NHL: These are the three Austrians in the NHL

The start of the new NHL season is just around the corner.Also from Austria there are again three Kufencracks with us.SPOX looks at Michael Grabner, Michael Raffl and Thomas Vanek and looks at the roles of the three legionaries in their teams.

Grabner enters his second season with the New York Rangers and enters his ninth NHL season.In the summer of 2018, the contract of the right wing player expires.Until then, the Manhattan franchise will transfer $1.65 million to his account.

surprisingly good.After a disappointing year with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Carinthian turned up the blues shirts enormously.Together with J. T.Miller and Kevin Hayes, he was one of the top three in the league. 40 points and 27 goals were the second best in his career.But Grabner not only lit the red lamp.The Austrian also provided his team with important services in the penalty killings.

This role will remain unchanged in the 2017/18 season.Without a real star striker, the Rangers will depend on goals from the back rows.Grabner has high hopes that he will be able to replicate his cream season again.

After the disappointing defeat of the Ottawa Senators in the playoffs, the Rangers want to attack again.Defender Kevin Shattenkirk was probably the best available player.But there are no longer top center Derek Stepan and the aging Dan Girardi.The team’s star is still Goalie Henrik Lundqvist, but he only had an average playing time for him (. 910 Save Percentage).

Nevertheless, the Blueshirts remain a dangerous team with their speed and depth, which is difficult to defend.This year’s playoffs will be played again, King Henrik will be the X-factor at the age of 35.

season

squad

games

gates

assists

issues

2009/10

canoes

20

5

6

11

2010/11

Islanders

76

34

18

52

2011/12

78

12

32

2012/13

45

16

21

2013/14

64

14

26

2014/15

8

13

2015/16

Maple Leafs

80

9

2016/17

rangers

27

40

nearby

2010

1

0

2013

3

4

2015

2

2017

Page 1: Michael Grabner (New York Rangers)

Page 2: Michael Raffl (Philadelphia Flyers)

Page 3: Thomas Vanek (Vancouver Canucks)