Ivo
Jaschick's
Eye on Europe
Reporting from Germany
and
across Europe
The Call Of The NHL
BENSBERG, GERMANY, JULY 9, 2006 -- There is
an agreement between the NHL & IIHF (International Ice Hockey
Federation) that no hockey player from clubs under the rule of the IIHF
could be offered an NHL contract after June 15th. But the best league of
the world finds ways to get players from everywhere.
For example, from Germany, DEL (German Elite League) clubs cannot be
sure about their rosters – even after the June 15 passed. The clubs can
not do anything against it – if they would say: “No, you have to stay!”
– “their” man wouldn`t be satisfied.
The
fact that the best players are following the call of the NHL dream shows
that the best players are leaving the German league when any NHL team
shows interest in them.
Some very important players (goalie Thomas
Greiss [left] – national goalie; San
Jose Sharks), forwards (Brad Tapper; Philadelphia) & defenders (Andy Hedlund; Ottawa) are leaving their German clubs with the goal to become
an NHL player.It also appears that they use the DEL to get back into
shape. Marty Murray did it in 1999-2000 when he played successfully for
the Cologne Sharks & came back into the NHL – then suffered a bad knee
injury, played with the Hanover Scorpions & got a contract of the NHL
Flyers.
Before the June deadline, nine DEL players signed contracts for the
following season in the NHL.
Four
days later two more were added – defender
Andy Hedlund [right] (Dusseldorf Metro
Stars) signed a Contract with Ottawa & Center Brad Moran (Hamburg
Freezers) agreed to an offer from the Vancouver Canucks. Rumors also
have risen lately indicating that the Stanley Cup champion Carolina
Hurricanes are interested in Marty Wilford (Freezers), Shawn Heins
(Scorpions) & Jakub Ficenec
[below] (Ingolstadt Panthers ).
All signs indicate that the number of DEL/NHL players could still
increase.
Also,
youngster & German national player Felix Schuetz (played for the junior
team of the St. John Sea Dogs) was expected to come back to his original
German team Ingolstadt Panthers. But after talking to some experts he
was advised to stay in Canada for better development opportunities, so
the Panthers have to change their plans for next season.
Otto Sykora, sports director of the Nuremberg Ice Tigers, said: “Nearly
everybody who is a little bit better in this league is going over the
ocean & those who return are those not good enough for them!”
Photos by
Mathias Lehmann
HOME
Copyright 2008 Western Hockey Network
Also by
Ivo Jaschick
Mission: Possible
- Sweden Wins Olympic, IIHF WC Gold in Same Year
Germany is Back: Hero is Coach Uwe Krupp
Cayman
Breakaway
Rocks the World
Finland's Jokerit
The Elimination of Jan
Benda
Uwe Krupp New German
National Team Coach
Iserlohn Roosters
Ingolstadt
Panthers
Cologne Sharks
DEL Preview
Cologne
Sharks' Brad Schlegel
TUI Nations
Cup
