Phil Baltisberger – McKeen's Hockey

Youngblood: 2014 Memorial Cup – Prospects to Watch

Brendan Ross — Wed, 14 May 2014 14:58:07 +0000

We are mere hours away from the puck dropping on the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup and the City of London is gearing up to welcome one of the most competitive fields in recent years.

Returning for their third straight Memorial Cup appearance are the tournament hosts, London Knights, after the injury-riddled squad was bounced in the second round of the OHL playoffs by the eventual OHL Champions, Guelph Storm. Joining the Guelph Storm and London Knights are the Champs of the WHL in the Edmonton Oil Kings, and QMJHL victors, Val d’Or Foreurs, both freshly off game seven wins that punched their ticket to the illustrious major junior competition.

The past three Memorial Cups have been hoisted by the QMJHL representatives after Saint John Sea Dogs (2011), Shawinigan Cataractes (2012) and Halifax Mooseheads (2013) each tasted victory.

The Edmonton Oil Kings are looking for their first Memorial Cup Championship since 1966 when they captured it as members of the Central Alberta Hockey League.

Quebec’s Val d’Or Foreurs have participated in the Memorial Cup twice (1998 and 2001) but have yet to walk away victors, coming close in 2001 when the Foreurs lost to the Red Deer Rebels in the finals.

The Knights will be participating in their fourth Memorial Cup event and the team is hoping for similar results as when they last hosted in 2005, the year the Knights skated away as Memorial Cup Champions.

With four previous attempts at winning the Memorial Cup, the Guelph Storm are rolling into their fifth tournament red hot looking to take home the 95-year-old hardware.

Regardless of which team skates off Budweiser Gardens’ ice as Champions, the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup is loaded with talented major junior players looking to take the next step in their development. As the electric atmosphere takes over London, Ontario, here are several players to watch throughout the tournament.

Edmonton Oil Kings

Curtis Lazar (Senators – 2013, 17^th overall) Arguably the best leader in major junior, Lazar will eat up a ton of minutes, taking important faceoffs and seeing top line offensive minutes along the way.

Tristan Jarry (Penguins – 2013, 44^th overall) Jarry’s 2.19 GAA and .925 save percentage are impressive stat lines but his ability to make the clutch save behind a strong defense core allows the Oil Kings the opportunity to play a stifling defensive game.

Griffin Reinhart (NY Islanders – 2012, 4^th overall) He’s got great draft pedigree and has slowly progressed with each passing game to become a suffocating shutdown defenseman, utilizing his large wingspan and strength against top WHLers.

Henrik Samuelsson(Coyotes – 2012, 27^th overall) Playing a gritty-in-your-face style of puck that would make his father Ulf proud, Henrik has balanced his aggressive attack and skilled offensive bursts well. Led the Oil Kings in playoff scoring with 23 points over 21 games.

Mitch Moroz (Oilers – 2012, 32^nd overall) Not the prettiest skater or the most refined skilled player, Mitch Moroz’ offers a nice blend of size and soft touch around the net to create room and offensive chances. His size could prove to be an asset against some larger Guelph Storm players when the two teams face off Saturday afternoon.

Brett Pollock(2014 NHL Draft) Industrious and versatile, Brett Pollock forced his way up a veteran laden Oil Kings’ depth chart to find a home in the top six, posting near point-per-game numbers during Edmonton’s WHL Championship run.

Dysin Mayo (2014 NHL Draft) An emerging offensive defenseman, Dysin Mayo has earned the trust of Head Coach Derek Laxdal and his game-changing rushes are only improving his draft stock.

Aaron Irving (2014 NHL Draft) Edmonton’s 9^th overall 2011 selection, Aaron Irving is one of the defensive pillars on the Oil Kings’ blue line who has made life hell for intruding forwards with his physicality and nastiness.

Cody Corbett (Signed by Avalanche, 2014) The third year defenseman played his way to a contract with Colorado after posting 61 points in 65 games from the blueline.

Mads Eller and Ashton Sautner (Re-entries for 2014 NHL Draft) – Two mobile skaters, forward Mads Eller (younger brother of Canadiens’ Lars Eller) and defenseman Ashton Sautner use their speed and edge work to force opponents into uncomfortable positions.

Val d’Or Foreurs

Anthony Mantha (Red Wings – 2013, 20^th overall) Big time sniper brings his 81 combined regular season and playoff goals, the most by any CHLer, to Bud Gardens for all to witness. He will be the focus of defences as the tournament’s most natural goal scorer. It is hard to believe that Detroit traded down to acquire this stud prospect.

Ryan Graves (NY Rangers – 2013, 110^thoverall) Brought over from Charlottetown in trade to boost their blue line, Graves has provided a stabilizing presence using his size and strength to contain opposing team’s top forwards.

Antoine Bibeau (Maple Leafs – 2013, 172^nd overall) Selected in his second attempt at the NHL Draft, it appears the selection of Antoine Bibeau has been a shrewd move after the big goaltender earned QMJHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (2014 NHL Draft) Taken 7^th overall by Val d’Or in 2012, Aubé-Kubel’s offensive emergence has provided the team with secondary scoring and this skilled responsible forward looks to use the Memorial Cup as one final showing before heading to Philadelphia for the draft.

Louick Marcotte(Re-entry for 2014 NHL Draft) Fourth year forward, Marcotte, nearly doubled his production playing on the Foreurs’ top line and his 42 goals and 100 points may be enough to draw interest at the draft.

Guillaume Gélinas (Undrafted) Undersized overager who dominated every offensive category by a defenseman in both regular season (67GP-23G-92P) and playoffs (24GP-11G-34P) is also playing for a professional contract.

Anthony Richard (2015 NHL Draft) Diminutive speedy centerman with a case of danglitis experienced a breakout sophomore campaign after being selected 16^th overall at the 2012 QMJHL Draft.

Julien Gauthier (2016 NHL Draft) Selected 6^th overall, rookie Julien Gauthier is a budding power forward to watch heading towards the 2016 NHL Draft as he learns how to use his size and strong shot to take over the offensive zone.

Guelph Storm

Kerby Rychel (Blue Jackets – 2013, 19^th overall) Windsor GM Warren Rychel traded his own son, along with LA Kings’ prospect Nick Ebert, at the deadline to Guelph. The Storm may be forever in debt with Windsor after Kerby buried the tying goal and game winner to clinch the OHL Championship.

Zack Mitchell (Signed by Wild, 2014) The Guelph Storm journeyman has bled maroon and grey in his five years of service and after being rewarded with an NHL contract back in March, Mitchell is keen on capping off his OHL career with a Memorial Cup Championship.

Scott Kosmachuk(Jets – 2012, 70^th overall) Among the OHL playoff scoring leaders, Kosmachuk was one of only three players to clear the century mark in points during the regular season and is called upon when the team needs a goal or a big hit.

Brock McGinn (Hurricanes – 2012, 47^th overall) After returning from an eight game suspension, Brock McGinn scored points in all but two playoff games while playing his usual irritating brand of hockey.

Jason Dickinson (Stars – 2013, 29^th overall) Drafted in the opening round in 2013 as a unfinished lanky prospect, the third year Dickinson has really came into his own learning how to use his size as a skilled power forward. Dickinson is one of five Storm players who recorded over a point-per-game in the post-season.

Matt Finn (Maple Leafs – 2012, 35^th overall) Awarded the Mickey Renaud Trophy as the league’s most dedicated and passionate captain on and off the ice, Matt Finn is a true leader and a stabilizing presence on the blue line.

Tyler Bertuzzi (Red Wings – 2013, 58^th overall) Ironically, the Red Wings traded down at the 2013 draft to select Anthony Mantha and received the 58^th pick as a result. That pick was used to select agitating forward Tyler Bertuzzi. Now, Foreurs’ Mantha and Storm’s Bertuzzi will be competing, at all costs, to take home the Memorial Cup. Mark it, Bertuzzi will be a thorn in the side of opposing defenses.

Nick Ebert (Kings – 2012, 211^th overall) Nick Ebert wasn’t the centrepiece of the trade that brought Kerby Rychel to Guelph but he’s been, arguably, the most crucial piece. Leading the team in playoff scoring from the backend, Ebert elevated his game as a member of the Storm.

Zac Leslie (Kings – 2013, 178^th overall) Drafted into the Ontario league in the middle rounds from the Ottawa Jr. 67’s, Leslie has improved on his production with each passing season giving the Storm depth on the blueline and a dangerous powerplay option.

Ben Harpur (Senators – 2013, 108^th overall) The towering 6-foot-6 blue liner will wreak havoc on attacking forwards as he wields his active stick and staples trespassers to the boards.

Robby Fabbri (2014 NHL Draft) No player has experienced a larger potential draft rise than Robby Fabbri, who is coming off OHL Playoff MVP Honours. The undersized yet competitive and skilled forward refuses to lose and his draft rise is reminiscent of former Kitchener Rangers’ forward Jeff Skinner after his 2010 standout playoff performance.

Phil Baltisberger (2014 NHL Draft) Another player exceeding expectations in his draft year, Swiss import Phil Baltisberger displays a strong two-way game with an ability to push the pace with his smooth skating stride. Eats up big minutes on the blue line.

Justin Nichols (Undrafted)and Matt Mancini (2014 NHL Draft) Acquired from Sault Ste Marie prior to the season, Justin Nichols’ game hasn’t been perfect every night but this undersized goaltender has had some of the most electrifying performances in the league. He’s getting noticed just as his understudy, Matt Mancini, is. Mancini is a highly touted young goaltender who continues to learn the intricacies of the game

London Knights

Max Domi (Coyotes – 2013, 12^th overall) Coming off a disappointing post-draft season, albeit by Domi’s standards, the Knights’ leading scorer was medically cleared to play after injuring his shoulder in the post-season. Look for the refreshed Domi to put on an offensive clinic as London attempts to prove their team is deserving of the Memorial Cup host spot.

Bo Horvat (Canucks – 2013, 9^th overall) The astute two-way forward with underrated offensive skills may be playing in his final OHL season and would love to add the elusive Memorial Cup title to his resume. With a history of scoring big goals, Horvat will be leaned upon in every possible situation.

Chris Tierney(Sharks – 2012, 55^th overall) Living up to his 2^nd round NHL Draft status after many questioned San Jose’s thought process, Chris Tierney went on an absolute tear during the playoffs ringing off 17 points in just nine games attempting to single-handedly advance the Knights.

Josh Anderson (Blue Jackets – 2012, 95^th overall) Anderson is a big bodied winger who won’t always fill up the game sheet but his heavy, physical approach and strong cycle game could tire out opposing defenses in a long intense tournament.

Ryan Rupert (Maple Leafs – 2012, 157^th overall) A skilled agitator in every sense of the word, Ryan Rupert, along with twin brother Matt (Undrafted), provide the Knights with outstanding depth as they make an impact by crawling under opponents’ skin or by crashing the net for a goal. The home fans will enjoy them but the road teams certainly will not.

Gemel Smith (Stars – 2012, 104^th overall) A true sniper who relies on his shot and blazing speed, Gemel Smith has had an okay transition to the Knights after coming aboard mid-season but he’s eager to pick up where he left off after a better OHL playoffs (12 points in nine games).

Michael McCarron (Canadiens – 2013, 25^th overall) The big power forward experienced a rather slow transition to OHL life but Michael McCarron has stepped up his game over the final few months showing the skill set that gave Montreal reason to draft him in the first round.

Mitch Marner (2015 NHL Draft) In a similar mold as Guelph’s Robby Fabbri, Marner is a sneaky player who makes an impact on every shift. No player does more with limited playing minutes as Marner and his ability to dance around defenders and find open teammates is only one reason he’s considered a top 2015 NHL Draft prospect. He’s been London’s best player, as a rookie, on most nights.

Christian Dvorak(2014 NHL Draft) One of several Knights returning from the infirmary, Dvorak is hoping to suit up for the first time since December 14^th when he injured his knee. His draft season viewings were limited but positive before being sidelined.

Nikita Zadorov (Sabres – 2013, 16^th overall) The only NHL drafted player on the Knights with NHL experience (seven games), Nikita Zadorov is undoubtedly the most crucial defender on their blueline. His offensive game has progressed to new heights and he’s still capable of intimidating with his bone-crushing open-ice hits.

Brady Austin (Sabres – 2012, 193^rd overall) Cleared to play after battling mononucleosis, overage defenseman Brady Austin is a huge returnee to what was a spotty blue line. After dealing with his illness and the passing of his father, Austin and his teammates will be playing inspired hockey.

Zach Bell (Undrafted) Bell is a bruising defenseman that has his own feel-good story after quickly recovering from a broken leg and his presence will be felt defensively.

Brett Welychka (Undrafted) It wouldn’t be a stretch to consider Welychka one of the most versatile players in the league, after the forward logged big minutes on the blue line when injury struck the Knights’ backend. Look for Welychka to return to the front lines adding to London’s incredible offensive depth.

Anthony Stolarz (Flyers – 2012, 45^th overall) Flying under the radar somewhat is the fact that Anthony Stolarz’ eight-game suspension for his slashing incident was reduced to six, after the Knights were knocked out of the playoffs early. Whether right or wrong, London’s biggest returnee for the Memorial Cup is between the pipes in Stolarz because he is capable of stealing games.

The 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup action begins Friday evening with the London Knights taking on Val d’Or Foreurs.

Follow @RossyYoungblood for all the #MemorialCup action.

CHL 2014 IIHF WJHC Participants On-Ice Stats

Gus Katsaros — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 20:22:56 +0000

A short post with the focus on participating players dressing for their respective countries in the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships and their member clubs in the CHL playing overseas in Sweden.

I broke away from the traditional goals-assists-points statistics and focused on the breakdown of ON-ICE even strength goals for/against as well as on the percentage basis for their respective teams. The legend is located just before the table.

Some additional details break down the draft year, team that drafted the player (none of these players have been traded to another NHL team). There are very few undrafted players as this tournament is drafted prospect heavy, but there are many European exceptions – along with some draft-eligible players for 2014 (and two notable 2015 draft eligible players in Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel – as a late birthday).

ESGF - Even Strength Goals For (On-Ice)

ESGA - Even Strength Goals Against (On-Ice)

%TmESGF - Percentage of On-Ice Even Strength Goals For

%TmESGA - Percentage of On-Ice Even Strength Goals Against

Draft Team - Team that drafted this player

Draft Yr - Draft Year

DOB - Date of Birth

Country	Team	Pos	ESGF	ESGA	%Tm ESGF	%Tm ESGA	Draft Team	Draft Yr	DOB
Canada
Josh Anderson	London Knights	C	29	13	20.28	25.00	CBJ	2012	1994/05/07
Chris Bigras	Owen Sound Attack	D	26	30	27.08	27.78	Col	2013	1995/02/22
Jonathan Drouin	Halifax Mooseheads	C	36	19	25.71	19.00	TBL	2013	1995/03/28
Aaron Ekblad	Barrie Colts	D	25	24	22.12	25.53	--	--	1996/02/07
Zachary Fucale	Halifax Mooseheads	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	MTL	2013	1995/05/28
Frederik Gauthier	Rimouski Oceanic	C	25	24	22.12	60.00	Tor	2013	1995/04/26
Bo Horvat	London Knights	LW	37	19	25.87	36.54	Van	2013	1995/04/05
Charles Hudon	Chicoutimi Sagueneens	LW	27	29	26.21	26.36	MTL	2012	1994/06/23
Scott Laughton	Oshawa Generals	C	36	27	30.00	33.75	Phi	2012	1994/05/30
Curtis Lazar	Edmonton Oil Kings	C	41	18	32.80	30.00	Ott	2013	1995/02/02
Taylor Leier	Portland Winterhawks	LW	39	20	23.93	18.02	Phi	2012	1994/02/15
Anthony Mantha	Val-d’Or Foreurs	LW	50	33	29.07	37.50	DET	2013	1994/09/16
Connor McDavid	Erie Otters	C	42	20	24.85	42.55	--	--	1997/01/13
Josh Morrissey	Prince Albert Raiders	C	40	29	34.48	42.65	Wpg	2013	1995/03/28
Jake Paterson	Saginaw Spirit	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	Det	2012	1994/05/03
Adam Pelech	Erie Otters	D	44	21	26.04	44.68	NYI	2012	1994/08/16
Nicolas Petan	Portland Winterhawks	C	52	27	31.90	24.32	WPG	2013	1995/03/22
Derrick Pouliot	Portland Winterhawks	D	51	37	31.29	33.33	Pit	2012	1994/01/16
Griffin Reinhart	Edmonton Oil Kings	D	15	11	12.00	18.33	NYI	2012	1994/01/24
Sam Reinhart	Kootenay Ice	C	32	28	31.37	31.82	--	--	1995/11/06
Kerby Rychel	Guelph Storm/Windsor Spitfires	LW	32	19	26.67	19.19	CBJ	2013	1994/10/07
Czech Republic
Radek Faksa	Kitchener Rangers	C	23	33	24.21	28.70	Dal	2012	1994/01/09
Jan Kostalek	Rimouski Oceanic	D	24	26	21.24	65.00	Wpg	2013	1995/02/17
Marek Langhamer	Medicine Hat Tigers	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	PHX	2012	1994/07/22
David Nemecek	Saskatoon Blades	D	23	28	21.30	20.00	--	--	1995/06/29
Michal Plutnar	Tri-City Americans	D	6	11	6.67	11.58	--	--	1994/02/21
Petr Sidlik	Victoriaville Tigres	D	24	32	24.24	25.20	--	--	1994/01/18
Dominik Volek	Red Deer Rebels	RW	23	20	23.47	26.32	--	--	1994/01/12
Patrik Zdrahal	Rimouski Oceanic	RW	12	16	15.00	30.19	--	--	1995/04/09
Finland
Julius Honka	Swift Current Broncos	D	42	33	35.59	32.04	--	--	1995/12/03
Henri Ikonen	Kingston Frontenacs	LW	40	25	32.00	21.93	TB	2013	1994/04/17
Mikko Vainonen	Kingston Frontenacs	D	36	22	28.80	19.30	Nsh	2012	1994/04/11
Germany
Tim Bender	London Knights	C	16	4	11.19	7.69	--	--	--
Marvin Cupper	Shawinigan Cataractes	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	--	--	--
Leon Draisaitl	Prince Albert Raiders	C	31	30	26.72	44.12	--	--	1995/10/27
Markus Eisenschmid	Medicine Hat Tigers	C	13	20	11.50	21.05	--	--	1995/01/22
Dominik Kahun	Sudbury Wolves	C	10	15	7.94	12.10	--	--	1995/07/02
Maximilian Kammerer	Regina Pats	C	1	5	0.91	6.41	--	--	--
Norway
Jorgen Karterud	SSM Greyhounds	RW	14	16	10.22	31.37	--	--	1994/05/06
Russia
Ivan Barbashev	Moncton Wildcats	C	31	33	30.39	34.74	--	--	1995/12/14
Nikita Zadorov	London Knights	C	12	4	8.39	7.69	Buf	2013	1995/04/16
Valentin Zykov	Baie-Comeau Drakkar	RW	22	9	16.30	10.11	LAK	2013	1995/05/15
Slovakia
Martin Reway	Gatineau Olympiques	LW	31	21	27.93	18.75	Mtl	2013	1995/01/24
Sweden
Andre Burakovsky	Erie Otters	LW	35	16	20.71	34.04	WSH	2013	1995/02/09
Oscar Dansk	Erie Otters	G	0	0	0.00	0.00	CBJ	2012	1994/02/28
Nick Sorensen	Quebec Remparts	RW	22	12	18.49	13.79	Ana	2013	1994/10/23
Switzerland
Phil Baltisberger	Guelph Storm	D	34	15	20.12	28.30	--	--	1995/11/13
Jason Fuchs	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies	LW	23	20	16.79	30.77	--	--	1995/09/14
Fabrice Herzog	Quebec Remparts	RW	30	28	25.21	32.18	TOR	2013	1994/12/09
Mirco Mueller	Everett Silvertips	D	21	20	19.09	27.03	SJ	2013	1995/03/21
Vincent Praplan	North Bay Battalion	LW	22	21	24.44	60.00	--	--	1994/06/10
Yannick Rathgeb	Plymouth Whalers	D	19	27	22.89	27.55	--	--	1995/10/24
United States
Adam Erne	Quebec Remparts	LW	30	27	25.21	31.03	TBL	2013	1995/04/20
Ryan Hartman	Plymouth Whalers	C	21	37	25.30	37.76	Chi	2013	1994/09/20
Anthony Stolarz	London Knights	G	--	--	--	--	Phi	2012	1994/01/20

**********

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Swiss add to CHL Euro mix

Rafik Soliman — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 19:58:04 +0000

This year's CHL Import Draft saw a record 10 players selected from Switzerland - with a number making their North American debuts this season.

Here are scouting reports from this summer's national team evaluation camp held in Arosa and Davos.

Switzerland have taken on a higher profile at the NHL draft as well - producing three first-round picks over the past four years. The run began with Nino Niedereitter going fifth overall in 2010 - the highest-ever for a Swiss-born player.

Phil Baltisberger (2014), D, Guelph
Already a veteran of two pro seasons in Switzerland's National League B with the GCK Lions - as well as two U20 World Junior Championships .. selected 26th overall in the CHL Import Draft .. the six-foot, 210-pound defender does everything in a powerful matter .. his game is all about strength and physicality .. could use some more finesse to his game however - particularly in terms of his puckmoving abilities - which are somewhat limited .. delivers hard passes that are generally tape-to-tape, though mostly using slap-passes - that can impact his accuracy at times .. brings a punishing element as a defender and can be hard to beat 1-on-1 .. knows the advantage of his strength and uses his body well to block opponents or work them away from in front of the net .. battles hard along the boards and will push players around until he has possession of the puck .. will go out of his way at times to make a hit - even in the offensive zone - where he can sacrifice his positioning as a result .. mobility is a question mark, however, as he can have trouble handling shifty forwards .. his legs are strong and generate a powerful acceleration stride - yet also lack some quickness .. despite not being a prime puckmover, he is an option for the second power play unit thanks to a booming shot .. should adapt well to the North America game and be well-suited in a role as a shutdown defenseman.

Jason Fuchs (2013), C, Rouyn-Noranda
A smart undersized center who plays a solid two-way game .. a well-balanced skater with very good mobility excellent acceleration and spearheads the offensive game with speedy rushes through the neutral zone .. possesses solid puck control, albeit is prone to taking risks at times and will consequently turn the puck over in dangerous areas of the ice .. make shifty moves with or without the puck and is able to make quick turns .. displays decent playmaking abilities as he sees the ice well and finds the open spot for his teammates .. plays smooth in the offensive zone and always seems to make the correct decision in terms of taking the shot or finding a mate who is better positioned .. won't hesitate to take the shot from a sharp angle - if it feels like the best option to score .. size is an issue at just 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds .. must get much stronger in order to better handle bigger forwards along the boards, who can now easily push him away from the puck .. will need to work on upgrading his face-off abilities .. his physical game is fairly non-existent as he will usually look for the smart way more than the aggressive solution .. does plays a reliable all-around game though - and is able to play in all situations .. taken 15th overall by Rouyn-Noranda in the CHL Import Draft.

Vincent Praplan (2012), LW, North Bay
Selected 92th overall by North Bay in the CHL Import Draft - coming off a season where he led the Swiss Junior Elite A- League in most he offensive categories .. plays the game of an offensive forward - and backed with a decent wrist shot and playmaking skills .. his skating is only average as he is missing strength in his legs, which also limits his startup burst .. can play a soft games and appear to shy away from contact and physical play .. he will avoid going to the hot areas at times, and will instead lurk around the net waiting for his chance to score .. does demonstrate the instincts to always be in right position to score .. tends to skate with his head down and consequently can be prone to running into an open-ice hit - or not being fully mindful of where his teammates are - which can effect the quality of his passing.

Edson Harlacher (2014), D, Kamloops

Draws initial comparisons to Mirco Mueller based on his size, mobility, and skating style - but only without the skill and puck-moving abilities of his fellow countryman .. blessed with an ideal frame for a defenseman - at six-foot-three - and plays a solid defensive game .. uses a long stick which he deploys actively in poke-checks or to battle along the boards .. still learning how to use his big body to his advantage as he is neither a punishing hitter nor a particularly intense performer .. keeps his play simple in his own zone - his outlet passes usually being short and hard .. selected 55th overall by Kamloops in the CHL Import Draft.

Kevin Fiala (2014), LW, HV71
A special player to watch .. always skates with his head up which backs tremendous on-ice awareness .. a tenacious forechecker - clever and sneaky .. proficient using an active stick to either pickpocket an opponent or make a pokecheck .. will try to retain every loose puck - and even take it away from his own teammates at times .. a player who constantly wants the puck .. a very good skater with quick legs and decent acceleration .. can burn defenders with his speed by just skating around them .. able to turn on a dime and make abrupt stops or directional changes while moving in top gear - and then regains full speed again in an instant .. packs a wealthy arsenal of shooting tools, highlighted by a wrist shot that, combined with a quick release, can be a deadly weapon .. also skilled at firing one-time slapshots right on target .. appears to be difficult to coach as he strays from the game plan and will race all over the ice - and rarely holding his position in his zone .. will sacrifice his defensive position and leave his man unattended .. cut from the national under-18 world junior team after reportedly having issues with Team Switzerland's head coach .. currently in his second season in Sweden, though having transferred from Malmo to HV71.

Denis Malgin (2015), C, GCK Lions
Started to make noise on international level during the 2012-13 season, appearing for Team Switzerland in his first under-18 world junior championship - at the age of 15 as a double underager .. an outstanding puckmover - poised with the puck and equipped with excellent puck control .. a solid skater with decent top-end speed .. not overly quick or flashy - and could use some work on improving his first steps .. demonstrates a high hockey IQ, which likely come from his bloodlines, as he is the son of Russian Albert Malgin, a 20-year veteran of the Russian and Swiss leagues .. his brother also plays at a high level of hockey in Switzerland .. the knock on Malgin is his size, since he’s only 5-foot-7 and it doesn’t appear that he will grow much more despite his father and brother both being above 6-feet .. his main weapon is a sharp and accurate wrist shot, which features a quick release .. only rarely will see him take a slap shot .. just 16 years of age, and playing in his first pro season in the Swiss National League B with the GCK Lions.

Timo Meier (2015), RW, Halifax
Taken 12th overall by Halifax in the CHL Import Draft and not eligible until the 2015 NHL Draft due to a late 1996 birthdate .. an offensively talented winger with decent size .. not a very flashy skater - as his acceleration and top-end speed need work .. lacks quickness in his legs .. mostly gets overrun by rushing teammates and often enters the offensive zone in follow-up positions .. more of a shooter than passer as he possesses a sharp and accurate wrist shot, which he uses primarily .. boasts strong puck control .. able to reel in and handle even the most inaccurate passes .. adept at using his feet to direct pucks to his stick - and at receiving passes that arrive behind his body - able to control pucks right away .. played at the 2013 under-18 world junior championship as an underager.

Mirco Mueller spearheads Swiss revival

Rafik Soliman — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:52:24 +0000

Expect a higher profile for Switzerland at the next draft, and particularly following an impressive sixth-place finish at the recent 2013 World Junior Championship in Russia.

It's been seven years since more than two Swiss-born players were selected in an NHL draft - and nine years since four were taken.

That would be way back in 2004 which is incidentally the year Montreal hit a home run on Mark Streit with the 262nd overall pick.

Aside from Everett import defender Mirco Mueller, a projected top pick, there's a good chance that Rouyn-Noranda star Sven Andrighetto won't be bypassed again. Other overagers such as big winger Mike Kunzle (Dec `93) and Christian Marti of Blainville-Boisbriand (Mar `93) could also draw late-round attention.

In preparation for the WJC in Russia, Team Switzerland held a preliminary selection camp in snowy Lenzerheide where McKeen's correspondent Rafik Soliman was on hand to watch Mueller and another pair of potential draftees in Sandro Zangger and Vincent Praplan.

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Mirco Mueller (2013, D), Everett - plays the game of a puckmoving defenseman .. brings a nice combination of size and mobility - and still has plenty of room to strengthen his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame - in order to better handle the rougher North American game .. plays a calm and poised game .. always has his head up in order to keep track of where opponents and teammates are on the ice .. proficient at making a good first pass .. known for his on-ice leadership - and named captain of the Swiss under-18 team .. tends to overplay situations at times and will try and do too much in his own zone .. can be prone to giveaways, especially when under heavier pressure, as he will hold the puck longer in search of free space - instead of playing a pass to a mate .. made his National League A debut last season with the Kloten Flyers at the age of 16 - appearing in a total of seven games .. named to the 2013 U20 WJC-team of Switzerland - making his debut at the tournament.

Sandro Zangger (2013 RW), GCK Lions - one of the big risers in Switzerland, the right-shooting forward is emerging more and more into a scoring forward with decent size .. made his debut this season in the National League A with the ZSC Lions .. possesses a good wrist shot, however his accuracy still needs work .. only an average skater though - and lacks foot speed .. not overly big at six-foot and 185 pounds, however he has gradually developed a solid mean streak over the years and isn’t afraid to throw his body around in the corners - or crash the net looking for deflections and rebounds .. Zangger will draw attention from NHL scouts due to his skills as he possesses soft hands and can create scoring chances with slick moves and dekes .. made his pro debut at the age of 17 in the National League B with the GCK Lions - and has worked his way into a top-six role this season.

Vincent Praplan (2013, RW), Kloten Flyers - a slick and clever forward with a sharp nose for the net .. seems to always be in the right position to score a goal .. made his debut this season with Kloten in the National League A - and currently is among the leading goal scorers in the Swiss Junior Elite A-League .. a decent skater who also possesses soft hands and fine puck control .. however, he also plays quite a soft game and shies away from body checks .. only average sized at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds .. will need to bulk up in order to stand his ground and not get pushed around .. selected to play in his first WJC - and likely to start as the spare forward.

Phil Baltisberger (2014, D), ZSC Zürich Lions - named to the 2012 Swiss WJC-Team as a double underager, where he played the role of the seventh defenseman .. boasts the ideal size and strength for pro hockey, already well-developed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds .. only an average skater in terms of speed however .. needs to improve his acceleration as he requires several of his powerful strides to reach top gear .. owns a heavy shot from the blue line - powered by his excellent strength .. still must learn how to effectively use his frame to full advantage, as he is quite raw in this area - and basically still a boy captured in a man’s body .. after his debut and full season in the Swiss National League B as a 15 year old, he is currently in his second season with the GCK Lions .. with a new coaching staff, Baltisberger wound up being the final selection for the 2013 U20 WJC team in Russia.