David Reinbacher
18y, EHC Kloten, NL, Switzerland
In the game against Fribourg-Gottéron on Friday night, Reinbacher crashed into the boards during the first period and limped off injured. The defenceman came back and played another two shifts, but could not continue the period, and didn’t return to the lineup after the first intermission.
Reinbacher sat out the game against Davos on Saturday, as expected, and we are hoping for a positive update this week.
Vinzenz Rohrer
19y, ZSC Lions, NL, Switzerland
Rohrer got to play even with former Canadiens player Sven Andrighetto back in the lineup, a vote of confidence from Zürich coach Marc Crawford. Rohrer played 12 minutes, with one of them being on the power play.
The season so far is impressive, maybe moreso than many North American fans can see from his stats, He has grabbed a roster spot with Zürich in the National League, a team with one of the biggest budgets in Europe and a prime destination for many hockey players.
While I would like to see more on the offensive side of the puck, it is an impressive start from the player. He is probably the player who has surprised me the most so far this season with his ability to stick with the team. However, the proof is in the pudding, and with returning players coming into the lineup, Rohrer might get the call to go to the B team, or the U20s.
Oliver Kapanen
20y, KalPa, Liiga, Finland
With two assists on Wednesday night, Kapanen took his first steps toward what we saw from him last season, where he produced in batches. It was good to see the Finnish centre finally get some results from his play in Liiga:
While he was involved in the first goal in Saturday’s game, ready for the tip-in on the far post, the puck went straight in. It was later in the game, playing on the power play, that Kapanen showcased something we haven’t seen in a long time: his shot.
One must think his military service this summer has impacted his physical (and probably psychological) preparation for the season. It remains to be seen if this is the start of the breakout season we all hoped for.
Adam Engström
19y, Rögle BK, SHL, Sweden
Not the best of games for Rögle this week, and while Engström was on for some goals against, I can’t fault him for any of them.
Rögle has problems with their defence, injuries and quality-wise, and rumour has it they are looking to upgrade. Thomas Grégoire and Valtteri Viljanen are two players that I would single out as not working in the system at the moment, with Brandon Davidson out because of an injury, it leaves holes in the lineup that will need to addressed one way or another.
Filip Eriksson
18y, Växjö Lakers, SHL, Sweden
Filip Eriksson stepped up in the Champions Hockey League with a nice goal:
In Saturday’s game, Eriksson was more used as a winger than a centre, and the one fault I could see was that he ended up a little low in the defensive-zone coverage.
Bogdan Konyushkov
20y, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL, Russia
In last week’s three games, Konyushkov averaged a crazy 24:30 time on ice (give or take a few seconds). Again, there was some good with something bad. He was on the ice for the goal against in the 1-0 game against Lokomotiv, and I think this is where his weakness really is and why I think he isn’t NHL-ready: he needs to bulk up.
He should not have let the attacker move in from behind as he is closest to the net, especially with under 90 seconds to go. Then to not be able to hold his own against the bigger attacker means that the puck goes in.
Konyushkov was on the ice for two more goals against this week and one for, with no points recorded.
Petteri Nurmi
21y, HPK, Liiga, Finland
Nurmi is crashing out of the discussion for an AHL deal at the end of the season. He would have struggled anyway with the amount of defencemen in the system, but he was used less than 15 minutes a game this week, with one game being under 10 minutes.
Yevgeni Volokhin
18y, Mamonty Yugry, MHL, Russia
Only one game for Volokhin this week, a 32 save win allowing one goal against Sibirskie Snaipery.
Alexander Gordin
22y, Ryazan-VDV, VHL, Russia
Gordin continues his time with Ryazan.
Dmitri Kostenko
20y, Khimik Voskresensk, VHL, Russia
One goal for Kostenko this week. His ice time is still up and down each game.
