Swiss NLA season preview

We start from the bottom of last seasons stands:

SCRJ Lakers

Of all teams, Rapperswil has the most to catch up compared to last season. They've made some quality additions in Mikael Johansson, Johan Fransson or young goalie Tim Wolf. Goaltending was a weak point last season but this should all change with the arrival of Wolf. Hopefully the offensive department can increase the goal scoring, a 117 goals was the second lowest total of the league while receiving 200 goals led to only 11 victories, 9 of them during regulation.

Prediction: The Play Outs aren't too far away for the Lakers unless the goaltending and scoring don't get better.

Additions: Mikael Johansson (Leksand/Swe), Tim Wolf, Cédric Hächler (both ZSC Lions), Marco Pedretti (Ambrì), Flavio Schmutz (Västeras/Swe), Patrick Obrist (Salzburg/Aus), Reto Schmutz (Ajoie), Christopher Bagnoud (Kloten), Daniel Eigenmann (Lausanne), Rajan Sataric (Thurgau), Dan Weisskopf (Bern).                                                        

Leavers: Anthony Stewart (Zagreb/KHL), Peter Sejna, David Aebischer (both unknown), Adrian Wichser (Thurgau), Loïc Burkhalter (La Chaux-de-Fonds), Mauro Jörg (Davos), Marc Geiger (Visp), Franco Collenberg, Sandro Gmür, Andreas Camenzind (all retired).

Non-Swiss licenced: Mikael Johansson (Swe/new), Nicklas Danielsson (Swe), Niklas Persson (Swe), Derrick Walser (Can), Johan Fransson (Swe/new).

EHC Biel

It's been rather interesting transfer-wise, around Biel, two Swedes arrived while MacMurchy left for Germany and Bourque was signed by the NY Rangers. Biel will start the season with 4 non-residents. Spylo remains the Top Scoring forward (16 goals and 22 assists last season) but with the arrival of Pär Arlbrandt Biel landed one of the best players of the Swedish league, 26 goals and 45 assists in 53 regular season games made him Top Scorer of the Swedish Hockey League.

Prediction: If the new arrivals can live up to their expectations, a play off qualification won't be easy but possible. 

Additions: Niklas Olausson (Lulea/Swe), Pär Arlbrandt (Linköping/Swe), Eliot Berthon (Servette), Nicholas Steiner (SCL Tigers), Matthias Rossi (Basel).                             

Leavers: Ryan MacMurchy (Ingolstadt/DEL), Chris Bourque (NY Rangers/NHL), Dario Trutmann (Servette), Marc Wieser (Davos), Steve Kellenberger (Kloten).

Non-Swiss lincenced: Ahren Spylo (Can/Ger), Dragan Umicevic (Swe), Niklas Olausson (Swe/new), Pär Arlbrandt (Swe/new).

EV Zug

Zug was probably one of the most active teams during the summer, signing 9 new players while 8 players left the club. A restructuring was inevitable after a disastrous last season which found its peak in the play outs, far too little for a team of this calibre. New head coach Harold Kreis was hired to unite the new players to one team and so far Zug has shown improvement. The Swiss lead their Group in the revived Champions Hockey League and have a good chance to secure a spot for the knock-out stage. Pierre-Marc Bouchard should bring some offensive power on the attack, he shared time with the NY Islanders, Bridgeport and Rockford of the AHL last season. Sondell came from play out team Örebro although his numbers weren't exactly overwhelming but Zug's Management surely had their ideas behind this deal.

Prediction: Zug should be able to play for the championship if this squad can make last season forgotten.

Additions: Pierre-Marc Bouchard (New York Islanders/NHL), Daniel Sondell (Örebro/Swe), Tobias Stephan (Servette), Robin Grossmann, Dario Bürgler (both Davos), Johann Morant (Lausanne), David Stämpfli (Ajoie), Calle Andersson (Malmö/Swe), Fabrice Herzog (Québec/QJMHL).                                                                                                      

Leavers: Rob Schremp (Novokuznetsk/KHL), Andrew Hutchinson (Medvescak Zagreb/ KHL), Eero Kilpeläinen (KalPa/Fin), Alessandro Chiesa (Lugano), Corsin Casutt (Kloten), Florian Schmuckli (GCK Lions), Patrick Fischer (retired), Sven Lindemann (SCL Tigers).

Non-Swiss licenced: Josh Holden (Can), Robbie Earl (USA), Daniel Sondell (Swe/new), Pierre-Marc Bouchard (Can/new).

SC Bern

Clearly the biggest disappointment of last season was SC Bern. The Swiss capitals team always has the expectation to win the championship but they fell 4 points short of qualifying as the 8th team for the play offs after winning the championship in the previous season. Nonetheless Bern is still the King of Switzerland, even Europe when it comes to attendance figures. Coach Guy Boucher had the difficult task of integrating 8 new players for this season. 3 new non-Swiss licensed players should help to get Bern out of their slump and lead them to a possible 14th title. Bud Holloway was signed to help the scoring department, after producing 71 points in 2012/2013, his point production cut to half in the following season in Skelleftea. Simon Moser will start for SC Bern but was heavily injured during a game in the CHL and will miss at least 2 months.

Prediction: The qualification for the play offs is a must, if the team is prepared to win a championship on the other hand is questionable. The results of the CHL games so far suggest something different.

Additions: Bud Holloway (Skellefteå/Swe), Marc-André Gragnani (Lev Prag/KHL), Chuck Kobasew (Wilkes-Barre/AHL), Marc Reichert (Ambri), Thomas Rüfenacht (Lugano), Eric Blum (Kloten), Matthias Mischler (Ajoie) Simon Moser (Nashville/NHL).                                                                                                                                                 

Leavers: Daniel Grillfors (IFK Helsinki/Fin), Glen Metropolit (Mannheim/DEL), Travis Roche (MoDo/Swe), Rostislav Olesz (unknown), Joel Vermin (Tampa Bay/NHL), Daniel Rubin (Servette), Hnat Domenichelli, Ivo Rüthemann, Olivier Gigon (all retired), Alex Dostoinow (Ambri), Dan Weisskopf (Lakers).

Non-Swiss licenced: Bud Holloway (Can/new), Byron Ritchie (Ka), Chuck Kobasew (Can/new), Marc-André Gragnani (Can/new), Geoff Kinrade (Can).

Lausanne HC

One of the surprise teams of last season surely were HC Lausanne who forced a 7 game quarterfinal series against the eventual champion ZSC Lions. For this season, coach Ehlers team has made some minor changes, Harri Pesonen and Ossi Louhivaara were signed to score goals. Together with Hytönen and Bang these four players will be in charge to entertain the fans in Lausanne.

Prediction: The next step for this team must be to get passed the first round in the play offs. The off season additions will surely help to approach this task.

Additions: Harri Pesonen (Albany, AHL), Ossi Louhivaara (Jyväskylä/Fin), Pascal Caminada (Thurgau), Alain Miéville (Ambrì), Yannick Herren (Kloten), Philippe Rytz (SCL Tigers).

Leavers: Oliver Setzinger (unknown), Josh Primeau (Ajoie), Christophe Bays (Servette), Damien Fleury (Vaasan/Fin), Daniel Eigenmann (Lakers), Codey Burki (Olten)

Non-Swiss licenced: Ossi Louhivaara (Fin/new), Harri Pesonen (Fin/new), Juha-Pekka Hytönen (Fin), Colby Genoway (Can), Daniel Bang (Swe).


HC Ambri-Piotta

Ambri is the next team that seemed to have had full pockets in the off season. Coming from the Chicago Wolves with 43 points in 62 regular season games, Keith Aucoin will try to replace Richard Parks scoring points. Jason Fuchs and Jesse Zraggen return to Switzerland, not taking a spot off the non-Swiss licences.

Prediction: The loss of Nolan Schaefer weighs heavy and it remains to be seen if Michael Flückiger can provide the same security in goal. The qualification might be a task a little to hard this season.

Additions: Keith Aucoin (Chicago Wolves/AHL), Ryan O’Byrne (Lev Prag/KHL), Adam Hall (Philadelphia/NHL), Jason Fuchs (Rouyn-Noranda/QMJHL), Jesse Zgraggen (Regina/WHL), Christian Stucki (Ajoie), Alexei Dostoinow (Bern), Michael Flückiger (Lugano), Alain Birbaum, Adrien Lauper (both Fribourg-Gottéron).                                 

Leavers: Jason Williams (Oklahoma/AHL), Markus Nordlund (Djurgården/Swe), Maxim Noreau (Colorado/NHL), Richard Park, Nolan Schaefer (both unknown), Marc Reichert (Bern), Alain Miéville (Lausanne), Marco Pedretti (RJ Lakers), Sami El Assaoui (Kloten).

Non-Swiss licenced: Alexandre Giroux (Can), Keith Aucoin (USA/new), Ryan O’Byrne (Can/new), Adam Hall (USA/new).

HC Lugano

Grande Lugano is always a candidate for the play offs, 5 additions face 7 leavers but it's not just anyone Lugano signed for this season. Linus Klasen, a.k.a. the youtube phenomenon will score his goals for the ticinesi for the next 4 years. Ilari, the older brother of Tampa Bay Lightning player Valteri Filppula has signed for two years.

Prediction: The Semifinals should be possible.

Additions: Linus Klasen (Luleå/Swe), Ilari Filppula (ZSKA Moskau/KHL), Janick Steinmann (Kloten), Alessandro Chiesa (Zug), Raphael Kuonen (SCL Tigers).                     

Leavers: Mikko Lehtonen (Skelleftea/Swe), Jacob Micflikier (Linköping/Swe), Ilkka Heikkinen (Ufa/KHL), Thomas Rüfenacht (Bern), Dario Simion (Davos), Florian Blatter (La Chaux-de-Fonds), Flavien Conne (retired).

Non-Swiss licenced: Linus Klasen (Swe/new), Ilari Filppula (Fin/new), Brett McLean (Can), Frederick Pettersson (Swe).

HC Davos

This will be one of Arno del Curto's most difficult seasons. Key players such as Peter Taticek, Robin Grossmann, Dario Bürgler, Rene Back, Peter Guggisberg and Sandro Rizzi have left the club or retired. Reto and Jan von Arx are the two remaining players that are under contract but are facing the end of their careers. Can del Curto form an efficient and working team with all the new additions? Davos will depend on the Nordic fraction to keep up the power hockey that the mountain club has been renowned for in the past decade.

Prediction: Quarterfinals

Additions: Dick Axelsson (Frölunda/Swe), Marc Wieser (Biel), Dario Simion (Lugano), Mauro Jörg (Rapperswil), Félicien Du Bois (Kloten), Fabian Heldner (Visp), Ruben Rampazzo (Ritten/Ita).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Leavers: Zdenek Kutlak (Salzburg, Aut), Petr Taticek (Ingolstadt/DEL), Ryan O’Connor (Espoo Blues/Fin), Robin Grossmann, Dario Bürgler (both Zug), René Back, Peter Guggisberg (both Kloten), Sandro Rizzi (retired), Massimo Ronchetti (SCL Tigers), Yannick Schwendener (Thurgau).

Non-Swiss licenced: Dick Axelsson (Swe/new), Marcus Paulsson (Swe), Perttu Lindgren (Fin), Ville Koistinen (Fin).

HC Fribourg-Gottéron

After loosing to Kloten in the semi final last year, Fribourg's goal can only be, and always was to win the first championship in the club's history. The team has added Tambellini who had already played for the ZSC Lions a few years ago and goale Melvin Nyffeler also from the Lions. Greg Mauldin is in a great early shape, he's 3rd on the scorer ranking for the CHL.

Prediction: Semifinals, due to the fact that the team has almost remained unchanged.

Additions: Jeff Tambellini (MoDo/Swe), Melvin Nyffeler (ZSC Lions).                                                                                                                                                 

Leavers: Antti Miettinen (unknown), Niklas Hagman (Jokerit Helsinki/KHL), Alain Birbaum, Adrien Lauper (both Ambri), Kevin Huber (unknown).

Non-Swiss licenced: Jeff Tambellini (Can/new), Greg Mauldin (Can), Joel Kwiatkowski (Can), Marc-Antoine Pouliot (Can).


HC Servette-Genève

Probably the busiest summer for Coach and GM Chris McSorley so far as representative of Servette Genève, 8 players left the Club this summer, most of them key players in their best age. On the other hand, it was thanks to many good connections that at least some leavers were able to be equivalently replaced. Ranger from the Leafs, D'Agostini from Buffalo, Taylor Pyatt from Pittsburgh, his brother Tom from Tampa Bay are the most prominent new comers for this year. It's a monster task for Geneva this season. They're involved in the Champions Hockey League, the regular NLA, the Swiss Cup and are invited to the Spengler Cup. All in all Servette could be playing up to 99 games, depending on how far they get.

Prediction: Candidate for the Championship

Additions: Paul Ranger (Toronto/NHL), Matt D’Agostini (Buffalo/NHL), Taylor Pyatt (Pittsburgh/NHL), Tom Pyatt (Tampa Bay Lightning/NHL), Tim Traber (Vancouver Giants/WHL), Jeremy Wick (St. Lawrence/NCAA), Daniel Rubin (Bern), Dario Trutmann (Biel), Robert Mayer (Hamilton/AHL), Christophe Bays (Lausanne).

Leavers: Kaspars Daugavins (Dynamo Moskau/KHL), Lennart Petrell (Lulea/Swe), Matt Lombardi (NY Rangers /NHL), Garrett Stafford (Ässät/Fin), Denis Hollenstein (Kloten), Tobias Stephan (Zug), Cody Almond (Minnesota/NHL), Alexei Krutow (Sotschi/KHL).

Non-Swiss licenced: Alexandre Picard (Can), Paul Ranger (Can/new), Matt D’Agostini (Can/new), Taylor Pyatt (Can/new), Tom Pyatt (Can/new).

Kloten Flyers

For quite a while, everyone involved was hoping but actually knew it wouldn't happen. Peter Mueller, Kloten's top scorer (24 goals/22 assists during regular season) got an offer from the Florida Panthers and accepted. Unfortunately, this loss was hard to compensate, Denis Hollenstein injured himself during a training last week and will miss the start of the season while Peter Guggisberg has had multiple injuries in the past but was a constant scorer when healthy. Youngsters Praplan and Harlacher have returned from their one year stint in the Canadian Hockey League and will bring some fresh air to the team. Kloten will start the season with "only" 3 non-Swiss licensed players, this gives them the opportunity to sign additional players if needed (and available)

Prediction: Semifinals

Additions: Denis Hollenstein (Servette), René Back, Peter Guggisberg (both Davos), Corsin Casutt (Zug), Steve Kellenberger (Biel), Sami El Assaoui (Ambri), Vincent Praplan (North Bay/OHL) Edson Harlacher (Kamloops/WHL).                                                                                                                                                                           

Leavers: Peter Mueller (St. Louis Blues/NHL), Josh Hennessy (Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk/KHL), Félicien Du Bois (Davos), Eric Blum (Bern), Janick Steinmann (Lugano), Luka Hoffmann (GCK Lions), Yannick Herren (Lausanne).

Non-Swiss licenced: Tommi Santala (Fin), Jim Vandermeer (Can), Micki Dupont (Can).

ZSC Lions

The reigning champion didn't change much on an already very good team. After Steve McCarthy and Ronald Kenins left, the Lions hope that Derek Smith can fill the void and keep up the chemistry that exists throughout all 4 lines on the Zurich based team. Head coach Marc Crawford is on the second year of his two year contract and was seeking a position as head coach in the NHL but the offers didn't come up and so he's fullfilling his duties and will try to repeat last year's title win. It would be the first time since 2001 when the same team repeated the title win in a row.

Additions: Derek Smith (Abbotsford/AHL), Luca Boltshauser (Västeras/Swe), Jonas Siegenthaler (GCK Lions).

Leavers: Steve McCarthy (unknown), Ronalds Kenins (Vancouver Canucks/NHL), Tim Wolf, Cédric Hächler (both Lakers), Melvin Nyffeler (Fribourg)

Non-Swiss licenced: Ryan Keller (Can), Ryan Shannon (USA), Marc-André Bergeron (Can), Derek Smith (USA/Can/new), Jan Tabacek (Slk).

 

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