With defenseman Johann Morant (ZSC Lions), Thomas Thiry and Miro Zryd (presumably SC Bern) departing, and defender Claudio Cadonau arriving from the SCL Tigers at season's end, there is currently some sort of transfer deficit for Zug.
"We still have two to three aces up in our sleeve," Reto Kläy tells the Luzerner Zeitung, inter alia pointing at two homegrown youngsters who are currently playing overseas: forward Calvin Thürkauf and defenseman Tobias Geisser.
The three-year entry level deal of Thürkauf, who was drafted and signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016 , is set to expire next year. Ever since, the 22-year-old has appeared in no NHL game but 117 games with their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters (15 goals, 20 assists). Should Columbus have no use for him, a return to Switzerland seems not to be excluded.
Another player of potential interest is Tobias Geisser, drafted in 2017 and signed to an entry-level contract by the Washington Capitals in 2018. The 20-year-old defender is currently playing his second straight season with the Hershey Bears from the American Hockey League, for which he has suited up in 45 games thus far, recording only one assist.
EV Zug's team manager Reto Kläy: "It may be worthwhile to be patient and await developments. There are many possible combinations, including the scenario with a foreign defenseman."
( 20 November 2019 | rlu*)
