German Players in North America

Maverick41

Cold-blooded Jelly Doughnut
Sponsor
Nov 9, 2005
4,052
2,465
Germany
So to recap, so far we have 6 players with NHL contracts for next season:
  • Leon Draisaitl - Edmonton Oilers
  • Tim Stützle - Ottawa Senators
  • Moritz Seider - Detroit Red Wings
  • Nico Sturm - Minnesota Wild
  • Philipp Grubauer - Seattle Kraken
  • Thomas Greiss - Detroit Red Wings
Then there are 4 players confirmed (for now) to play in the NCAA Division 1 (there are others playing in lower divisions):
  • Julian Napravnik - Minnesota State University (Mankato)
  • Lukas Kälble - Clarkson University
  • Timo Bakos - Lake Superior State University
  • Luca Münzenberger - University of Vermont
And 4 players are committed to play in the CHL (if they make their respective teams):
  • Leo Hafenrichter - Guelph Storm (OHL)
  • Kevin Niedenz - Oshawa Generals (OHL)
  • Hakon Hänelt - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
  • Yannick Proske - Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
  • Rayan Bettahar - Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
 
Last edited:

Chapin Landvogt

Registered User
Jul 4, 2002
20,400
6,536
Germany
So to recap, so far we have 6 players with NHL contracts for next season:
  • Leon Draisaitl - Edmonton Oilers
  • Tim Stützle - Ottawa Senators
  • Moritz Seider - Detroit Red Wings
  • Nico Sturm - Minnesota Wild
  • Philipp Grubauer - Seattle Kraken
  • Thomas Greiss - Detroit Red Wings
Then there are 4 players confirmed (for now) to play in the NCAA Division 1 (there are others playing in lower divisions):
  • Julian Napravnik - Minnesota State University (Mankato)
  • Lukas Kälble - Clarkson University
  • Timo Bakos - Lake Superior State University
  • Luca Münzenberger - University of Vermont
And 4 players are committed to play in the CHL (if they make their respective teams):
  • Kevin Niedenz - Oshawa Generals (OHL)
  • Hakon Hänelt - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
  • Yannick Proske - Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
  • Rayan Bettahar - Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

Looks pretty thorough.

I do wonder though....

What's going on with Tommy Pasanen, who was supposed to play for Clarkson last season?

It'll very interesting to see what happens with Kahun, Rieder, and Michaelis.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maverick41

Maverick41

Cold-blooded Jelly Doughnut
Sponsor
Nov 9, 2005
4,052
2,465
Germany
Looks pretty thorough.

I do wonder though....

What's going on with Tommy Pasanen, who was supposed to play for Clarkson last season?

It'll very interesting to see what happens with Kahun, Rieder, and Michaelis.

No idea about Pasanen. Only thing I could find is that he and two other Clarkson players (Chris Klack and Jordan Robert) sat out the season, but no reason was given or at least I could not find any.

In September I will update all the OPs in the threads I used to do in years past, as long as COVID does not throw everything into chaos again.
Ever since the pandemic started I just could not bring myself to keep the threads up-to-date.

Agree about Kahun, Rieder and Michaelis. Apparently Michaelis (or is agent) is talking with the Canucks trying to work out a new deal, but no idea if they are close. I think I recall him mentioning in an interview, that he might go to the AHL if that's what it takes.
I hope Kahun finds a place in the NHL somewhere, because I still think he is good enough to be a useful middle-six player.
With Rieder I think that he may have another season or two in him, but it won't be too long before he returns to Europe to be a star player here for a few more years. I think Kühnhackl is in a similar situation.

Also interested in the future of Dominik Bokk and Leon Gawanke as well as Lukas Reichel and JJ Peterka. I really can't wait for the rookie and training camps to start.
 

Maverick41

Cold-blooded Jelly Doughnut
Sponsor
Nov 9, 2005
4,052
2,465
Germany
Not long now until the first preseason games in the CHL start.
Here is the schedule for the teams with German players:

DateLeagueTeamPlayer
19.08.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
20.08.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
24.08.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
25.08.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
28.08.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
04.09.2021OHLGuelph StormLeo Hafenrichter
04.09.2021OHLOshawa GeneralsKevin Niedenz
05.09.2021OHLGuelph StormLeo Hafenrichter
05.09.2021OHLOshawa GeneralsKevin Niedenz
10.09.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
10.09.2021WHLSpokane ChiefsYannick Proske
11.09.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
11.09.2021WHLSpokane ChiefsYannick Proske
17.09.2021OHLGuelph StormLeo Hafenrichter
17.09.2021OHLOshawa GeneralsKevin Niedenz
17.09.2021WHLSpokane ChiefsYannick Proske
17.09.2021WHLSwift Current BroncosRayan Bettahar
18.09.2021OHLOshawa GeneralsKevin Niedenz
18.09.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
18.09.2021WHLSwift Current BroncosRayan Bettahar
19.09.2021WHLSpokane ChiefsYannick Proske
22.09.2021WHLSpokane ChiefsYannick Proske
24.09.2021OHLGuelph StormLeo Hafenrichter
24.09.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
24.09.2021WHLSwift Current BroncosRayan Bettahar
25.09.2021OHLGuelph StormLeo Hafenrichter
25.09.2021QMJHLGatineau OlympiquesHakon Hänelt
25.09.2021WHLSpokane ChiefsYannick Proske
25.09.2021WHLSwift Current BroncosRayan Bettahar
01.10.2021OHLGuelph StormLeo Hafenrichter
01.10.2021OHLOshawa GeneralsKevin Niedenz
03.10.2021OHLOshawa GeneralsKevin Niedenz
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

If you can't tell, I am starting to miss hockey.
 

Chapin Landvogt

Registered User
Jul 4, 2002
20,400
6,536
Germany
Tom Kühnhackl wechselt zu Skellefteå AIK
upload_2021-8-12_14-36-59.png


Ok, so Tom's off the NA list for now...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maverick41

Maverick41

Cold-blooded Jelly Doughnut
Sponsor
Nov 9, 2005
4,052
2,465
Germany
So, Kühnhackl joins fellow "Niederbayer" Stefan Loibl. I wonder if they will end up on the same line.
 

Chapin Landvogt

Registered User
Jul 4, 2002
20,400
6,536
Germany
So, Kühnhackl joins fellow "Niederbayer" Stefan Loibl. I wonder if they will end up on the same line.

I would suspect that Kühnhackl's offensive output in the SHL will resemble that of his AHL production since the 14-15 season. Of course, he brings much other things to the table as well. He's a bit of a coach's dream in his flexibility and ability to take on whatever role is asked of him.

Loibl's play in the SHL is what REALLY interests me. I've long thought of him in the same manner as Wohlgemuth - as one of these kids who could just earn himself a later contract like Swiss forward Hofmann did this summer.

This would be an excellent time in his career to put up some points and show potential bidders that there could yet be an NHL player in him.
 

Chapin Landvogt

Registered User
Jul 4, 2002
20,400
6,536
Germany
Marc Michaelis has signed an AHL deal with the Marlies.

Toronto Marlies Sign Forward Marc Michaelis – Toronto Marlies

These guys are an absolute "Who's who" of bubble NHL talents. I mean, sheesh, look at this roster.
Toronto Marlies at eliteprospects.com

It's filled with bubble NHLers and guys picked, but not signed, by other teams.

They've also got Josh Ho-Sang coming in on a PTO.

And Hellickson was a recent signing who decided not to sign with NJD (which drafted him) after his four years in college. He wrapped up the season on Team USA at the Worlds.

I really liked how they added the undrafted Pavel Gogolev and picked up the unsigned Curtis Douglas, who's like the largest hockey player this side of Chara. Add Ben Finkelstein to that list. Ryan Chyzowski may prove to be an astute addition as well.
 

Maverick41

Cold-blooded Jelly Doughnut
Sponsor
Nov 9, 2005
4,052
2,465
Germany
These guys are an absolute "Who's who" of bubble NHL talents. I mean, sheesh, look at this roster.
Toronto Marlies at eliteprospects.com

It's filled with bubble NHLers and guys picked, but not signed, by other teams.

They've also got Josh Ho-Sang coming in on a PTO.

And Hellickson was a recent signing who decided not to sign with NJD (which drafted him) after his four years in college. He wrapped up the season on Team USA at the Worlds.

I really liked how they added the undrafted Pavel Gogolev and picked up the unsigned Curtis Douglas, who's like the largest hockey player this side of Chara. Add Ben Finkelstein to that list. Ryan Chyzowski may prove to be an astute addition as well.

Could be good for Michaelis, although it might hurt the national team, because it seems unlikely that a team such as this misses the playoffs. So, he will probably not be available for the World Championship next year.
 

Chapin Landvogt

Registered User
Jul 4, 2002
20,400
6,536
Germany
Could be good for Michaelis, although it might hurt the national team, because it seems unlikely that a team such as this misses the playoffs. So, he will probably not be available for the World Championship next year.

It could be good for him, as there will be talent to play with there. But a whole heck of a lot of competition on that club alone, much less in that organization on whole.

Toronto seems to have upwards of 15 guys who could theoretically become an option in the bottom six.

Dunno what his options were, but I always think that if I were "this" close to the NHL, as he was with Vancouver, I'd want to latch on to an organization that is not overflowing with players in my exact situation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Leaves34

Maverick41

Cold-blooded Jelly Doughnut
Sponsor
Nov 9, 2005
4,052
2,465
Germany
So far our kids in the CHL have not played in too many of the pre-season games, but these are the pre-season stats up until now.
Obviously the NHL pre-season has not started yet.

PosFirst NameLast NameTeamLeagueGPGoalsAssistsPtsPIM+/-ShotsSh%FO+FO-FO%
LDRayanBettaharSwift Current BroncosWHL20112-50#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
CLeonDraisaitlEdmonton OilersNHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
CMoritzEliasSaskatoon BladesWHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
RDLeoHafenrichterGuelph StormOHL10220230,0%00#DIV/0!
FHåkonHäneltGatineau OlympiquesQMJHL2000210#DIV/0!4544,4%
RWKevinNiedenzOshawa GeneralsOHL20000-240,0%010,0%
CYannickProskeSpokane ChiefsWHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
RDMoritzSeiderDetroit Red WingsNHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
LWTimStützleOttawa SenatorsNHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
CNicoSturmMinnesota WildNHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
 

Chapin Landvogt

Registered User
Jul 4, 2002
20,400
6,536
Germany
So far our kids in the CHL have not played in too many of the pre-season games, but these are the pre-season stats up until now.
Obviously the NHL pre-season has not started yet.

PosFirst NameLast NameTeamLeagueGPGoalsAssistsPtsPIM+/-ShotsSh%FO+FO-FO%
LDRayanBettaharSwift Current BroncosWHL20112-50#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
CLeonDraisaitlEdmonton OilersNHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
CMoritzEliasSaskatoon BladesWHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
RDLeoHafenrichterGuelph StormOHL10220230,0%00#DIV/0!
FHåkonHäneltGatineau OlympiquesQMJHL2000210#DIV/0!4544,4%
RWKevinNiedenzOshawa GeneralsOHL20000-240,0%010,0%
CYannickProskeSpokane ChiefsWHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
RDMoritzSeiderDetroit Red WingsNHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
LWTimStützleOttawa SenatorsNHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
CNicoSturmMinnesota WildNHL0000000#DIV/0!00#DIV/0!
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I can tell that you are itching for some action from our North American legionaries.

Can't wait for everything to get started.
 

pgfan66

Registered User
Jun 26, 2019
1,281
1,142
Proske looked good in his first game for the Chiefs last night. Didn’t record any points but brought a lot of energy and great two-way play.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maverick41

Maverick41

Cold-blooded Jelly Doughnut
Sponsor
Nov 9, 2005
4,052
2,465
Germany
Proske looked good in his first game for the Chiefs last night. Didn’t record any points but brought a lot of energy and great two-way play.

Good to hear, especially since he missed all pre-season games due to COVID related visa issues, I believe.
 

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad