Kay Schweri’s first instinct is always to pass the puck. So when the Sherbrooke Phoenix right winger is awarded a penalty shot in the first period of a game in early February, he’s on unfamiliar ice. He can’t hang out in his favourite spot—behind the net—or set up an open teammate. Instead, here he is, one-on-one with the goalie. Schweri skates down the middle, moving the puck side to side, but narrowly misses the net as he fires it wide. The small Swiss player is second in rookie scoring in the QMJHL, averaging more than an assist per game, but faces an uphill battle in his NHL draft year.
The Phoenix selected Schweri in the first round of the 2014 European import draft, 35th overall. After an average training camp in the summer, he made an immediate impact on the ice in the regular season, with four assists in Sherbrooke’s opener against the Québec Remparts, which the Phoenix won 6–1. In the next game, Schweri scored his first goal and added two helpers. By the end of September, he had a goal and 13 assists in just six games.
Schweri’s playmaking skills are much appreciated by his teammates. Fellow countryman Tim Wieser, whom he met while playing for the Kloten Flyers under-15 team in Switzerland, was especially happy to see Schweri join the Phoenix.”He knows exactly where I’m skating. I’ve scored so many goals on an empty net because of his passes,” says Wieser, who made his rookie debut last season, scoring 15 goals. This year he has more than doubled that total with 33.
The entire Phoenix team has risen out of the ashes of the Q, sitting in sixth place after being the league’s worst team a year ago. The team’s led up front by Montreal Canadiens fifth-rounder (147th overall in 2014) Daniel Audette, Schweri and Weiser. On defence, they’re anchored by Jérémy Roy, a potential first-rounder in the upcoming NHL draft. Between the pipes, the fourth overall pick of the QMJHL draft last year, Evan Fitzpatrick, became the team’s starter in the new year and was named the CHL’s goaltender of the week on Feb. 3.
Schweri chose to cross the Atlantic because he wanted to play in the CHL. He was happy to land in Sherbrooke and have a player like Wieser help him adjust.
“I was really bad with English. There was nobody to talk to in the beginning, just Tim. He helped me a lot,” says Schweri. The two Phoenix players were named to the Swiss world junior team, where Schweri picked up an assist in six games. Switzerland didn’t make it out of the preliminary round, but beat Germany 5–2 twice in a best-of-three series to avoid relegation.
“[Hockey] is not that big in Switzerland. It’s more about soccer and other sports. But it’s getting bigger with more Swiss NHL players,” says Schweri. “It shows you’re going to get a chance if you’re good enough and work hard.”
Schweri looks up to Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund and Pittsburgh Penguins all-star Evgeni Malkin, and tries to emulate their playmaking skills. Maybe that’s what has helped make him an assist machine, as he’s picked up 50 helpers through 47 games with Sherbrooke. But the team doesn’t want him to be a one-dimensional player. “For us, it’s really important he understands that if you have a chance to shoot the puck, you can score a goal,” says head coach, Judes Vallée.
Schweri responded to the challenge, scoring a hat trick against Blainville-Boisbriand on Jan. 25. The next night, he potted another goal against Drummondville and has brought his goal total to 12.
Despite being second in rookie scoring and averaging more than a point-per-game, Schweri was not included in the NHL Central Scoutings’ mid-term rankings in late January. Earlier in the season, Central Scouting projected him as a fourth to seventh-round pick. His size—he’s only five-foot-ten and 175 lb.—and defensive skills are his biggest obstacles.
“He’s small and he doesn’t play physically. In the NHL it’s really important to be able to play both sides. He needs to improve his defensive game. He’s not a big guy, he’s not really fast, but he’s really intelligent and has good hands,” says Vallée.
Schweri understands he’ll need to get stronger to have a crack at his dream. “I try to make a lot of moves. If they’re just going to hit me, I need to get stronger on the boards,” he says.
If Schweri goes untouched in the NHL draft, he’ll have a chance to return to Sherbrooke next season and continue to adjust his game to handle the rigours of the pro game. He can look at the example of fellow Swiss player Sven Andrighetto. After a 74-point rookie season in 2011–12, the winger for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies went undrafted in his first year of eligibility. The next season he improved his totals and was drafted in the third round by the Montreal Canadiens, 86th overall. This season, Andrighetto was called up to the NHL. Schweri may not be ready for the NHL draft yet, but don’t rule him out yet.