The Rise of German Hockey Players in The NHL (Discussion)

[BlueBull]

In recent times, more and more Europeans have joined the NHL
...and I'm totally ok with that, the more the better.

One of the Countries on the rise recently has been Germany.
While there have been many German Born and Canadian Trained players in the past, There are also a lot of German Trained Players that have been in the league recently.

In Recent years, We have had Forwards like Leon Draisaitl and Dany Heatley, Defenseman including Christian Ehrhoff and Dennis Seidenberg, and Goalies such as Thomas Greiss and Philipp Grubauer.

Let's Discuss about the Rise of German Players in the NHL as well as How they are affecting the League now and How they will effect the League in the Near Future. (Especially with Tim Strutzle on the way.)

-BlueBull

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[izzy]

dany f***ing heatley baby

 

[Dekes For Days]

Can we really call Heatley and Ehrhoff "recent"?

 

[Kranix]

Can we really call Heatley and Ehrhoff "recent"?

Or Heatley German?

 

[SotasicA]

The rise of German players.

 

[Kranix]

They skyrocketed from 11th place to 6th at the world championships to almost being relegated in the world juniors.

 

[BlueBull]

Or Heatley German?

The rise of German players.

Like I said, there have been quite a few German Born yet Canadian Trained Players.

 

[Del Preston]

Rieder and Draisaitl combined for 50 goals last season.

 

[Kranix]

In before somebody says Robyn Regher did a lot for Brazilian hockey, sarcastically.

 

[Coffey]

Rieder and Draisaitl combined for 50 goals last season.

 

[Del Preston]

In recent times, more and more Europeans have joined the NHL
...and I'm totally ok with that, the more the better.

One of the Countries on the rise recently has been Germany.
While there have been many German Born and Canadian Trained players in the past, There are also a lot of German Trained Players that have been in the league recently.

In Recent years, We have had Forwards like Leon Draisaitl and Dany Heatley, Defenseman including Christian Ehrhoff and Dennis Seidenberg, and Goalies such as Thomas Greiss and Philipp Grubauer.

Let's Discuss about the Rise of German Players in the NHL as well as How they are affecting the League now and How they will effect the League in the Near Future. (Especially with Tim Strutzle on the way.)

-BlueBull

Marco Sturm will also be an NHL head coach in the not too distant future.

 

[IamNotADancer]

Yeah, several issues here...

Heatley may have had dual citizenship but that's as far as him being German goes. He is as Canadian as can be.

Ehrhoff was good for a handful of years and then just vanished.

Also agree that neither one of those examples are "recent".

German influence in the NHL ebbs and flows, you'll have years where there are great players (Krupp, Koelzig) and then you'll have years where theres barely anything to show for and the best German player is Seidenberg.

Draisaitl is easily the best player Germany has ever had and is definitely an exception to the rule, but that doesn't mean we will see Germany produce absolute superstars in the future despite them having some VERY promising prospects in the pipelines.

Germany's hockey infrastructure is well below par of the great hockey nations like Canada, Russia, Finland and Sweden and I don't see any improvement coming.

As for your question as to how they will "effect" the NHL? Well they won't. Once Draisaitl retires I don't think you will see any player of significance coming for the foreseeable future.

You will always have German players play in the NHL, very few leave a mark.

Before Draisaitl, the greatest "German" NHL player was Koelzig and that guy was barely German being born in South Africa and then moving to Canada. I don't think he ever went through the German hockey system. Come to think of it, him and Heatley are both equally "German", the difference is one decided to play for Canada, the other decided to play for Germany, which is understandable given that playing hockey for South Africa would have been less than fruitful.

 

[Bondurant]

Wings fans are eagerly awaiting Seider's cup of coffee in the big time. We're also comforted to know Tim Stützle is our worst case draft scenario. Not too shabby.

 

[Hennessy]

If Heatley is German, Kolzig is South African.

 

[kaiser matias]

If Heatley is German, Kolzig is South African.

Heatley's mother is German, which at least makes him German to some extent. Far different than Kölzig, whose parents were working in South Africa.

 

[Kranix]

Who do they think they are, Mars?

 

[Techcoockie]

Forgot the great Marco Sturm!

 

[zizbuka]

I always liked Jochen Hecht (sp?). Good, solid, consistent player.

 

[BlueBull]

As for your question as to how they will "effect" the NHL? Well they won't. Once Draisaitl retires I don't think you will see any player of significance coming for the foreseeable future.

You will always have German players play in the NHL, very few leave a mark.

1. Tim Stutzle is on the Horizon.
2. What German hockey players are doing now will inspire future generations to play hockey, especially with the Silver Germany won in 2018.

 

[Khelandros]

Yeah, several issues here...


Draisaitl is easily the best player Germany has ever had and is definitely an exception to the rule, but that doesn't mean we will see Germany produce absolute superstars in the future despite them having some VERY promising prospects in the pipelines.

Tom Kuhnhackl would like a word.

 

[Garl]

Yeah, several issues here...

Heatley may have had dual citizenship but that's as far as him being German goes. He is as Canadian as can be.

Ehrhoff was good for a handful of years and then just vanished.

Also agree that neither one of those examples are "recent".

German influence in the NHL ebbs and flows, you'll have years where there are great players (Krupp, Koelzig) and then you'll have years where theres barely anything to show for and the best German player is Seidenberg.

Draisaitl is easily the best player Germany has ever had and is definitely an exception to the rule, but that doesn't mean we will see Germany produce absolute superstars in the future despite them having some VERY promising prospects in the pipelines.

Germany's hockey infrastructure is well below par of the great hockey nations like Canada, Russia, Finland and Sweden and I don't see any improvement coming.

As for your question as to how they will "effect" the NHL? Well they won't. Once Draisaitl retires I don't think you will see any player of significance coming for the foreseeable future.

You will always have German players play in the NHL, very few leave a mark.

Before Draisaitl, the greatest "German" NHL player was Koelzig and that guy was barely German being born in South Africa and then moving to Canada. I don't think he ever went through the German hockey system. Come to think of it, him and Heatley are both equally "German", the difference is one decided to play for Canada, the other decided to play for Germany, which is understandable given that playing hockey for South Africa would have been less than fruitful.

you forgot that Draisaitl is garbage and only produces thanks to McDavid. Your doomy and gloomy post is not doomy enough.

 

[Wayne Primeau]

Tobias Rieder is elite

 

[tuozzi]

1. Tim Stutzle is on the Horizon.
2. What German hockey players are doing now will inspire future generations to play hockey, especially with the Silver Germany won in 2018.

Yeah, I doubt this. There is very very little coverage on hockey in Germany. That silver probably got a line or two between a gold in bobsled and a bronze in biathlon.

 

[Go Wings]

 

[IamNotADancer]

Yeah, I doubt this. There is very very little coverage on hockey in Germany. That silver probably got a line or two between a gold in bobsled and a bronze in biathlon.

I lived in Germany for 27 years and never has hockey been anything more than a blip or afterthought even when Team Germany played well. Hockey just isnt big in Germany, generational talent or not.