Two down one to go for EIHL team
Having clinched the Challenge Cup on Wednesday the Sheffield Steelers (EIHL) made it two trophys yesterday as they clinched the Elite league title. Read more»
Today we have a look at the Clubs in the NLA and how their transfers should improve their chances to win the championship which starts tomorrow.
We start from the bottom of last seasons stands:
SCRJ Lakers
Of all teams, Rapperswil has the most to catch up compared to last
season. They've made some quality additions in Mikael Johansson,
Johan Fransson or young goalie Tim Wolf. Goaltending was a weak
point last season but this should all change with the arrival of
Wolf. Hopefully the offensive department can increase the goal
scoring, a 117 goals was the second lowest total of the league while
receiving 200 goals led to only 11 victories, 9 of them during
regulation.
Prediction: The Play Outs aren't too far away for the Lakers
unless the goaltending and scoring don't get better.
Additions: Mikael Johansson (Leksand/Swe), Tim Wolf, Cédric
Hächler (both ZSC Lions), Marco Pedretti (Ambrì), Flavio Schmutz
(Västeras/Swe), Patrick Obrist (Salzburg/Aus), Reto Schmutz
(Ajoie), Christopher Bagnoud (Kloten), Daniel Eigenmann
(Lausanne), Rajan Sataric (Thurgau), Dan Weisskopf (Bern).
Leavers: Anthony Stewart (Zagreb/KHL), Peter Sejna, David Aebischer (both unknown), Adrian Wichser (Thurgau), Loïc Burkhalter (La Chaux-de-Fonds), Mauro Jörg (Davos), Marc Geiger (Visp), Franco Collenberg, Sandro Gmür, Andreas Camenzind (all retired).
Non-Swiss licenced: Mikael Johansson (Swe/new), Nicklas Danielsson (Swe), Niklas Persson (Swe), Derrick Walser (Can), Johan Fransson (Swe/new).
Additions: Niklas Olausson (Lulea/Swe), Pär Arlbrandt
(Linköping/Swe), Eliot Berthon (Servette), Nicholas Steiner (SCL
Tigers), Matthias Rossi (Basel).
Leavers: Ryan MacMurchy (Ingolstadt/DEL), Chris Bourque (NY Rangers/NHL), Dario Trutmann (Servette), Marc Wieser (Davos), Steve Kellenberger (Kloten).
Non-Swiss lincenced: Ahren Spylo (Can/Ger), Dragan Umicevic (Swe), Niklas Olausson (Swe/new), Pär Arlbrandt (Swe/new).
Additions: Pierre-Marc Bouchard (New York Islanders/NHL), Daniel
Sondell (Örebro/Swe), Tobias Stephan (Servette), Robin Grossmann,
Dario Bürgler (both Davos), Johann Morant (Lausanne), David
Stämpfli (Ajoie), Calle Andersson (Malmö/Swe), Fabrice Herzog
(Québec/QJMHL).
Leavers: Rob Schremp (Novokuznetsk/KHL), Andrew Hutchinson (Medvescak Zagreb/ KHL), Eero Kilpeläinen (KalPa/Fin), Alessandro Chiesa (Lugano), Corsin Casutt (Kloten), Florian Schmuckli (GCK Lions), Patrick Fischer (retired), Sven Lindemann (SCL Tigers).
Non-Swiss licenced: Josh Holden (Can), Robbie Earl (USA), Daniel Sondell (Swe/new), Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Can/new).
Additions: Bud Holloway (Skellefteå/Swe), Marc-André Gragnani
(Lev Prag/KHL), Chuck Kobasew (Wilkes-Barre/AHL), Marc Reichert
(Ambri), Thomas Rüfenacht (Lugano), Eric Blum (Kloten), Matthias
Mischler (Ajoie) Simon Moser (Nashville/NHL).
Leavers: Daniel Grillfors (IFK Helsinki/Fin), Glen Metropolit (Mannheim/DEL), Travis Roche (MoDo/Swe), Rostislav Olesz (unknown), Joel Vermin (Tampa Bay/NHL), Daniel Rubin (Servette), Hnat Domenichelli, Ivo Rüthemann, Olivier Gigon (all retired), Alex Dostoinow (Ambri), Dan Weisskopf (Lakers).
Non-Swiss licenced: Bud Holloway (Can/new), Byron Ritchie (Ka), Chuck Kobasew (Can/new), Marc-André Gragnani (Can/new), Geoff Kinrade (Can).
Lausanne HC
One of the surprise teams of last season surely were HC Lausanne who
forced a 7 game quarterfinal series against the eventual champion
ZSC Lions. For this season, coach Ehlers team has made some minor
changes, Harri Pesonen and Ossi Louhivaara were signed to score
goals. Together with Hytönen and Bang these four players will be in
charge to entertain the fans in Lausanne.
Prediction: The next step for this team must be to get passed the
first round in the play offs. The off season additions will surely
help to approach this task.
Additions: Harri Pesonen (Albany, AHL), Ossi Louhivaara
(Jyväskylä/Fin), Pascal Caminada (Thurgau), Alain Miéville
(Ambrì), Yannick Herren (Kloten), Philippe Rytz (SCL Tigers).
Leavers: Oliver Setzinger (unknown), Josh Primeau (Ajoie),
Christophe Bays (Servette), Damien Fleury (Vaasan/Fin), Daniel
Eigenmann (Lakers), Codey Burki (Olten)
Additions: Keith Aucoin (Chicago Wolves/AHL), Ryan O’Byrne (Lev
Prag/KHL), Adam Hall (Philadelphia/NHL), Jason Fuchs
(Rouyn-Noranda/QMJHL), Jesse Zgraggen (Regina/WHL), Christian
Stucki (Ajoie), Alexei Dostoinow (Bern), Michael Flückiger
(Lugano), Alain Birbaum, Adrien Lauper (both Fribourg-Gottéron).
Leavers: Jason Williams (Oklahoma/AHL), Markus Nordlund (Djurgården/Swe), Maxim Noreau (Colorado/NHL), Richard Park, Nolan Schaefer (both unknown), Marc Reichert (Bern), Alain Miéville (Lausanne), Marco Pedretti (RJ Lakers), Sami El Assaoui (Kloten).
Non-Swiss licenced: Alexandre Giroux (Can), Keith Aucoin (USA/new), Ryan O’Byrne (Can/new), Adam Hall (USA/new).
Additions: Linus Klasen (Luleå/Swe), Ilari Filppula (ZSKA
Moskau/KHL), Janick Steinmann (Kloten), Alessandro Chiesa (Zug),
Raphael Kuonen (SCL Tigers).
Leavers: Mikko Lehtonen (Skelleftea/Swe), Jacob Micflikier (Linköping/Swe), Ilkka Heikkinen (Ufa/KHL), Thomas Rüfenacht (Bern), Dario Simion (Davos), Florian Blatter (La Chaux-de-Fonds), Flavien Conne (retired).
Non-Swiss licenced: Linus Klasen (Swe/new), Ilari Filppula (Fin/new), Brett McLean (Can), Frederick Pettersson (Swe).
HC Davos
This will be one of Arno del Curto's most difficult seasons. Key
players such as Peter Taticek, Robin Grossmann, Dario Bürgler, Rene
Back, Peter Guggisberg and Sandro Rizzi have left the club or
retired. Reto and Jan von Arx are the two remaining players that are
under contract but are facing the end of their careers. Can del
Curto form an efficient and working team with all the new additions?
Davos will depend on the Nordic fraction to keep up the power hockey
that the mountain club has been renowned for in the past decade.
Prediction: Quarterfinals
Additions: Dick Axelsson (Frölunda/Swe), Marc Wieser (Biel),
Dario Simion (Lugano), Mauro Jörg (Rapperswil), Félicien Du Bois
(Kloten), Fabian Heldner (Visp), Ruben Rampazzo (Ritten/Ita).
Leavers: Zdenek Kutlak (Salzburg, Aut), Petr Taticek
(Ingolstadt/DEL), Ryan O’Connor (Espoo Blues/Fin), Robin
Grossmann, Dario Bürgler (both Zug), René Back, Peter Guggisberg
(both Kloten), Sandro Rizzi (retired), Massimo Ronchetti (SCL
Tigers), Yannick Schwendener (Thurgau).
Non-Swiss licenced: Dick Axelsson (Swe/new), Marcus Paulsson (Swe),
Perttu Lindgren (Fin), Ville Koistinen (Fin).
Additions: Jeff Tambellini (MoDo/Swe), Melvin Nyffeler (ZSC Lions).
Leavers: Antti Miettinen (unknown), Niklas Hagman (Jokerit
Helsinki/KHL), Alain Birbaum, Adrien Lauper (both Ambri), Kevin
Huber (unknown).
Leavers: Kaspars Daugavins (Dynamo Moskau/KHL), Lennart Petrell (Lulea/Swe), Matt Lombardi (NY Rangers /NHL), Garrett Stafford (Ässät/Fin), Denis Hollenstein (Kloten), Tobias Stephan (Zug), Cody Almond (Minnesota/NHL), Alexei Krutow (Sotschi/KHL).
Non-Swiss licenced: Alexandre Picard (Can), Paul Ranger (Can/new), Matt D’Agostini (Can/new), Taylor Pyatt (Can/new), Tom Pyatt (Can/new).
Additions: Denis Hollenstein (Servette), René Back, Peter
Guggisberg (both Davos), Corsin Casutt (Zug), Steve Kellenberger
(Biel), Sami El Assaoui (Ambri), Vincent Praplan (North Bay/OHL)
Edson Harlacher (Kamloops/WHL).
Leavers: Peter Mueller (St. Louis Blues/NHL), Josh Hennessy (Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk/KHL), Félicien Du Bois (Davos), Eric Blum (Bern), Janick Steinmann (Lugano), Luka Hoffmann (GCK Lions), Yannick Herren (Lausanne).
Non-Swiss licenced: Tommi Santala (Fin), Jim Vandermeer (Can), Micki Dupont (Can).
Non-Swiss licenced: Ryan Keller (Can), Ryan Shannon (USA), Marc-André Bergeron (Can), Derek Smith (USA/Can/new), Jan Tabacek (Slk).
Czech Rep.: Tipsport extraliga | 1.liga | 2.liga
Slovakia: Tipsport Extraliga | 1.liga
Sweden: SHL | HockeyAllsvenskan
Other: EBEL | Belarus | Croatia | Denmark | Estonia | France | Great Britain | Iceland | Italy | Latvia | Lithuania | MOL-liga | Norway | Poland | Romania | Serbia | Slovenia | Spain | NHL | AHL |
Having clinched the Challenge Cup on Wednesday the Sheffield Steelers (EIHL) made it two trophys yesterday as they clinched the Elite league title. Read more»
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