Three players to watch on Team Switzerland at the WJC
Tobias Geisser
A 6-foot-4, 201-pound defenceman, the interesting thing about Geisser is that he only recently converted from a forward to a defenceman. A fourth-round pick of the Washington Capitals, he has that diamond-in-the-rough potential and brings good foot speed and a strong transition game. This season, he has four points in 24 games for Zug in Switzerland’s top league.
Philipp Kurashev
A 2018 draft-eligible player who could slide into the back end of the first round, Kurashev was the fifth-highest rookie scorer in the QMJHL last season and is 28th overall this season with 31 points in 33 games. The Swiss will need to get offence from anywhere they can, which is why Kurashev will be such an important player for them.
Nando Eggenberger
Another draft-eligible player, Eggenberger is currently ranked in the 45th overall range. Eggenberger has four points in 25 games for Davos in Switzerland’s NLA and is returning for his second go at the WJC. Last year, he scored just one goal in five games and could do a lot for his draft stock with a big follow-up this time.