Stubb said that while there may not be first-round caliber players coming out of Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Norway or Belarus this year, Slovakian center Marko Dano is "one serious contender."
Dano is ranked No. 7 among skaters playing in Russia.
The 5-11, 183-pound forward has two goals, four points and a plus-3 rating in 18 games with Slovan Bratislava in the KHL this season. The fact he averages only about 10 minutes of ice time a game probably explains his low point production. Dano's Canadian Hockey League rights are held by the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League.
"He's a slippery, smart center," Stubb said. "He's a Slovakian playing for a Slovakian team, Slovan Bratislava, in the Russian-dominated KHL. He's smallish, but has a good combination of speed, stick work and smarts. He plays a steady two-way game and gives a consistent effort on every shift. At the present, he's the best prospect from former powerhouses Slovakia and Czech Republic."