Vancouver Canucks: 8 European Players Vancouver Could Target
The Vancouver Canucks signed Russian D-man Nikita Tryamkin and Swedish forward Anton Rodin. How about some more European power?
After profiling 11 NCAA prospects the Vancouver Canucks could target this summer, we took a look at European options as well. The problem here: while there are several high-profile NCAA free agents available every year, Europeans coming to the NHL are much harder to predict, and we usually have to wait for rumours to emerge from reliable sources.
Read: 11 NCAA prospects the Vancouver Canucks could target
Still, the European leagues are full of young talent as well, and it would be silly not to take a look at who could be approached by NHL teams sooner or later.
The Vancouver Canucks are captained by Swedes Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Alexander Edler. The first line is completed by Dane Jannik Hansen, Swede Jacob Markstrom is in net, Swiss forward Sven Baertschi is relied on for scoring goals, and the club just signed Russian defenceman Nikita Tryamkin and Swedish forward Anton Rodin. It is rather obvious that Vancouver is not opposed to signing players out of Europe.
It is tough to predict whether European players will make it in the National Hockey League, but here are seven who definitely seem to have the tools.
Next: G Mathias Niederberger
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
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
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
Outlook
More from The Canuck Way
- Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
- What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
- Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
- Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
- 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg
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.