Rule 13 Composition of Team # # A Team shall be composed of 20 players (18 skaters and two goalkeepers as per Rule 15 (a)(c)(d) - Players in Uniform) who shall be under contract to the Club they represent. NHL Rule Book
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If there have been no penalties, a team will have six players on the ice. Three would be called forwards and are considered offensive players, two would be called defensemen, or blue liners, and would be considered defensive players. The sixth player on the ice for a team is the goaltender.
A NHL team is required to dress a minimum of 20 players, usually consisting of 12 fowards, 6 defensemen, and 2 goalies for a game.
However during playoff games coaches some times elect to dress 10-11 Forwards and 7-8 defensemen for added depth at the D. You can dress 3 goalies and one less F or D but it is rare to see 3 goalies suited up for a regular season/non-playoff game.
6 players for each team. 12 altogether if you count both sides. 1 Center, 2 wingmen, 2 defense men, and 1 goaltender. 5 players a side if you don't count the goaltender.