David Reinbacher
19y, EHC Kloten, NL, Switzerland
The back-to-back games against Zürich — what I have started to call the “tram service derby” as you can take the tram between the arenas — yielded six very important points for Kloten.
More importantly for Montreal Canadiens fans, David Reinbacher played well. I will lean on Mr. Thibaud Chatel’s knowledge and graphics to show how well.
Something that stood out in the games against Zürich was that he often got the puck from board battles, but as he tried to work the puck out of the zone, he got no help from his winger, who didn’t move and looked like a statue as the puck just went by him and ended up at the Zürich defender’s stick instead.
Still, the team played better with Reinbacher leading a more evenly coached team in time on ice. He also managed to get a point in the Saturday game:
Reinbacher is playing at the same level or even higher compared to last year. Kloten isn’t a good possession team relying on counterattacks and breakaways for offence, hence a dip in shot attempts and HD passes.
Filip Eriksson
18y, Växjö Lakers, SHL / Nybro Vikings, HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden
Eriksson’s season got a drastic change when he was loaned to Nybro in HockeyAllsvenskan. Going from a fourth-line, complementary role, Eriksson got on the top line and on the first power-play unit, and all his offensive upside was unlocked.
Before Sunday’s game, Eriksson had six points (1G, 5A) in four games. As he was interviewed for TV during the first intermission of a difficult game against Brynäs, he said “we need a few more counter-attacks to score.” The statement came to fruition in the third period.
He also expressed how much he was enjoying playing for his new team. “The coach trusts me. I get to play a lot. It’s fun.”
As the game came to a close Eriksson, got his chance as he did his best Dale Weise impression and left early for a counter and came in all alone on the goalie.
In Friday’s game against Mora, he played over 20 minutes and had an assist. On Sunday against Brynäs, he played over 21 minutes and scored a goal.
Comparing with last year’s draft-plus-one players in HockeyAllsvenskan, Eriksson’s numbers are intriguing:
- Noah Östlund, 37 games, 26 points (8G, 18A)
- Liam Öhgren, 26 games, 20 points (11G, 9A)
- Dalibor Dvorsky, 38 games, 14 points (6G, 8A)
- Jonathan Lekkerimäki, 29 games, 9 points (3G, 6A)
There are a few facts to be mentioned in this comparison: both Djurgården and AIK were struggling and neither player got top-line minutes, but also Nybro is not that high up in the table either. I am not sure that Eriksson’s numbers are sustainable, but at the moment he is still looking better than a sixth-round pick. The injury certainly made him drop in the draft, but credit to the scouting team for grabbing him late in the draft.
Vinzenz Rohrer
19y, ZSC Lions, NL, Switzerland
Rohrer started the season really well and the fact that he has stayed up with the Zürich Lions speaks volumes. However, his performances have faded a recently. He gets to the scoring areas, but just as the Lions have fallen in the standings, Rohrer’s points have followed the same trend.
Adam Engström
20y, Rögle BK, SHL, Sweden
With Thomas Grégoire leaving the team, Engström’s defensive play stood out through the transition in a way. It shows some improvement in an area where he struggled last year.
One thing that was notable from the game against Färjestad was his low ice time as the game had quite a few penalties called, along with a rare mistake from the blue-liner.
A rare occurrence when Engström gets caught flatt footed.
— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) January 20, 2024
The play turned fast, but Engström really should have kept the forward on the outside and not have him cut in towards the net. pic.twitter.com/g0e2C2cl5f
It will be interesting to follow Engström’s TOI this upcoming week.
Oliver Kapanen
20y, KalPa, Liiga, Finland
Kapanen doesn’t want to let up from where he has found himself this last month. Since New Year’s Day, he has nine points (4G, 5A) in seven games. This week he was right in front of the net on the power play as they set up a classic Frölunda play (Lasch and Lundqvist used this to perfection for a couple of years).
Kapanen just needs eight more points to make this the best season in his young career, it’s more a question of when rather than if at this point.
Petteri Nurmi
21y, HPK, Liiga, Finland
An assist for Nurmi this week, and he played about 25 minutes in both games this weekend.
Bogdan Konyushkov
20y, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL, Russia
Wearing the ‘C’ for Torpedo and playing over 26 minutes against Vityaz and close to 28 minutes in the overtime win against CSKA, it was a call against that stood out, and also leaves an understanding of where Konyushkov needs to improve:
He (#6 in blue, the closest defender) gets caught flatfooted on a rush. It doesn’t help that it is four-on-four hockey, but it illustrates two things: he doesn’t seem to generate enough power to accelerate toward the attacker, then he stops and glides and makes a weak attempt at a hook. He should have gone harder toward the attacker. The resulting power play yielded a goal for CSKA.
Again, I think Konyushkov is an interesting pick and prospect, however I also think there is a lot of work to be done, and right now I think he will need a good deal of seasoning in the AHL, even if his arrival in North America comes after the 2025-26 season.
Yevgeni Volokhin
18y, Mamonty Yugry, MHL, Russia
Credit: mhl.khl.ru
Volokhin is still a top-five goalie in the MHL, even if he lost the top spot in goals-against average.
Alexander Gordin
22y, Ryazan-VDV, VHL, Russia
Two goals and one assist as Ryazan bested SKA-Neva 3-2 in OT. Gordin earned Man of the Match for the performance.
Dmitri Kostenko
21y, VHL, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
An assist for Kostenko this week.
