what percentage of nhl players are european

Many of the European players responsible for the competitive nature of the WHA made the leap to the NHL – with limited to success – but it continued to turn the league’s attention on the talent available overseas.NHL opportunities began to arise for Europeans with the start of the 1980s, with the focus continuing to come mainly from Scandinavian countries. Kurri was a great example of that combination. But most European players weren’t nearly as successful in building a NHL career and instead turned to the World Hockey Association (WHA).Founded in 1972, it was poised to be an alternative league much like the American Basketball Association was to the NBA – in fact, the WHA was founded by the same people that created the ABA.

As the Cold War went on, it was difficult for a predominately American audience to embrace players from the Soviet Union or the surrounding nations, though a select few players were so good, they left Americans pining to see them perform on hockey’s biggest stage – case in point, Soviet goaltender-extraordinaire Vladislav Tretiak.While certain players weren’t allowed to make the transition, others flourished and helped create a small eastern boom of European NHL players. Winnipeg loaded up on Scandinavian players like As the league mucked on, it was clear that a dismantling was in the WHA’s future. The draft marked the first time a European player was selected first overall, as the Quebec Nordiques selected But 1989 was more important for Europeans politically, as that’s when talks began for the reunification of East and West Germany. Let’s not forget about that awesome mullet he was rocking.Lidstrom was made to be a leader. The players that come out of the country are almost always of the same mold – they don’t typically play physical but instead will beat teams with their strong skating ability and their uncanny wrist shot.

While nearly half the NHL’s players still hail from Canada, the past couple of decades have seen an influx of players from Europe, with almost 15% of the league’s 878 players now … Though it wasn’t fully completed until 1991 with the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germany was once again untied into once country. Percentage of NHL Players by Nationality ‑ 2017‑2018 Stats. Join over 18 000 Subscribers of our free bi-weekly Newsletter. Rk Nationality …

The right winger was an all-around player that could beat you with his shot, or his passing.

When the league began, it lured in 67 NHL players but it quickly suffered from a depletion of talent. Related Questions What is the percentage of NHL hockey players born in Canada.

During the same year, Germany’s neighbors to the east – the Soviet Union – declared independence and shortly after changed its name to Russia. But these two broke the mold as they both can throw their weight around.Countries like Switzerland and Germany even have representatives these days.European NHL players continue to prove their dominance in the NHL but many are beginning to turn away from the league they once longed to be a part of. Many countries throughout the region followed suit and it led to another NHL boom, this time from the eastern countries.It was also at the beginning of that decade that Czech goaltender Dominik Hasek joined the Chicago Blackhawks and began a career that made him perhaps the second best goaltender in NHL history – The 1990s was a decade dominated by the Finnish, the Czechs and the Swedes.

Mix in plenty of endurance and the vision to see the entire ice and it made for a potent combination.

They were each important – in their own way – for paving the way for other NHL talents. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

It hasn’t always been easy but there’s no doubt the hard work has paid off, since the league is compiled of nearly a quarter of players born on the continent. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide.

And it was proven just five years later – on draft day.The year was 1989, and while the decade was in the rearview mirror, there was no better way to end it from a European standpoint than with the events that took place at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

According to the Quanthockey, there are 303 European participants in the NHL out of 970 total players – nearly 27.7 percent. In almost 50 years, European NHL players have come a long way in the league. And let’s not forget about Russia, as there were a number of stellar Russians – such as Pavel Bure – but it wasn’t until the new millennium that Russia dominated the sport.Russia has been producing ample NHL talent for almost two decades.

He was a hybrid defenseman that could score but who could also backcheck as good as any defenseman in the league. Selanne once again put the Jets back in the spotlight, just as Hedberg and Nilsson had done almost 20 years earlier.Jagr brought size and speed to the game – a lethal combination.

All rights reserved. Edmonton Oilers star Pittsburgh Penguins right winger Phil Kessel, who was born in Madison, Wisconsin, led the 228 NHL players born in the United States with 92 points.