I thought it would be neat thing to take a look at the early European players who got attention from North Americans.

Players that were put on negotiaion lists of NHL clubs, were invited to training camps or just generally were commented on that they could play in the NHL.

When time permits I will look at each and everyone of them, how they did at the training camps, or just comment on their chances to make it over in North America.

Of course, the criteria is that they spent their formative years playing in Europe, thus players like Stan Mikita, Ivan Boldirev, Walt Tkaczuk, Stan Smrke, etc do not qualify.

Here’s a list of the ones that I am aware of at the moment, please add players if you see that I am missing anyone. I know that for example Bohumil Modrý, the Czechoslovakian goalie had offers from the NHL in 1947 or 1948, but I have not found any contemporary sources. Aside from that, I do have some other names in my files that I haven't been able to verify.

I believe that this might be the most comprehensive list that's been presented so far.
But having said that, it's not complete, and I'm sure I have forgot about some players.

YearNameCountryComment
1922Alfred de RauchFranceNHL'er Gerry Geran thought he could play in the USA
1922Louis BrasseurFranceNHL'er Gerry Geran thought he could play in the USA
1922Robert LacroixFranceNHL'er Gerry Geran thought he could play in the USA
1931Josef MalečekCzechoslovakiaInvited to attend New York Rangers training camp
1949Jaroslav DrobnýCzechoslovakiaBoston Bruins negotiation list
1949Vladimir ZábrodskýCzechoslovakiaInterest from Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks (PCHL)
1956Nikolai PuchkovSoviet UnionCleveland Barons (AHL) negotiation list.
He was also offered a $ 10.000 contract
1956Nikolai SologubovSoviet UnionNHL-calibre player according to North American observers
1956Yuri KrylovSoviet UnionNHL-calibre player according to North American observers
1956Aleksei GuryshevSoviet UnionNHL-calibre player according to North American observers
1956Yuri PantyukhovSoviet UnionNHL-calibre player according to North American observers
1957Sven JohanssonSwedenBoston Bruins training camp
1958Lars BjörnSwedenBoston Bruins training camp
1958Veniamin AleksandrovSoviet UnionChicago Blackhawks negotiation list
1958Ivan TregubovSoviet UnionNHL-calibre player according to North American observers
1958Yuri KopylovSoviet UnionNHL-calibre player according to North American observers
1962Lennart HäggrothSwedenInvited to attend Boston Bruins training camp
1962Ulf SternerSwedenInvited to attend Boston Bruins training camp
New York Rangers negotiation list 1963
New York Rangers training camp 1963 & 1964
Drafted by New York Raiders (WHA) 1972
Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) training camp 1972
1962Roland StoltzSwedenInvited to attend Boston Bruins training camp
1962Nils NilssonSwedenInvited to attend Boston Bruins training camp
1963Carl-Göran ÖbergSwedenToronto Maple Leafs training camp
1963Kjell SvenssonSwedenToronto Maple Leafs training camp
1963Jiři (George) KrenCzechoslovakiaToronto Maple Leafs training camp
1963Jean Paupardin France Montreal Canadiens training camp
1964Juha Widing Sweden Invited by New Rangers
Attended Brandon Wheat Kings training camp
Drafted by Ontario (Ottawa) Nationals (WHA) 1972
1964Folke Bengtsson Sweden New York Rangers training camp
1964Jan-Erik SjöbergSwedenNew York Rangers training camp
1964Sören BlomgrenSwedenNew York Rangers training camp
1964Øystein MellerudNorwayNew York Rangers training camp
1965Václav NedomanskýCzechoslovakiaNew York Rangers negotiation list
Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA) 1972
1965Vladimir DzurillaCzechoslovakiaInvited to attend Toronto Maple Leafs training camp
Los Angeles Kings negotiation list 1967
Montreal Canadiens negotiation list 1976
1965Luděk BukačCzechoslovakiaBoston Bruins training camp
Skated with Chicago Blackhawks
1965Tord Lundström Sweden Detroit Red Wings negotiation list
1965Håkan NygrenSwedenDetroit Red Wings negotiation list
1965Stig-Göran JohanssonSwedenInvited to attend New York Rangers training camp
1967Jaroslav HolikCzechoslovakiaLos Angeles Kings negotiation list
1967Jozef GolonkaCzechoslovakiaLos Angeles Kings negotiation list
Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA) 1972
1967Lennart SvedbergSwedenInvited to attend St. Louis Blues training camp
Detroit Red Wings training camp 1969
1967Pentti LindegrenFinlandInvited to attend St. Louis Blues training camp
1968Lauri MononenFinlandInvited to attend Los Angeles Kings training camp
1968Jorma AhoFinlandNew York Rangers training camp
1968Sakari AhlbergFinlandNew York Rangers training camp
1968Leif HolmqvistSwedenScrimmaged with Boston Bruins (March 1968)
Invited to attend Boston Bruins training camp
Drafted by Edmonton Oil Kings (WHA) 1972
Detroit Red Wings training camp 1973
1968Arne CarlssonSwedenMinnesota North Stars negotiation list
1968Lars-Göran NilssonSwedenMinnesota North Stars negotiation list
St. Louis Blues negotiation list (year unknown)
1968Leif HenrikssonSwedenDetroit Red Wings training camp
1968Josef HorešovskýCzechoslovakiaSt. Louis Blues negotiation list
Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA) 1972
1968Jan HavelCzechoslovakiaSt. Louis Blues negotiation list
1968Jaroslav JiříkCzechoslovakiaSt. Louis Blues negotiation list
St. Louis Blues training camp 1969
Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA) 1972
1968Viktor Tišlar (Tišler)YugoslaviaSt. Louis Blues training camp
Drafted by New York Raiders (WHA) 1972
1968Albin FelcYugoslavia St. Louis Blues training camp
1968Anton GaleYugoslaviaBoston Bruins training camp
Chicago Blackhawks training camp 1970
Chicago Cougars (WHA) training camp 1972
Drafted by New York Raiders (WHA) 1972
1968Ivo Jan Yugoslavia Detroit Red Wings training camp
1968Viktor Ravnik Yugoslavia Detroit Red Wings training camp
1968Ciril Klinar Yugoslavia Invited to attend Detroit Red Wings training camp
1968Ivo RatajYugoslaviaInvited to attend Detroit Red Wings training camp
1969Tommy Salmelainen FinlandSt. Louis Blues training camp
Drafted by St. Louis Blues 1969
1969Veli-Pekka KetolaFinlandDetroit Red Wings training camp
Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA) 1972
1969Petr Hejma Czechoslovakia Detroit Red Wings training camp
Toronto Maple Leafs training camp 1970
Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA) 1972
1969Jiři BastlCzechoslovakiaChicago Blackhawks training camp
Chicago Cougars (WHA) training camp 1973
1969Karel Straka CzechoslovakiaOttawa 67's (OHA) training camp
1970Miroslav GojanovićYugoslaviaChicago Blackhawks training camp
Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) training camp 1972
Drafted by Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) 1972
1970Rudi Hiti Yugoslavia Chicago Blackhawks training camp
Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) training camp 1972
Drafted by Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) 1972
1970Lasse Oksanen Finland Vancouver Canucks training camp
1970Jorma Peltonen Finland Invited to attend Vancouver Canucks training camp
1970Kjell-Rune Milton Sweden Invited to attend Vancouver Canucks training camp
1971Ard Schenk Netherlands Chicago Blackhawks negotiation list
(This was a publicity stunt as he was a speedskater)
1972Juhani TamminenFinlandToronto Maple Leafs training camp
1972Jorma ValtonenFinlandToronto Maple Leafs training camp
1972Marek (Mark) Turek Czechoslovakia Toronto Maple Leafs training camp
1972Thommie Bergman Sweden Detroit Red Wings training camp
1972Jaroslav (Jarda) Krupička CzechoslovakiaLos Angeles Sharks (WHA) training camp
1972Zoltan Horvath Hungary Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) training camp
1972Anatoli Firsov Soviet Union Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA)
1972Yuri Blinov Soviet Union Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA)
1972 Valeri Kharlamov Soviet Union Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA)
1972Jan Eysselt CzechoslovakiaDrafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA)
1972Gunnar Lindqvist Sweden Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA)
1972Alois SchloderWest Germany Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA)
Also drafted by Los Angeles Sharks (WHA)
1972Vladislav Tretiak Soviet Union Drafted by New York Raiders (WHA)
1972Seppo Lindström Finland Drafted by Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
1972František TikalCzechoslovakiaDrafted by Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
1972 Reinhold BauerWest GermanyDrafted by Miami Screaming Eagles (WHA)
1972 Aleksandr Ragulin Soviet Union Drafted by New York Raiders (WHA)
1972 Evgeny MishakovSoviet Union Drafted by Miami Screaming Eagles (WHA)
1972 Aleksandr Maltsev Soviet Union Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA)
1972 Vladimir Petrov Soviet Union Drafted by Calgary Broncos (WHA)
1972 Jiří HolečekCzechoslovakia Drafted by Ontario (Ottawa) Nationals (WHA)
1972 Jiří KochtaCzechoslovakia Drafted by Ontario (Ottawa) Nationals (WHA)
1972 Vladimir Bouzek Czechoslovakia Drafted by Los Angeles Sharks (WHA)
1972 Jiří HolikCzechoslovakia Drafted by Los Angeles Sharks (WHA)
1972 Ivan Hlinka Czechoslovakia Drafted by Los Angeles Sharks (WHA)
1972 Leif Svensson Sweden Drafted by Edmonton Oil Kings (WHA)
1972 Boris Mikhailov Soviet Union Drafted by Miami Screaming Eagles (WHA)
1972 Aleksei Kosygin Soviet Union Drafted by Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
A mock pick as he was the Soviet prime minister
He was one week shy of his 68th birthday - The oldest pick ever
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