffling between the ECHL and AHL, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007. He played for the Penguins from 2007 to 2014, then signed with the Calgary Flames for three seasons. He was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL expansion draft and played for them from 2017 to 2020. He announced his retirement on December 22, 2020, and remained with the Golden Knights, transitioning to the club's Foundation and serving as the Special Assistant to the Owner.

In Their Own Story

The T-Mobile Arena lights hummed with an electric intensity that only a sold-out inaugural season could generate. Deryk Engelland stood at the blue line, eyes fixed on the puck as it wound its way through the neutral zone. He adjusted his gloves, feeling the familiar cold bite of the arena air against his exposed neck. As the opposing forward charged in for a breakaway, Engelland didn't flinch; he stepped up with calculated aggression, delivering a clean, thunderous hit that sent the puck flying into the corner. The crowd roared, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the ice beneath his skates. In that moment, amidst the chaos of the game and the roar of the desert city, Engelland knew he was exactly where he belonged.

Reader's Guide

Engelland was known for his physical play and fighting abilities. He was an alternate captain for the Flames in 2017. He won the Mark Messier Leadership Award on June 20, 2018. He was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2018 but was not named a top three finalist. After retirement, he became part of the Golden Knights’ television broadcast team, providing analysis during pregame, intermission, and postgame shows.

Did You Know?

• Engelland was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the sixth round, 194th overall, at the 2000 NHL entry draft but never played for them.
• He made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 10, 2009, against the Boston Bruins.
• He scored his first NHL goal on November 12, 2010, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• Engelland was a resident of Las Vegas before being selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft.
• He announced his retirement on December 22, 2020, after 11 NHL seasons.