This is what the new hierarchy of the NHL Swiss looks like

The elegant Berner is still our number 1 abroad. He is the only Swiss to ever win an individual trophy, the 2020 Norris Trophy, as the best defender in the league. He is the captain of the Predators and earns $9.75 million this season. His stats are good (nearly a point per game), although not quite as incredible as last season when he nibbled the 100 points. Bitter for Josi: He will hardly win the Stanley Cup with the Predators. They miss the playoffs and are now probably starting a complete rebuild and have started selling out (Niederreiter, Jeannot and Ekholm).

The Appenzell goal scorer is the man of the hour, was the most sought after player on the transfer market and was traded to New Jersey by the hopeless San Jose Sharks. He now plays for a young, extremely talented team that can dream of the title with him as reinforcement and has excellent prospects over the years. Meier’s contract, with which he earns an average of 6 million euros per year, expires. There is a good chance that he will get a new contract in the Josi dimension (8 years / 72.47 million).

After moving from Minnesota in the summer, the Eastern Swiss fully lived up to the high expectations that come with a big contract (7.875 million/year until 2029) in California. He is the Kings’ leading scorer, posting about a point per game. Fiala was also the only Swiss in the Allstar Game. And LA is also on the playoff lane.

He is the captain of the rising Devils, who have become even stronger with the arrival of Meier. Drafted number 1 in 2017, De Walliser is not only one of the most reliable strikers in the league defensively, but also improves offensively from season to season and now scores close to a point per game. New Jersey will pay him an average of $7.25 million a year through 2027.

There is a small gap after the four Swiss stars. Then comes the Churer, who, after moving from Nashville to Winnipeg, his fourth NHL club, can at least hope for successful playoffs again. “El Nino” is probably one of the most popular NHL players among players and journalists. He is not a dancer on the ice, but someone who helps the team with strength and violence and still poses a target threat. His salary: 4 million a year.

The man from Zurich is also not one to tear fans off their seats with solo runs. But for the Devils, he proved to be a stroke of luck, developing into one of the best defensive backs in the league. At a moderate price. This season Siegenthaler raises 1.125 million – after that it will average 3.4 million per year until 2028.

If he wasn’t playing in the desert with the Inferior Coyotes, he might get more credit for his accomplishments. He is on the ice for more than 20 minutes per game. If the Zealand defender continues like this, he will collect much more from 2024 than now with his current entry salary ($925,000).

With the Blackhawks, who are fully committed to rebuilding and are among the weakest teams in the league, Kurashev gets plenty of ice time (over 17 minutes per game). At the end of the season, the contract of the Bern striker, who plays for the minimum wage of 750,000, expires. Then it will appear outwardly whether Chicago will continue to rely completely on him.

His contract, which earned him 3.25 million, also expires. The versatile striker from Zurich must take a pay cut into account if he wants to keep his place in the NHL. If he returns to Switzerland, he would be free to choose a club. However, in recent weeks he has been promoting himself (perhaps also for a transfer), getting more ice time and The Red Wings even flirting with a playoff spot.

The striker, who excelled at ZSC in the playoffs and national team last season, has struggled since moving from Toronto to Denver. He does play for Colorado, but gets little ice time. However, the NHL champion, hampered by injury problems, has picked up momentum and Malgin can dream of the Stanley Cup. His minimum wage contract of 750,000 expires. If he returned home, he would be tied to the ZSC Lions until 2025.

The Ohio State side is among the weakest in the league and gives young players a chance. So now the Zurich defender has a chance in the NHL and can hand in his calling card. His entry-level contract ($925,000/year) expires at the end of the season. The chances of him returning to Switzerland have declined sharply in recent months.

Last season, the Emmentaler was excellent in the AHL at times, but was unable to shine in his first games in the NHL. This season, however, he jumped at the opportunity when reserve goalkeeper Mackenzie Blackwood was injured and he made a few appearances with New Jersey. Schmid’s entry-level contract, which currently earns him $842,500 a year in the NHL but only $65,000 in the AHL, does not expire until 2024.

Source : Blick