-Dallas, Phoenix and others were interested, felt he had the best chance in Montreal
-The article notes that Montreal doesn't usually sign young players "out of the blue" so Berger says it's an encouraging sign they were interested in him
-Said he didn't get to see much of the city at the rookie camp, but the organization was very professional. Complimented the training facilities. Everyone was very accomodating.
-Had a good talk with Martin who seemed to know a bit about him.
-Said he's not putting pressure on himself and wants to take it slow, with his ultimate goal being the NHL. Says he'll be patient and wait for his chance by playing in the AHL but also knows what he's capable of. Says in North America you have to show lots of self-confidence and not be timid like some Europeans can be, because someone else could grab your spot.
-Said his foot injury (which might have contributed to him getting passed over in the draft) is in the past and he's almost happy to have not been drafted because he got to be a free agent.
-Says he thought for a long time about staying in Bern but wanted to make the NHL, not to mention being in Bern was hurting his development because he wasn't playing much. If he could have, he would have come over to NA sooner.
-Said his billet family was great and he quickly became a leader of the team (Oshawa), which helped his development. Calls himself a power forward who brings energy (the article compares his style to Peter Forsberg). Says his weakness is his skating and he knows he needs to get faster.
I saw this guy at the Rookie Camp and was REALLY suprised. He was seriously one of the best rookies there. Good Shot. Great Release. Big. Physical. Decent skating.
Too bad Benoit is gone (yea I know). He won't go "a L'harceleur... et Berrrgerrr le, il est un gros bonhomme. Ben, Pierre, les deux jeunes joueurs sont gros bonhommes... mais Gallagherrr le... pas un gros bonhomme.. son tir.. ROCKET! *stupid laugh*"
Ahem on topic, Berger has some good top 6-tweener potential. I hope the Randys help him with his skating.
Last edited by DekeLikeYouMeanIt: 07-19-2011 at 03:33 PM.
-Dallas, Phoenix and others were interested, felt he had the best chance in Montreal
-The article notes that Montreal doesn't usually sign young players "out of the blue" so Berger says it's an encouraging sign they were interested in him
-Said he didn't get to see much of the city at the rookie camp, but the organization was very professional. Complimented the training facilities. Everyone was very accomodating.
-Had a good talk with Martin who seemed to know a bit about him.
-Said he's not putting pressure on himself and wants to take it slow, with his ultimate goal being the NHL. Says he'll be patient and wait for his chance by playing in the AHL but also knows what he's capable of. Says in North America you have to show lots of self-confidence and not be timid like some Europeans can be, because someone else could grab your spot.
-Said his foot injury (which might have contributed to him getting passed over in the draft) is in the past and he's almost happy to have not been drafted because he got to be a free agent.
-Says he thought for a long time about staying in Bern but wanted to make the NHL, not to mention being in Bern was hurting his development because he wasn't playing much. If he could have, he would have come over to NA sooner.
-Said his billet family was great and he quickly became a leader of the team (Oshawa), which helped his development. Calls himself a power forward who brings energy (the article compares his style to Peter Forsberg). Says his weakness is his skating and he knows he needs to get faster.
wrong. The article states that he had Forsberg as role model growing up
Actually something he says that, in my view is very important and shows that he understands how hockey business works in Canada, is :
"In Canada you have to be confident in yourself and in your means. If you do no succeed, then your neighbor will succeed. You have to mark your presence and show that you are not a european like the others, else you will be burried in the dept of the organization".
In my view, since I follow him, he is among the most "North-American" Swiss players.
I think that his style will be more profitable in NA than in Switzerland. Not only physically but mentally. He fits into a star system. In Switzerland the principle is more a type of bee system ... .
Like I mentioned when doing a Player Spotlight on Berger, he seems to be the player the Habs thought and hoped they were getting when they traded for Ian Schultz. Power forward who drives the net and plays with jam. Let's hope that, unlike Schultz, his skating won't hold him back at the pro level.
Interesting read and I hope he pans out. As others have mentioned, his skating deficiencies can be overcome, especially if he is willing to place his big body in front of the net.
