2014 Prospects

Baltisberger, Phil – LD – GC Kusnacht Lions (NLB) – 6’0” 210

Phil has moved up the development ranks of ZSC Lions from U15 all the way up to playing in a few playoff games for the men’s top league team over the past two years. He moves the puck up ice very effectively. He doesn’t show a lot of flash offensively, but he gets the job done with intelligence and poise reading plays well in the offensive zone. He also possesses a cannon of a shot from the point which is very dangerous when he gets it on goal. Phil is at his best when working along the boards. He’s got great size and strength and wins a lot of battles in the corners and along the walls. He battles hard and uses his size very intelligently in the defensive zone. He’s usually strong in one on one situations but can get burned on his pivot at times. Phil projects to be the top prospect coming out of Switzerland next season. He already has two World Junior Championships under his belt, and could represent Switzerland four times at the WJC by the time he reaches the age of 20. He already possesses good size and strength, although we’d like to see him improve his skating a little.

Quotable: “Liked him in Sochi this year, he was much bigger than when I saw him previously. He played smart hockey. Feet were a little sluggish, perhaps due to the weight gain. He competes hard and wins battles.” – Mark Edwards