German Players in North America

[Jason80]

Looks like Rio Kaiser will stay in Canada and play for the Peterborough Petes (OHL) for the rest of the season.

 

[pgfan66]

Max Bleicher hasn't had the most productive year and was a healthy scratch in three of his last six games.

Rio Kaiser also having the expected difficult start in Peterborough although he hasn't been bad from what I've seen.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Max Bleicher hasn't had the most productive year and was a healthy scratch in three of his last six games.

Rio Kaiser also having the expected difficult start in Peterborough although he hasn't been bad from what I've seen.

An import being healthy scratched is a bad, bad sign.

 

[Maverick41]

An import being healthy scratched is a bad, bad sign.

Agreed, that often precedes a return home, or an attempt to change teams/switch leagues in North America.

 

[pgfan66]

Panocha off to Omaha. Would guess he’ll be back in Berlin next year, especially since he’ll be a 20.

 

[Maverick41]

Panocha off to Omaha. Would guess he’ll be back in Berlin next year, especially since he’ll be a 20.

Seems like a safe bet and is probably the best move for him and his development.

 

[Jason80]

Does he still have a contract with Berlin? Don't think he would see much icetime there. Rather a player for the likes of Düsseldorf or Iserlohn.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Does he still have a contract with Berlin? Don't think he would see much icetime there. Rather a player for the likes of Düsseldorf or Iserlohn.

I would assume that there is still a connection with Berlin and obviously they've got their partnership with the Lausitz Füchse, so there's surely an option there right off the bat.

Under other circumstances, one would have to think he'd want to see a lower-flight team might be able to offer with respect to no less than playing time.

I'd also think his group has watched Niehus' situation with Frankfurt closely to see what comes of that.

But for sure - the flip-flopping through teams has been unsettling and is very unusual.

 

[Maverick41]

Panocha is returning to Berlin and will either play for the Eisbären in DEL or for Lausitz in DEL2.

Link in German:

Willkommen zurück Norwin Panocha | Eisbären Berlin

www.eisbaeren.de

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Panocha is returning to Berlin and will either play for the Eisbären in DEL or for Lausitz in DEL2.

Link in German:

Willkommen zurück Norwin Panocha | Eisbären Berlin

www.eisbaeren.de

That went quick...

 

[pgfan66]

But for sure - the flip-flopping through teams has been unsettling and is very unusual.

It has been indeed. It probably isn’t as bad as it seems. He had a full season in Chicoutimi. PA I believe dropped him to trade for Vojtech Vochvest, who is a pure physical defensive D, so they were clearly looking for a different player type. Green Bay has a difficult import situation with lots of players and he probably isn’t that interesting to keep around past this season because he’s 19, so they decided to keep those that will still be around for another year. And then when they dropped him and he ended up in Omaha, he probably just said “f*** this” and went home.

So on the one hand, it’s never a good sign when you can’t stick around with any team. Why is it that every time someone gets cut, it’s you? But on the other hand, I think all teams had reasons for their decision beyond his control. He’s still a decent prospect and I’m sure we’ll see him in a full-time role with Berlin before long, even if he “only” becomes and Eric Mik type.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

It has been indeed. It probably isn’t as bad as it seems. He had a full season in Chicoutimi. PA I believe dropped him to trade for Vojtech Vochvest, who is a pure physical defensive D, so they were clearly looking for a different player type. Green Bay has a difficult import situation with lots of players and he probably isn’t that interesting to keep around past this season because he’s 19, so they decided to keep those that will still be around for another year. And then when they dropped him and he ended up in Omaha, he probably just said “f*** this” and went home.

So on the one hand, it’s never a good sign when you can’t stick around with any team. Why is it that every time someone gets cut, it’s you? But on the other hand, I think all teams had reasons for their decision beyond his control. He’s still a decent prospect and I’m sure we’ll see him in a full-time role with Berlin before long, even if he “only” becomes and Eric Mik type.

It will be very interesting to see how he adjusts to DEL hockey. I suspect Berlin will make minimal use of him at the beginning. Eric Mik's career, for example, has seen him get sprinkled in along the way. Still doesn't feel like he's anything but a #7 when all are healthy.

And we saw how they made use of Bettahar, who was coming back from 1.5 seasons of WHL hockey.

Different players, of course.

I still wish we had seen him make an impact in the USHL. I mean, 3 assists in 15 games - no matter the circumstances - makes you wonder what is going on considering he had more than a full season of QMJHL play under his belt.

And even if it doesn't play a role, we saw Lutz have a breakout season right there last year. I can imagine the GB management was open to the idea of more German impact magic, so to speak.

 

[pgfan66]

It will be very interesting to see how he adjusts to DEL hockey. I suspect Berlin will make minimal use of him at the beginning. Eric Mik's career, for example, has seen him get sprinkled in along the way. Still doesn't feel like he's anything but a #7 when all are healthy.

And we saw how they made use of Bettahar, who was coming back from 1.5 seasons of WHL hockey.

Different players, of course.

I still wish we had seen him make an impact in the USHL. I mean, 3 assists in 15 games - no matter the circumstances - makes you wonder what is going on considering he had more than a full season of QMJHL play under his belt.

And even if it doesn't play a role, we saw Lutz have a breakout season right there last year. I can imagine the GB management was open to the idea of more German impact magic, so to speak.

I disagree a bit with the Mik assessment, although you’re probably right. I like Mik quite a bit and wouldn’t mind seeing him in a bigger role in, say, Frankfurt or Nürnberg or whatever. He’s in the extended circle of DEB players. And Panocha is more talented than him.

Re. Bettahar… he just wasn’t a legitimate prospect. Like, ever. Just big and a solid skater. But if we’re rating him and Panocha on a 1-5 rating scale where 1 is Oberliga and 5 is DEL top-pairing, Bettahar is a 2 and Panocha is a 4.5. So I’m not too worried.

Still, it’ll be interesting to see what they do with him. Perhaps spending the rest of the season in the DEL2 wouldn’t be the worst thing.

 

[Maverick41]

I disagree a bit with the Mik assessment, although you’re probably right. I like Mik quite a bit and wouldn’t mind seeing him in a bigger role in, say, Frankfurt or Nürnberg or whatever. He’s in the extended circle of DEB players. And Panocha is more talented than him.

Re. Bettahar… he just wasn’t a legitimate prospect. Like, ever. Just big and a solid skater. But if we’re rating him and Panocha on a 1-5 rating scale where 1 is Oberliga and 5 is DEL top-pairing, Bettahar is a 2 and Panocha is a 4.5. So I’m not too worried.

Still, it’ll be interesting to see what they do with him. Perhaps spending the rest of the season in the DEL2 wouldn’t be the worst thing.

Eisbären have a pretty decent track record of developing defensemen and bringing them into the league. (Bettahar aside). In recent years they would have done it with Karrer, but he went to Nürnberg when there seemed to be a bit of a log jam. That gave Mik a better chance to make the team full time. The last couple of years they brought in Geibel. who may or may not stick in Berlin long term, but looks like someone who should find a permanent spot in the league somewhere.

Before that there were obviously Müller and Wissmann and also Maximilian Adam, even if that did not work out as well. And it goes back even further.
So, I would expect Panocha to play mostly in Weißwasser the rest of the season, unless they give him a look in Berlin and he just runs with it, but i am skeptical about that. Next season I could see him sticking in the DEL, with a full off season and training camp there.

Btw as one German leaves the USHL, another enters it. Simon Seidl has joined Cedar Rapids.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Eisbären have a pretty decent track record of developing defensemen and bringing them into the league. (Bettahar aside). In recent years they would have done it with Karrer, but he went to Nürnberg when there seemed to be a bit of a log jam. That gave Mik a better chance to make the team full time. The last couple of years they brought in Geibel. who may or may not stick in Berlin long term, but looks like someone who should find a permanent spot in the league somewhere.

Before that there were obviously Müller and Wissmann and also Maximilian Adam, even if that did not work out as well. And it goes back even further.
So, I would expect Panocha to play mostly in Weißwasser the rest of the season, unless they give him a look in Berlin and he just runs with it, but i am skeptical about that. Next season I could see him sticking in the DEL, with a full off season and training camp there.

Whereas true, it's been a LONG while since they've brought along a Dman who slides into that Hördler/Müller/Wissmann level.

Btw as one German leaves the USHL, another enters it. Simon Seidl has joined Cedar Rapids.

This news is like sooo 3 day ago.

Curious to see who's next.

 

[Maverick41]

Whereas true, it's been a LONG while since they've brought along a Dman who slides into that Hördler/Müller/Wissmann level.



This news is like sooo 3 day ago.

Curious to see who's next.

Well, the last time they had someone of that talent level it was Gawanke, and he went a different route, because he actually succeeded in the QMJHL.
You gotta work with what you got.
I wonder how things will go with Kretzschmar who might get a shot once the current German players age out of the U23 group.

As for Seidl's move, I think it was announced the day before yesterday and I had not seen it posted here, so I figured I'd bring it up now, for the sake of symmetry.