Hockey's Future - The #1 Online Prospects Resource

Martin Höhener, D

(Born 1980-03-26)

Drafted 2000, Round 9 (284^th overall) by the Nashville Predators

Höhener has been traded from the Kloten Flyers to Servette Geneva before the 2003-04 season. He represented Switzerland at both the 2002 Olympics and the 2002 World Championships. Although Höhener is a solid, offensive oriented defender with international experience, it is not very likely that he will make it to the NHL right now.

Beat Foster, D

(Born 1983-02-02)

Drafted 2001, Round 3 (78^th overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes

Beat Foster is a very interesting young player. Foster’s physical presence on the ice has become very important for the HC Davos of the Swiss National League. It is very hard to say if Foster will make his way to North America, but if he does he will probably need one or two years at the AHL level.

Severin Blindenbacher, D

(Born 1983-03-15)

Drafted 2001, Round 9 (273^rd overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes

Blindenbacher is another notable Swiss prospect who plays with the Klothen Flyers.

He is one of the most positive developing players in the Swiss league within the last few years. He was a member of the Swiss Silver Medal Team at the 2003 U20 World Championships. He has played for the Swiss National Team since 2003. Blindenabcher has turned into a very skilled all around defender and might have a realistic chance to get an invitation for the 2004 Coyotes Training Camp.

Tobias Stephan, G

(Born 1984-04-21)

Drafted 2002, Round 2 (34^th overall) by the Dallas Stars

Stephan has proven his talent in Swiss National League with the Kloten Flyers. He has played a solid season with 24 wins and 15 losses with an GAA of 2.63 with Kloten. His butterfly-style has become more professional and he has joined the Swiss National Team after representing his country twice at U20 World Championships (together with his Kloten teammates Emanuel Peter, Severin Blindenbacher and Patrik Baertschi). Stephan started with a .913 % Save Pct. (22 games) into the 2003-04 season.

Stephan attended the Stars development camp in July and had another visit to the Stars staff in November. Stephan will most probably be invited to join the 2004 training camp and will likely be assigned to the AHL Utah Grizzlies for his first encounter with North American hockey. Although Jason Bacashihua is another great goalie prospects for the Stars, Stephan should get his chance to join the NHL within the next two to three years.

Patrik Bärtschi, C

(Born 1984-08-20)

Drafted 2002, Round 7 (202^nd overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins

Bärtschi is another young player of Switzerland, who has had remarkable development within the last season. Bärtschi led the 2003 World Junior Championships in scoring with 10 points (6 goals and 4 assists) in six games, and played on the Swiss National Team in the World Championships as well. The young center has scored 37 points (21 goals, 16 assists), for Kloten earlier that season. He has tallied 10 goals and 12 assists in the first 22 games of the Swiss 2003-04 championships.

Emanuel Peter, C

(Born 1984-06-09)

Drafted 2002, Round 5 (142^nd overall) by the Calgary Flames

A member of the Swiss Silver Medal Team at the 2003 WJC, Peter is a very physical power forward, who will have to improve his offensive skills to get one step closer to the NHL. He takes very good faceoffs and will have to develop into a playmaker within the next season.

Daniel Manzato, G

(Born 1984-01-17),

Drafted 2002, Round 6 (160^th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes

Plays his third season with the Victoriaville Tigers (GP: 22 / 4.03 GAA). Manzato is still quiet far away from the NHL. Ward and DesRochers will probably have a better chance to protect the net of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Swiss Prospects chosen in 2003 Entry Draft

Tim Ramholt, D

(Born 1984-11-02)

Drafted 2003, 2^nd Round (39^th overall) by the Calgary Flames

Ramholt recently made his first impact with North American hockey with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. (QMJHL). He is a member of the Swiss Junior National Team.

Philippe Seydoux, D

(1985-02-23)

Drafted 2003, Round 4 (100^th overall) by the Ottawa Senators

“Phippu” is another member of the Kloten Flyers (Swiss National League) 2003-04 Team. (GP: 17 /2G 2A/ +3)

Kevin Romy, C

(Born 1985-01-31)

Drafted 2003, Round 4 (108^th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers

Tallied 4 goals and 8 assists in the 2003 WJC 18 Championships. Plays for the HC Servette Geneva in the 2003-04 season. (6G 4A in 27 games)

Philippe Furrer, D

(Born 1985-06-16)

Drafted 2003, Round 6 (179 overall) by the New York Rangers

Furrer plays for the HC Bern (Swiss National League). After having surgery he will be out for several months.

Loic Burkhalter, LW

(Born 1980-02-11)

Drafted 2003, Round 10 (290^th overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes

Member of Swiss National League Team HC Ambri for the 2003-04 season. (11 G 10 A in 21 games)