National League team rankings: Who did the best among the foreigners?

In this regard, things are looking better for the top trio in the competition. The ZSC Lions and Zug (just like Davos, Ambri and Kloten) have used only seven foreign licenses. Friborg only has six and is the only team that has not yet signed an additional foreigner. The opportunities for these teams to develop for the rest of the season are therefore considerably greater.

Who has reloaded the best so far? Blick has created a ranking:

1. Napkin (9 out of 10 foreign licenses used): Henrik Haapala was only an attractive short-term acquisition in the autumn, the Finn then moved on to Lausanne. Star goalkeeper Jussi Olkinuora, on the other hand, clearly provides more stability and Julius Honka, who is unhappy in Bern, functions as Tömmerne’s bright spot in Geneva.

2. Ambri (7/10): With the return of Canadian Alex Formenton, who continues to improve, the Storm has improved significantly.

3. Ajoie (8/10): With creative striker Dmytro Timashov, a man came for surprise moments, which gives coach Wohlwend more room to play. A possible key transfer on the way to a stay in the competition.

4. Bern (9/10): Coach Tapola was not happy with Martin Frk and Julius Honka, breaker Joona Luoto and the reliable defender Ville Pokka, who remained below his potential with Biel, fit the concept better.

5. Lausanne (8/10): In late October, the Vaudois responded to injuries by signing the lively Henrik Haapala, who had previously proven himself at Servette.

6. Lugano (9/10): The injuries to Daniel Carr and Markus Granlund affect Luganesi. Prominent replacements were found in John Quenneville and Mario Kempe.

7. ZSC Lions (7/10): The Zurich team responded to the basket of Nati defenseman Tim Berni, who chose Servette after returning to the NHL, by signing ex-NHL defenseman Scott Harrington to add to the roster.

8th move (7/10): Brian O’Neill’s prolonged absence called for activism. The EVZ has not brought in a star player with the Canadian Riley Sheen, but rather a striker with a colorful biography.

9. SCL Tigers (8/10): In order to respond to foreign failures, the Emmentaler team signed Saku Mäenalanen to a three-year contract at the end of September. The Finnish world champion and Olympic champion has not really lived up to expectations so far.

10. Davos (7/10): Tomas Jurco was the addition of the HCD to the selection at the end of September. He didn’t leave much of an impression on the ice in Davos, but he will still be remembered for being shaken on camera by coach Holden during the Spengler Cup final. The Slovak has now moved on to Omsk in the KHL.

11. Biel (9/10): When the injury witch struck in Zealand in the autumn, Latvian World Cup hero Rihards Burkarts was also signed. However, the striker could do virtually nothing to solve Biel’s problems on the ice.

12. Lakers (9/10): The Rappi mercenaries continued to report wounded in rows. New staff was needed. However, neither Zac Leslie nor Martin Frk, who was acquired from Bern, could provide new impetus.

13. Kloten (7/10): Swedish defender Lucas Ekestahl Jonsson, who scored 30 points in the successful season last season, was kicked out in the autumn. To then bring in a successor in Canadian Nathan Beaulieu, who has been overwhelmed in our speed and running competition and has only contributed 2 assists in 13 games.