The path of great talent Lian Bichsel (19) to the NHL: the AHL for the rough work, Sweden for the refinement

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With his height of 1.98 meters and 102 kilos, Lian Bichsel (19) fits perfectly in Texas. After all, they say, “Everything is bigger in Texas.” But the enormous talent is currently not playing in Dallas in the NHL, but on the farm team in the AHL with the Texas Stars in Cedar Park, a suburb of Austin.

He made a strong impression in NHL training camp. Coach Pete DeBoer enthuses: “He’s a fascinating prospect. It looks like he’s going to be a really good NHL defenseman for a long time.” It’s unclear when Bichsel will play in the NHL, but it’s “just a matter of time.”

The fact that the man from Solothurn was sent to the AHL has to do with the situation in the Dallas selection: in addition to top man Miro Heiskanen, the ambitious stars have six other good defenders. As long as no one has been released or transferred, Bichsel’s path is blocked.

The Nati defenseman signed his first NHL contract in a hospital bed in May after missing the World Cup due to a broken ankle. There is a clause in it that allows him to return to Europe if he is not used in the NHL. If the hunk, who was selected 18th overall by the Stars in the 2022 draft, is still in the AHL by December 1, the move back to Sweden is planned. Not to his previous club Leksand, but to Rögle, where he trained in the summer. In Sweden there is more time to work on the finer points of his game.

Bichsel asks, “Where are we now?”

Bichsel is on a three-match away trip. “Where are we now?” he asks a teammate when Sonntagsblick reaches him after breakfast. “In Milwaukee.” The teenager is currently in the AHL, but his goal remains the NHL. He thinks he’s “pretty close.” “I would probably be the first one called if there was a need for a defenseman in the NHL.”

The AHL is a steel pool, the game is tough, wild and characterized by mistakes. “People told me it’s easier in the NHL once you’ve had your time in the AHL,” Bichsel said. He really liked life in Texas, where he rented a house with two teammates, and the rough playing style.

The son of former handball international André Bichsel (54) knows how to defend himself. The game ended early Wednesday at the Chicago Wolves. First he fought Kyle Marino after checking on him after a break in the match. He then left the penalty box to give the fare to his provocative opponent and was therefore sent to the shower. “I’m new to this competition. “I can’t allow myself everything,” he says. He was suspended for three games for this action.

Source : Blick