Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
I think this is a step up personally. The EBL is a pretty good league and I would rather play there than the ECHL.
I suppose it's less of a straight line to getting back to the NHL, but realistically, it is time for him to probably set new career goals.
|
I agree that the quality of the league is quite good, it has improved drastically over the last 10 years ... also thanks to the fact that they have included foreign clubs. The loss of Zagreb to the KHL hurts, but they have added an Italian club now instead, so it will still be a 5 country league: Austria (Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna, Villach, Klagenfurt, Graz, Linz, Dornbirn), Italy (Bozen), Hungary (Szekesfehervar), Czech Rep (Znojmo) and Slovenia (Ljubljana).
Still, once you play there, the NHL door usually closed on you. Jamie Lundmark and Kyle Greentree have been league superstars here. A successful stint in Austria can give you the chance to play in Germany, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland or in the KHL, but those guys hardly make it to the NHL after playing in Austria. The only one I remember is Lee Sweatt, but he also played in the KHL and in Finland after his Austria stint before he played 3 games for Vancouver.
Guys like Wahl usually have two options: spend your career in the AHL/ECHL and make your living as a minor leaguer, or go to Europe and try to carve yourself a nice career there as a journeyman. It will be interesting to see how he fares in the Austrian league. Some former NHLers have absolutely faltered here (Alex Auld), while guys who were AHL journeyman or fringe players at best have dominated the league (Ryan Kinasewich, John Lammers). Depends on how they adapt to the different rink size, I guess.