While the World Juniors garner a lot of the international attention at this time of year, there is one other tournament going on at this time of year as well, the Spengler Cup. The invitational tournament runs from today until December 31st in Davos, Switzerland and features some of the top club teams throughout international hockey. Canada is also granted an entry into the tournament with their team typically being comprised of players throughout several international leagues as well as a handful of AHL players.
Usually, each team features some familiar faces, either former NHL players who may be looking to get back to North America the next season or some drafted prospects who teams will be looking to bring over in the near future. Our Mike Furlano took a closer look at Canada’s entry last week; here are some of the notable players on the other five teams.
Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL):
LW Stanislav Chistov – Chistov was the fifth overall pick of Anaheim back in 2001. He spent four years in North America with the Ducks and Bruins, getting into 196 NHL games. Since then, he has been a part of five different teams back home in Russia.
LW Anatoli Golyshev – A fourth round pick of the Islanders back in June, the 21 year old winger finished fourth in KHL scoring last season. Things haven’t gone as swimmingly for him this year as he has just four goals in 36 KHL contests.
HC Davos (NLA):
RW Adam Hall – The 36 year old played in 682 career NHL games and is in his third season in Switzerland. He is on loan from Ambri-Piotta for the tournament.
LW Tuomo Ruutu – The former ninth overall pick of Chicago in 2001 was in the NHL as recently as last season with New Jersey and was with Vancouver back in training camp on a tryout deal. After failing to sign with the Canucks, he inked a one year deal with Davos but the move has yet to pay off as he has just four points in 14 games this season.
C Drew Shore – The former Florida and Calgary prospect wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer by Calgary back in June, making him an unrestricted free agent. Rather than signing back to likely play in the minor leagues, he inked a one year deal in the Swiss league where he sits tied for ninth in league scoring which could have him back on the NHL radar next offseason. He is on loan from Kloten for the tourney.
HC Lugano (NLA):
C Maxim Lapierre – After failing to earn a deal with the Rangers in training camp, Lapierre returned to Lugano on a one year deal (plus an option). He has 614 career NHL games under his belt and at the age of 31, is still young enough that he will likely get another tryout with an NHL team at some point.
G Elvis Merzlikins – A 3rd round pick (76th overall) of the Blue Jackets in 2014, Merzlikins posted the third highest save percentage in the NLA last season and also got into five games for Latvia at the 2016 World Championships.
D James Wisniewski – After being bought out by Carolina following a season where he played just one shift due to an ACL tear, the 32 year old was unable to crack Tampa Bay’s lineup in preseason. He signed in the KHL shortly thereafter but left the team last week to take part in this tournament.
D Ryan Wilson – The 29 year old last saw NHL action back in 2014-15 with Colorado and has 230 career games under his belt. His contract is up at the end of the season and is a decent candidate to get an NHL PTO for next September if he wants to try to get back to North America.
HK Dinamo Minsk (KHL):
D Marc-Andre Gragnani – After spending a couple of seasons overseas, Gragnani returned to North America last season, getting into four games with the Devils. This year, he went back across the pond where he sits third among KHL blueliners in assists with 23 in 38 games.
LW Sergei Kostitsyn – The former Canadiens and Predators winger was looking to return to the NHL this past summer but was unable to find a taker. He has 21 points in 30 games so far this season and is only on a one year deal so it’s likely that he will once again look to sign an NHL deal next summer.
G Ben Scrivens – After struggling upon being traded to Montreal following last year’s roster freeze, Scrivens has been a workhorse between the pipes in Minsk, already seeing action in 40 games while posting a 2.22 GAA and a .919 SV%.
HK Hradec Kralove (Czech Extraliga):
RW Jaroslav Bednar – The 40 year old was a prospect of the Kings (and for a brief time, the Panthers) in the early 2000’s, getting into 117 career NHL games, collecting 44 points.
LW Alexandre Picard – The former fourth overall pick of Columbus back in 2004, Picard struggled at the NHL level, posting just two assists in 67 career games. After spending the last four years in Switzerland, he is currently on a tryout with Kralove.