07 draft Euro crop?

I'm curious about what the next draft's crop of European players is shaping up like It seems like a lot of the info I get is very focused on the North American prospects like Esposito, Couture, and Kane. Granted guys like that are expected to dominate the highest spots of the draft, but is it really a lean year for players from across the Atlantic? Who are a few players to watch for from the big 5 European hockey countries (Sweden, Finland, Russia, Czech Rep., & Slovakia)?

Oh, and if anyone knows, are there any possibilities for German players? I'm hoping this is the year someone finally takes a chance on Christoph Gawlik, even though he's overage now.

Thanks.

 

Backlund and Voracek ( I think thats his name ) are supposed to be the top Euros.

 

I can't find any information on Backlund on hockeydb, where does he play? (I'm assuming its 2nd division or jr division since there's absolutely no listing for him)

 

I believe Vasteras of the Swedish Allsvenskan

 

Voracek is european, but he's playing in the Q...

 

http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=85531

 

Many good ones are in the CHL:
Stich
Voracek
Bashkirov (x2)
Grundmanis
Moller
Roman
Repik
Skokan
Meidl

I like Hellgren (Swe) and Dubinin (Rus) a lot.

 

You can follow his stats over the season with this link from swehockey (the official site of the swedish federation). Mikael Backlund is the only player born 1989 in the the 2nd division this year, and he already played some games last season which gives you an indication what kind of talent this kid possesses.

 

It will be really interesting to see Backlund in the WJC. Mikael are really talented. Extremely smooth taking the puck up ice. Really smooth skater with great speed.

Though the jury are kind of out on him still. He could be anywhere from top 5 top 25-30 in the draft.

He have all the talent in the world, he must just show that he can do something with it against the best.

I also aren't sure how good his finnishing skills are. He is playing at a really high level for a 17 y/o and don't get to show his stuff as often as other kids.

 

Very bad year for finns.

 

i was expecting to see him get picked in round 4-7 this year. i dont understand why nobody has picked him. he is a great player and i think he will make the NHL, one way or another.

 

What about two guys(Rastislav Konecny and Bohdan Visnak) who currently play with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL? I think what kept Visnak off of the radar was his size,but in todays NHL fast puck moving defencemen are what teams want. I do not know what kept Rastislav Konecny from being drafted but maybe he will get drafted in 07.

 

hey you forgot Lukas Vartovnik (everett)
Juraj Valach (tri-city)
Branislav Rehus (peterbourogh)
Kiril Starkov (red deer)
Baskhirovs (quebeck)
Stich is playing very ugly ..............................

 

starkov was drafted in 2005

 

They are twins ? What positions do they play ? They are no Sedins for sure, aren't they ?

I'm looking for informations on these two kids, thank you in advance !

 

Yes they are twins.

The are from Russian.

Both of them plays at wings.

 

Patrick Buzas(although born 1987) is a big German surprise in the DEL.

http://www.eurohockey.net/players/show_player.cgi?serial=69003

He is the second best player of his team now with 9 points in 11 games.Better than Shane Joseph, Craig Darby, Travis Brigley etc..

Bye

 

Agreed. None is 1st or 2nd round material.

I am more interested to see how some of the 2006 eligible guys that have went under the radar get drafted, if they can step up in WJC.

 

Roman and Ruslan. Ruslan is the more heralded of the two. Ruslan was selected 22nd in the Q's '06 import draft, Roman 28th.

Here's a thread on them.

 

What about Lars Eller?

This Dane has put up very impressive numbers so far in J-20's in Sweden. (9gp. 7+7=14pts) Just like his teammate Mikkel Bodker (9gp. 5+7=12pts) who is also dane, but he is a late 1989 born. So, he isn't eligible until the 2008 Draft.

http://eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5995&lang=en

http://eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5996&lang=en

 

I have no idea why he wasn`t taken. He seems to have all the tools.

 

I don't know if he's an '07 draftee, but does anyone know anything about Carl Hagelin of Sodertalje/Sweden? He just committed to Michigan today for the '07 season.

 

I've seen Voracek play 3 times now, as a 17 year old he is playing on the Moosehead's top line and quarterbacking the PP. He is very good with the puck and makes smart passes. He has very good offensive upside. He needs to work a bit on his defensive game, but he is not afraid of the rough stuff, and has even dropped the gloves once this season.. I like this guy a lot.

 

Some possible German draft-prospects could be

Maximillian Brandl(1988, Landshut)

Christoph Gawlik(1987, Eisbären Berlin)

Patrick Hager(1988, Rosenheim)

Andre Huebscher(1989, Krefeld)

Elia Ostwald(1988, Eisbären Berlin)

Marcel Müller(1988, Eisbären Berlin)

Christopher Fischer(1988, Adler Mannheim/Heilbronn)

Marius Garten(1988, Eisbären Berlin)

Sören Sturm(1989, Kölner Haie)

Torsten Ankert(1988, Kölner Haie)

Alexander Oblinger(1989, Kölner Haie)

Danny Fischbach(1989, Krefeld)

Sebastian Eickmann(1989, Riessersee)

Patrick Buzas(1987, Augsburg)

and some others...

but i am impressed about the number of prospects from Denmark!!

 

Same here.

They have lots of good prospects right now! (Nielsen, Hansen, Regin, Madsen, Starkov, Eller, Bodker ect.)