Vancouver Canucks: 8 European Players Vancouver Could Target

G Mathias Niederberger

Mathias Niederberger is a 23-year-old goaltender from Germany, playing for Dusseldorfer EG in the DEL. His career started in Dusseldorf, his hometown, but he made the jump to North America early, hoping to make the National Hockey League.

Following his first year of NHL Draft eligibility, the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts selected Niederberger in the first round of the 2011 CHL Import Draft. Niederberger spent the next two seasons in Barrie and became one of the best goaltenders in the league. In his final OHL season, he had a .933 save percentage — trailing only Boston Bruins draft pick Malcolm Subban (.934) and leaving players like Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson behind.

However, Niederberger went undrafted in his second year of eligibility as well, and signed a contract with the American Hockey League’s Manchester Monarchs. After nine ECHL contests and six for the Monarchs, with save percentages of .884 and .887, respectively, Niederberger returned to Germany in 2014.

Back home, Niederberger played only five games in the DEL 2 and 11 in the DEL, backing up Berlin Polar Bears netminder Petri Vehanen.

Then came 2015-16, a true breakout season for Niederberger. Still just 23 years old, he carried Dusseldorf into the playoffs and was voted DEL goaltender of the year. He ranked second in save percentage at .930.

The Canucks are hoping to get NCAA prospect Thatcher Demko signed to a professional contract and still have Ryan Miller and Jacob Markstrom in Vancouver. But, having goaltending tandems of Miller-Markstrom and Niederberger-Demko would be an outstanding set-up for the future.

Next: G Mantas Armalis

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G Mantas Armalis

Next up is another goaltender, Mantas Armalis of Djugardens IF in the Swedish Hockey League. As opposed to Niederberger, Armalis is indeed reported to have garnered interest from NHL teams, with the Toronto Maple Leafs being the favourites to land him.

Armalis is a Lithuanian-born goalie who moved to Sweden to play hockey at an early age. After going through all of Swedens junior, as well as the third and second-tier men’s leagues, the 23-year-old just completed his second season in the SHL, posting a .918 save percentage while splitting the crease with Mikael Tellqvist.

At 6-foot-4, Armalis is five inches taller than Niederberger, but the German looks like he might be the better goaltender at this point.

Whichever way things shake out, if the Vancouver Canucks decide they want to sign another goalie, Niederberger, Armalis, Demko and Yale’s Alex Lyon are all interesting options. Looking at how Miller and Markstrom have been doing this season, signing some young help might not be an entirely bad idea.

Next: D Linus Hultstrom

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D Linus Hultstrom

Another European who is reportedly drawing NHL interest is 23-year-old Swedish defenceman Linus Hultstrom, teammate of Mantas Armalis at Djugardens.

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Florida Panthers are expected to sign Hultstrom soon, but the Vancouver Canucks should certainly take a good look at him as long as they still can.

From Elite Prospects:

Hultström is an offensive defenseman with a good point shot. Excels on the powerplay and likes to join the rush. Skilled passer and overall a creative and smart defenseman. Defensively, there is room for improvement. (EP 2015)

Hultstrom is a right-handed defenceman, covering an area of weakness for the Canucks. Like all European players, he is a bit of a wild card, especially since defence is his main area of weakness. His 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame does not exactly help him in that regard.

A strong offensive defenceman who excels on the powerplay but has defensive weaknesses sounds a lot like Yannick Weber, whom Jim Benning demoted to the American Hockey League late this season. However, Hultstrom would be signed to a cheap two-way deal, not a one-way contract that pays him $1.5 million like it is the case for Weber.

Hultstrom is a young defenceman who will be a low-risk signing for whichever team he ends up with. Over the past two seasons, he combined for 22 goals and 64 points in 100 games and should be able to contribute a lot offensively.

Next: D Nils Andersson

D Nils Andersson

If you are looking for a bigger defenceman, 6-foot-2, 183-pound Nils Andersson might be a better option.

Andersson made his professional debut back in 2009, when he played in four games for IF Bjorkloven in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional league, as a 17-year-old. After another season with Bjorkloven, he joined the Vaxjo Lakers, won the Allsvenskan league title and got promoted to the SHL with his team.

In 2011-12, the then 19-year-old Andersson appeared in 45 games for the Lakers but struggled at the elite level, especially regarding his offensive production. That is why he decided to move back down to the Allsvenskan, joining Djugardens IF this time. Unfortunately, he suffered a gruesome knee injury before playing his first league game for the club, and missed the entire 2012-13 campaign.

Instead of coming back worse than he was before, Andersson returned from his injury stronger than ever. In 2013-14, he recorded eight goals and 29 points in 38 games. That season, he got promoted to the SHL a second time, but once again, he chose to join an Allsvenskan team, the Malmo Redhawks.

For the Redhawks, Andersson scored 13 goals and 31 points in 52 games, helping a third team to SHL promotion. This time, he stayed with the club, was named an alternate captain, and recorded six goals and 30 points in 49 games in the Swedish Hockey League.

Now 24 years old, Andersson looks like a well-rounded defenceman who defensively sound but can produce offensively as well.

From Elite Prospects:

A very smart and skilled defensive with nice upside. Andersson reads the play well and is a skilled passer. Rarely takes nights off, but could use some work with his mobility.

Next: D Tim Heed

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D Tim Heed

Tim Heed was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft but never signed a contract with the club. A former forward, Heed is an offensive-minded defenceman who has steadily improved defensively over the past years.

From Elite Prospects:

A former forward, Heed is an an offensive-minded defenseman with a great shot. Excels tremendously on the powerplay thanks to natural playmaking instincts and poise. Skates well with good agility, too. However, he could stand to round out his defensive game. (2011)

Heed made his SHL debut as an 18-year-old but failed to establish himself at the highest level, seeing a lot of ice time at the Allsvenskan and junior level the following years. Now 25 years old, Heed completed his third full season as a leader for Skelleftea AIK in the SHL. Skelleftea were the regular-season SHL champions this year and completed a sweep in the first playoff round against HV71, where Heed had four assists.

Over the last two seasons, the 6-foot, 185-pound D-man combined for 18 goals and 60 points in 102 games. Furthermore, Heed has appeared in games for all of Team Sweden’s junior and men’s teams.

Like Hultstrom and Andersson, Heed is a right-handed defenceman with good upside who would be a cheap signing for any NHL club.

Next: F Adam Petterson

F Adam Petterson

Adam Petterson is the first forward on this list. The 24-year-old also plays for Skelleftea of the SHL and can be used on any forward position.

From Elite Prospects:

Pettersson is a speedy player who can play any position up front. Works hard both ways and plays a gritty game. Also has pretty good hockey sense and playmaking ability. (2010)

Born in Skelleftea, Petterson played almost his entire career with Skelleftea AIK, starting on their youth teams. He made his professional debut as an 18-year-old in 2010 and stayed in the league for the following six seasons, except for a developmental year in the Allsvenskan in 2011-12.

Petterson is not the greatest scorer, but he knows how to handle the puck and how to make plays. In the past two seasons, he had identical point productions of eight goals and 22 points in 53 and 52 games, respectively.

However, scoring is not his standout ability that makes him interesting for the NHL. Petterson is a versatile 6-foot, 185-pound forward who combines grit, defensive ability and skill.

At the NHL level, he would project to be a bottom-six forward who can be used on different positions and in different situations.

Next: F John Norman

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F John Norman

John Norman completes the Skelleftea trio on our list of European players the Vancouver Canucks could target. The 25-year-old is another versatile forward who had an offensive breakout season this year, helping Skelleftea win the regular-season title.

From Elite Prospects:

Norman is a speedy center with fine hockey sense and pretty good hands. Plays a smart game defensively, but could use some bulk to his frame.

Norman made his SHL debut as a 19-year-old and is in his fifth SHL season, the third with Skelleftea. He spent the 2012-13 campaign with Oulun Karpat of the Finnish Liiga.

After posting just 13 points each in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, Norman had a breakout year offensively. In 47 games, the 5-foot-11, 183-pound forward had 17 goals and 42 points.

While Norman is not a big player, he is strong defensively thanks to his hockey sense and understanding of the game. He is a hard-working forward who plays a smart game defensively and can be used in a variety of situations.

Like his teammate Petterson, Norman can be used on any forward position. While Petterson is primarily a winger, Norman prefers to play at centre.

At the NHL level, he too projects to be a bottom-six forward, perhaps rather a winger.

Next: F Fabio Pfohl

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C Fabio Pfohl

The final player on our list comes from Germany and plays for the Grizzlys Wolfsburg of the DEL. Pfohl was ranked as the 12th European skater by NHL Central Scouting for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft but went undrafted for two straight years.

At just 20 years old, Pfohl is already in his fourth professional season, but the 2015-16 campaign marks his first full year in the German elite league. Pfohl had eight goals and 30 points in 51 games this season and was named DEL rookie of the year.

In Wolfsburg, Pfohl moved up and down the lineup, getting ice time as a second-line winger, a fourth-line centre and everything in between. Furthermore, Pfohl is frequently used on the first power-play unit.

Pfohl combines good hockey sense, hard work, defensive awareness and offensive skill to form a well-rounded playmaker at the highest level. Despite being just 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, he does not shy away from getting physical. He is obviously not a big forward, but makes up for it with hard work and great hockey sense.

Pfohl might not be signed to an NHL entry-level contract this year, but I strongly believe he will end up there eventually. If Vancouver signed him this summer, he could develop in the American Hockey League and possibly make the jump to the NHL within the next three years.

Next: Outlook

Outlook

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It is never easy to predict which European players are ready to make the jump to North America. However, Europe’s league are full of talented players who have enough potential to make it eventually.

Will it be any of the players listed above? Who knows.

What we do know is that the Vancouver Canucks have always had European players in key roles — elite players like Pavel Bure, Markus Naslund and the Sedin twins. They are not afraid to sign European guys like Anton Rodin or Nikita Tryamkin and, honestly, there is no reason to be.

Every hockey player, including Europeans, dreams of playing in the NHL one day. So if a player gets an offer to come to North America and be a part of an NHL franchise, he seldom says no, no matter what kind of contract he is getting. In other words, European players — especially undrafted — are cheap low-risk signings.

Next: Picking Defence at 2016 Draft

The Vancouver Canucks need any help they can get, no matter where it comes from. Knowing that they have capable prospects in the system and several options available in North American college and junior leagues, as well European pro leagues, gives a little hope that the rebuild will be faster than that of the Edmonton Oilers.

One can always hope.