{sitelinkxoff}In the last few years, EV Zug was typically known as a top-heavy team. EVZ had some eye-catching individual performers that ranked among the league’s best, but only average depth that cost in the play-offs when the two top-lines found it harder to have enough space. This year’s team differentiates itself insofar as it is more balanced and less dependent on certain individuals. There have been, however, still some outstanding individual performances. Now is the time to take a closer look at each player.
Photo: PHOTOPRESS / Laurent Gillieron
Goaltender Stephan – Zug’s key player
Tobias Stephan: Arguably the team’s most important player and a huge reason for his team’s successful regular season. His goals-against average and save percentage trail only SCB’s Leonardo Genoni.
Fabio Haller and Jussi Markkanen cannot be evaluated after two and zero games, respectively. One hopes that they experience the postseasons as a spectator from the bench or the stands.
One of the best and deepest defensive corps of the league
Santeri Alatalo: More consistent play has earned him partial minutes on the first pair. His seven goals places him second behind only Diaz among Zug’s blueliners despite a lengthy injury lay-off. His defensive play could still need some work, though.
Raphael Diaz: His offensive numbers might not be as mind-boggling as expected, but his presence makes everyone around him better. He is relied upon in every situation and clearly leads all Bulls in time on ice.
Samuel Erni: A solid performer with a good first pass, who has never come close to being a successor to Diaz, as it was once hoped. Now, he falls victim to Zug’s wealth of young defensive prospects and has to leave at the end of the season.
Tobias Fohrler and Tobias Geisser: The towering prospects got their first taste of NLA-experience and will get a regular place in the line-up next season.
Robin Grossmann: Zug’s number two defenseman behind Diaz. Very consistent and reliable in his own end with a good first pass. Could be more productive as a point-man on the second power-play-unit, though.
Timo Helbling: Has adequately replaced Tim Ramholt on the second pair alongside Grossmann. Brings much-needed toughness and leadership to the team but is much more composed than during his first stint in Zug.
Simon Lüthi: Finally healthy after injury-ridden one and a half seasons, he has found it tough to get regular minutes and earn the trust of the coaches. Plays fewer than ten minutes per game.
Johann Morant: Maybe the biggest surprise. His plus-minus leads Zug’s defensemen (+15). While still tough, his improved reliability and mobility earned him a role in the top-six.
Dominik Schlumpf: Very consistent and reliable performer in his own zone with a good first pass and smooth skating. Surprisingly still without a goal of his own.
Forwards: More physical and balanced, but less flashy than in past years
Nolan Diem: One of the best fourth-liners in the league. Strong in the faceoff-circle, on the penalty-kill and in the defensive zone. Lacks offensive prowess, though.
Josh Holden: Still the leader of the pack with a consistent two-way play. The new captain plays with a lot of emotions as usual, but much more disciplined.
Jarkko Immonen: While he is still an important contributor with his defensive responsibility, experience and strong play in the faceoff-circle, he hasn’t scored a goal for more than two months and could find himself on the sidelines in the postseason.
Matti Järvinen: Cannot be seriously judged after two games. Could play himself into the starting line-up if he convinces in the last two games of the regular season.
Carl Klingberg: After a – production-wise – rough start to the season, he has started to score consistently. Brings other strengths such as speed, physicality and a strong net-front presence to the table, which complement the forward group nicely.
Dominic Lammer: Has improved his play without the puck and even gets some playing time on the PK, but his offensive production has cooled off considerably after a strong start.
Marc Marchon: The young center could not leave any lasting impressions in his twelve games with the first team. This is not too surprising given the fact that he played less than six minutes per game.
Lino Martschini: One of the league’s most spectacular players leads Zug’s players in most offensive statistics. Will be Zug’s offensive go-to-guy for many seasons to come.
David McIntyre: Arguably Zug’s most complete forward. Not as flashy as former import-players, but due to his consistency at least as important to the team’s success.
Emanuel Peter: Has played a solid second half after one and a half difficult seasons. Contributes his part in making the fourth line tough to play against.
Fabian Schnyder: The former captain is still a very important leader and player for the team with his versatility, speed and fighting spirit.
Sven Senteler: Brings a much-needed net-front presence and physicality to the team. Has established himself as a top-nine-forward and secured a place on the second PP-unit.
Reto Suri: Although his game is still as well-rounded as it has been during the last couple of seasons, his level of production has decreased this season to an alarmingly low level, especially when considered that he plays on a line with Martschini und Holden.
Sandro Zangger: Although he has recorded new personal offensive highs, there is the impression that he has not fulfilled his whole potential yet. Needs to be more consistent – both in-game and over the course of the season.
Coaching – will stability finally lead to playoff success?
In the third season of Harold Kreis’ tenure, Zug’s playing style more than ever bears the signature of the German-Canadian. The team plays a consistent, responsible and poised play in its own zone but lacks a bit of the spectacle of the Shedden-era. The offensive production has nonetheless been satisfying, inter alia due to the improved depth, and despite the inefficient power-play. Zug’s stability on the ice equates to Kreis’s conservative coaching style. Seldom has he tried to create a spark by changing the forward lines. So far, his trust in the players has paid off but the true test for him – and the team – has yet to come. Will he be able to lead his team out of its recent slump and break his playoff curse with EVZ (in his two years in Zug he has not won a single playoff-game on home ice and has now lost six postseason games in a row)?
