EURO CURVE

Euro Curve takes a look at the latest international hockey headlines.

**** SOME RECENT EUROPEAN SIGNINGS
- Tough-as-Nails Defenseman Dan McGillis has signed with Adler Mannheim of the German Bundesliga. McGillis was in Vancouver Canucks training camp this fall on a try-out basis but was recently released. Adler Mannheim boasts a plethora of good veteran hockey players including Rene Corbet, Rico Fata, Jeff Shantz, Colin Forbes, Sven Butenschon and Pascal Trepanier. McGillis has spent the majority of the past two seasons with the New Jersey Devils AHL Affiliate, The Lowell Devils. McGillis was drafted in 1992 by the Detroit Red Wings and has played 634 games for five different teams: Oilers, Flyers, Bruins, Sharks and Devils.
- Carl Söderberg has signed with Malmö Redhawks of the Swedish Elite Hockey League. Söderberg was drafted by the St.Louis Blues in 2004 (2/49) but has been unable to crack the NHL roster which boasts the likes of young guns such as Jay McClement, Brad Boyes, Lee Stempniak and David Perron. Söderberg had 12 goals and 18 assists in 31 games for Malmö last year and will surely get another crack at the NHL again next year.
- Robert Petrovicky has signed with MoDo Hockey of the Swedish Elitserien after starting the season with HC Vitkovice of the Czech Extraliga. To say Petrovicky is a hockey journeyman would be an understatement as he has split his professional career between the Slovakia, the United States,Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland. Petrovicky was drafted in 1992 by the Hartford Whalers in the 1st round (12th overall) but never really reached his potential in the NHL. Petrovickys only decent season in the NHL was while with the St.Louis Blues in 1996'97, when he registered 7 goals and 12 assists in 44 games. After struggling in the NHL, IHL and AHL, Petrovicky was re-born in Europe playing with HC Ambriotta-Piotta of the Swiss Nationalliga where he scored 46 points in 38 games. Petrovicky spent three seasons playing with ZSC Lions before he decided to return to the Czech Extraleague.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

EURO CURVE

Euro Curve takes a daily look at the international hockey scene.

- Former Phoenix Coyotes Left Winger Patrick Fischer has signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the Russian Super League. Fischer had 4 goals and 6 assists in 27 games for the Coyotes last season. The 32-year-old product of Zug, Switzerland has 400 + career points in 14 seasons split between HC Davos and EV Zug of the Swiss League.

- Hockej.cz reports that Eisbaron Berlin ( Berlin Polar Bears) have expressed interest in Former New Jersey Devils Defenseman Dan McGillis. *** Various sources are now reporting that Vancouver Canucks GM Dave Nonis has invited McGillis to training camp on a try-out basis, possibly in an attempt to fill a hole on the depth chart caused by the injury to Veteran blueliner Sami Salo.

- An interesting article on St.Louis Blues 2004 draft pick Viktor Alexandrov (3/83), who currently plays for Metallurg Novokusnetsk of the Russian Super League.

- Remember Former New Jersey Devils Draft Pick and Israeli National Max Birbraer? He currently plays for the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League (Britain).

- INTERNATIONAL ROSTER OF THE WEEK
Each week I will post a different club or country's roster:

MODO HOCKEY ( Swedish Elite League)

Goalies:
Michael Zajkowski
Karol Krizan

Defensemen:
Mattias Timander
Hans Jonsson (A)
Per Hållberg
Oscar Hedman
Tommy Wargh
Pierre Hedin
Adam Andersson
Victor Hedman

Forwards:
Magnus Wernblom
Per-Åge Skrøder
Marcus Jonasén
Andreas Salomonsson ( Ex-Devil)
Tobias Forsberg
Peter Öberg
Jari Tolsa
Oscar Steen
Patrick Yetman ( Canadian)
Niklas Sundström (A) ( Former Montreal Canadien)
Andreas Molinder
Per Svartvadet (C) ( Former Atlanta Thrasher, won the Guldpucken Award last year as MVP)
Fredrik Warg

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.