Nic Petan

Lore & Background

Petan played minor hockey in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments in 2007 and 2008 with a team from North shore. He began his WHL career with the Portland Winterhawks in the 2010–11 season. In 2012–13, he was named to the WHL West First All-Star Team after leading the league with 74 assists and sharing the overall points title with 120 points. The Winterhawks reached the 2013 Memorial Cup championship game, losing to the Halifax Mooseheads. The following season, Petan again led the WHL with 78 assists and scored 35 goals, helping Portland reach the WHL Finals, where they lost to the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Petan signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets in December 2013. He returned to the Winterhawks for the 2014–15 season, his final year of junior eligibility, and recorded 89 points in the regular season. He made his NHL debut on October 8, 2015, scoring a goal against Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins. Over the next few seasons, Petan moved between the Jets and their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 25, 2019, in exchange for Pär Lindholm. He later played for the Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild, and New York Rangers, with his NHL career including stints in the AHL.

Internationally, Petan won a gold medal with Canada's under-18 team at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He represented Canada at the 2014 and 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, helping the team win gold in 2015, including scoring a hat-trick against Slovakia in the semi-final. After his NHL tenure, Petan signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL in July 2024, then moved to HC Ambrì-Piotta of the National League in June 2025. He was released by Ambri-Piotta in October 2025 after scoring one goal in 15 games. He signed a one-year deal with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL on July 13, 2026.

Reader's Guide

Nic Petan's career is notable for his exceptional junior production with the Portland Winterhawks, where he twice led the WHL in assists and shared the league's points title in 2012–13. His WHL success earned him a second-round selection by the Winnipeg Jets in 2013 and a spot on the WHL West First All-Star Team. Despite his junior accolades, Petan's NHL career was marked by limited opportunities and frequent reassignments to the AHL. He scored a goal in his NHL debut but never secured a full-time role, moving between the Jets, Maple Leafs, Canucks, Wild, and Rangers over several seasons. His international play includes a gold medal at the 2015 World Junior Championships, where his hat-trick in the semi-final was a key contribution. After his NHL tenure, Petan's career took him to the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan, then to Switzerland with HC Ambrì-Piotta, where he struggled offensively and was released. He subsequently signed with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL in 2026. Petan's path illustrates the transition from a dominant junior scorer to a journeyman professional, with his WHL achievements remaining the highlight of his playing record.

Did You Know?

• Petan led the WHL with 74 assists in the 2012–13 season and shared the overall points title with Brendan Leipsic.
• Petan scored a hat-trick against Slovakia in the semi-final of the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, helping Canada win gold.