AHL: European Moose Lodge

Thanks to the help of overseas players such as Daniel Rahimi, Jannik Hansen and Michael Grabner, the Manitoba Moose have locked up a spot in the postseason and currently hold down second place in the North Division. McKeen's correspondent Kevin Hopson provides notes on all three players.

Jannik Hansen (Van), LW, Manitoba Moose

Just called up to the Vancouver Canucks, Hansen is third on the team in points-per-game (minimum of 10 games played) and is one of the league leaders with a plus-19 rating .. an agile and speedy winger who is skillful with the puck and can hit the opponent's blueline with ease .. owns an active stick, which allows him to work effectively along the half wall and in the corners, where he can come out of traffic with the puck and drive to the net .. possesses solid vision and is resourceful at distributing the puck .. however, his passing game can be sloppy at times .. enjoys a quick release and an accurate wristshot .. works the man advantage and is aggressive on the forecheck, as he can pin opponents in their own end and disrupt the transition game.

Michael Grabner (Van), RW, Manitoba Moose

Third on the team in points (43), Grabner is a strong and mobile skater with a solid two-way game .. capable of leading the rush, while his supple hands allow him to outmaneuver opponents in 1-on-1 situations .. however, his flexibility with the puck is most evident in his distribution skills, as he can make a quality delivery in transition and possesses creativity in his short passing game .. puts himself in opportunistic positions by being active in the slot and driving to the net on a consistent basis .. also responsible in his own end and will pressure on the backcheck.

Daniel Rahimi (Van), D, Manitoba Moose

Rahimi is an "in-your-face" defenseman who likes to take the initiative, as opposed to backing off from his opponent .. maintains tight gaps and pressures the puckhandler regularly, giving him little time and space to work with .. effectively separates opponents from the puck, by either standing them up at the blueline or rubbing them out along the boards .. also plays a physical game away from the puck, as he will defend the crease and clear space in front of the net .. makes intelligent and precise passes in his own end and is capable of skating the puck out of the zone when necessary .. however, he is an average skater who lacks quality puck-control skills .. as a result, his offensive abilities are limited and he is susceptible to being beat in 1-on-1 situations .. however, Rahimi does own a heavy and accurate slapshot, which gives him some purpose in the attacking zone.