• Print

THN.com Top 10: Ex-NHLers shining overseas

Zigmund Palffy skates on the ice during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Zoom Image

Zigmund Palffy skates on the ice during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Brian Costello

Brian Costello
2008-07-23 15:32:56

Old NHLers don’t necessarily retire. Some of them travel across the Atlantic to continue their pro careers in the elite European leagues.

And some of them have tremendous seasons away from the NHL spotlight. Here are a handful:

10. Tommi Santala - Had a supernatural season finishing sixth in Finnish Elite League scoring with 58 points in 56 games with Jokerit.

9. Oleg Saprykin - Speedy ex-Flame was third in Russian Super League goal-scoring with 29 in 57 games for CSKA Moscow.

8. Pavel Brendl - Multi-time NHL bust was third in Swedish Elite League scoring after a 30-goal season in Brynas.

7. Jamie Storr - Seventh overall pick in 1994 finished third in GAA in German Elite League with Dusseldorf.

6. Nils Ekman - Two-time 55-point man for San Jose is now a top scorer in Russia with Khimik.

5. Mariusz Czerkawski - The Polish Prince is still producing more than a point per game in Switzerland with Rapperswil.

4. Alexei Morozov - Was again one of the best players outside the NHL after finishing second in Russian League scoring with Kazan.

3. Roman Turek - Led the Czech League in goals-against average at 2.14 with Ceske Budejovice.

2. Dave McLlwain - The only hockey player ever with five consecutive consonants in his last name averaged a point per game with Cologne in Germany.

1. Ziggy Palffy - Runaway winner in Slovakia League scoring with 75 points in 46 games with Skalica.

The THN.com Top 10 appears Wednesdays only on thehockeyenews.com.

If you enjoy this feature, subscribe to The Hockey News magazine for the exclusive countdown, Starting From 10, and other great features from the world of hockey.

COMMENTS (28)

Sort: Oldest | Newest    Filter: All | Videos


Graham Lauzon Posted
(2009-04-30 06:55:08)



McLlwain is 41 now.. yeah I thought he was at least at pension age too... Palffy is bloody amazing but you know how most of those Europeans work... I too was hoping Morozov to return, he had a bright future still.
    0



Patrick Posted
(2009-04-30 06:40:58)



Damn, sorry! A lot of clerical mistakes in my comment below.
    0



Patrick Posted
(2009-04-30 06:40:33)



I saw Czerkawski on this list, but his not even a top 10 player in our league (so it was a sort of ignoring). My message should have been like this: "We would have some better ex-NHLs in Switzerland."
    0



ben the leaf fan Posted
(2009-04-30 06:39:50)



r they old timer leagues or just oldies trying to make money that shows u how easy it is to make big money in those leagues
    0



Flake Posted
(2009-04-30 06:39:50)



Ahhhh....Ziggy Palffy playing for the Kings on a line with Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh, the good ol days. I wish he was still in the NHL, definitely a skilled and entertaining player...
    0



T.Roy Posted
(2009-04-30 06:39:47)



I believe they are all happy playing closer to hometowns and making enough money to get buy. I really don't blame them. They made the NHL money, then just plane got sick of all of Gary's garbage and living the high life now, no matter how old they are. More power to them.
    0



hannu jarvenpaa Posted
(2009-04-30 06:39:43)



McLlwain? Didn't he play for the Jets in the '80s? He's gotta be 50!
    0



Flyerfan52 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:39:37)



So what's the average age of these guys? 45? Maybe they can put together an All-Star (?) Team and play the NHL Old-timers. The Old-timers could even dress and play Hull (or Howe, if he wanted to).
    0



saintFG Posted
(2009-04-30 06:39:36)



Palffy want be near to her daughter. She is very young. After her birth, she was longtime ill. Pálffy completed his NHL career with 329 goals and 384 assists for 713 points in 684 games.
    0



Maxime Posted
(2009-04-30 06:39:33)



Noah must be a Leafs fan...I can feel the green hue surrounding the post...Perezhogin isn't a Habs prospect anymore doofus...but you were right about something...he wasn't really that good. Thus why he wasn't offered something to stay, and why we gladly showed him the door when he tried to bully the club for more money.
    0



1 2 3

ADD YOUR COMMENT

Register or Login to submit a comment
Player/Injury News - Up to the Minute NHL Updates This Week - Subscribe Now

THN Puck Poll

View all

Who should start in goal for Russia at the Olympics?





THN Newsletter - Sign Up Now

SAY WHAT?!?

View all

“I was coming in to take the boards away and had some good jump. He bobbled the puck at the last second and I don’t think he saw me coming at all. It was a shoulder right in his chest. He’s eight feet tall, so it’s not like you could hit him in the head.”

- Ottawa's Chris Neil about a hit he threw on Tampa's Victor Hedman Thursday night, causing Hedman to leave the game.

Our Partners