Prophet of Glennie
You wanted opinion of scout.. ok, read
One of the most respected European based NHL-scouts said this when interviewed for this study:
“In my opinion, the top European leagues have lost in quality in the last years. There is no doubt that this is
because of the stream of
players going to North America, where many players do not develop as they become
career minor leaguers. One ensuing problem is that European prospects have fewer and fewer role models in
the European leagues. I am convinced that this depleting will affect the quality of the European players that the
NHL will recruit in the future.”
more
here
An example of this unnecessary makeover is Mikael Andersson, who played 761 NHL games during 15 NHL
seasons from 1985 - 2000. He was drafted in the first round in 1984 out of the Swedish league in an era where
very few Europeans were drafted high.
Andersson was named the best junior player in Sweden in 1984 and whose game was skill, speed and
smartness. Buffalo signed him after only one season in the Swedish top league, at the age of 19 with too little
experience. Five of his first six NHL seasons were split between the NHL and the AHL, playing in 179 minor
league games. After seven seasons, he became an NHL regular, but his game was changed. A naturally gifted
and creative player was now a role player and that kept him in the league for another eight seasons.
Again, there is no crystal ball. But imagine rewinding those years to see what could have happened had
Andersson signed at the age of 22, instead of 19 after another three years in Sweden. He likely would have had
a slightly shorter NHL career but with more ice time and goals - and a higher salary, compensating for the later
NHL debut.
There are more examples with this pattern, but few players show the determination and endurance of
Andersson. In most cases the player, feeling that he can’t play his game, goes home.
Coincidently as Andersson was the best junior forward in Sweden, Calle Johansson was the best junior
defenseman in the country. While Andersson left with only one season’s experience in the Swedish top league,
Johansson stayed for more than three seasons before signing with Buffalo. Johansson is one of only six
Europeans to accumulate 17 seasons and over 1000 NHL-games. Upon retirement he became a scout and is
now coaching in his native Sweden.
“I had enormous use from those extra years I stayed in Sweden,” said Calle when interviewed. “When I came to
Buffalo, I did with a certain confidence and experience. I had a fundament to stand on. I have said it all along
whenever this topic comes up – a player who has accumulated enough skill and maturity in Europe doesn’t need any ‘adjustment’ in the minors to the North American game. And
if the player is not ready for the NHL, he should stay at home and develop until he is ready. I am pretty sure that if I had left earlier, I would have been sent to the minors and I am quite sure that my career would have turned out differently.”
source like above
So, give me names of Euro players who played at least 2 years in CHL and after that they were/are NHL superstars...
you better look how good season he had in OHL! and he was pretty good at U18 as well. at the begin he had some problems in there but in the end he was very good again.
what is this?--"Canadiens dont have sense of game like Europeans, technique, skating, thinking.." 
