WHL Report: Important Imports

Several European imports eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft pepper the WHL's rookie scoring list. McKeen's correspondent Matt Bugg, has up-to-date reports on how players such as Portland's Sven Bartschi and Vancouver's David Musil are adapting to the league.

Sven Bartschi (2011), LW, Portland Winterhawks

Swiss native is a dynamic skater who is constantly moving his feet .. gracefully pulls into and out of starts and stops, and can reach top speed in a couple of steps .. despite his diminutive frame (5-10, 185), and the fact he is a European import in what is often regarded as the toughest of the CHL leagues, Bartschi has been successful thanks to his fearlessness to drive into traffic and his tremendous puck control in tight .. handles the puck effortlessly over a full 180 degree range, and can even make things happen with his stick behind him .. quick, accurate release is perfect for the pro game, and his timing is sublime in how he shoots just before or a defender's stick or body can get in his way .. passing game is also outstanding, as Bartschi owns excellent peripheral vision and will fool opponents into a shot before slipping a perfect pass laterally to a streaking teammate .. physically, he is a tough customer and will engage in both chirping and subtle hacks when he feels he is being disrespected .. selected seventh overall in the CHL Import Draft, Bartschi had three points in six games at the 2010 U18s for Switzerland.

David Musil (2011), D, Vancouver Giants

Although still a top-three defenseman for the Giants, Musil is no longer making an impact offensively as he did during the first month of the season .. while still a reliable defensive player who strives to keep the crease clear and forecheckers on their butts, the Czech import is being exposed more and more with every passing game .. he does not have the ability to head-man the puck up ice by himself, nor reliably get it on net when set up .. defenses have rapidly figured out that Musil lacks the top-end speed necessary to evade coverage, and he has issues both handling the puck while changing directions and making decisions while pressured as the lead puckcarrier .. although he owns a hard slapshot that requires little wind-up to gain maximum velocity, it has of late been wildly off-target .. teams have been quick to figure out that the Giants playbook on the powerplay consists of Musil feeding partner Neil Manning with cross-line passes, and opponents have begun to take away the pass .. Musil is still a first round favorite at this point, but his development into a two-way force has hit a wall.

Alexander Kuvaev (2011), RW, Lethbridge Hurricanes

At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Kuvaev has the raw frame and the tools to be an imposing power winger .. finishes his checks with impunity, and is at his best when he's fired up and getting under the skin of opponents with borderline contact just after the whistle .. one of two big wingers that sandwich diminutive pivot Michael Sofillas, Kuvaev understands his role as trailer and keeps his blade open for passes and rebounds .. has shown growing confidence in his cycling game, and as a result saw a rise in production .. with his long reach and good agility, he is able to deftly elude defenders while buying time for his linemates to set up in the zone .. Kuvaev's roughest area is in his skating .. although he moves his feet continually and gives full effort, his skating stance is too wide and his strides are too short, robbing him of both explosiveness and top-end speed .. with additional coaching and further leg strength this area will likely improve .. netted 18 points last season in the Russian junior league, and two in six games at the 2010 U17s.

Matej Stransky (2011), RW, Saskatoon Blades

Czech native has struggled to produce since starting the year off strong .. part of the problem is a commitment to the nasty side of the game .. during his initial hot streak, the 6-foot-2 winger recorded 14 PIM and was noticeably involved in extracurricular activity, but that has since died off .. a typical Stransky shift now sees him retrieve the puck along the wall only if an opposing player is a few feet away .. fancies himself as more of a get-in, get-out offensive player who excels at backing the defense off with his top-end speed and soft hands, creating room for a quick shot or pass .. however, to succeed in major junior - never mind in the NHL - Stransky must start to track down pucks and make defenders pay not only with his skill but also with his size .. skating-wise, he is a slippery player who possesses good agility and the ability to change direction on the fly .. lacks explosiveness out of the gate, another issue that he will need to improve should he wish to make his living pouncing on turnovers instead of banging bodies to create them .. has recorded eight points in 19 games to go along with 20 penalty minutes - a stark departure from his production last season with Vitkovice's U18 team, with which he had 49 points in 41 contests.

Patrik Parkkonen (2011), D, Medicine Hat

After being a non-factor during a difficult introduction to the WHL, Finnish import has slowly begun to find his niche in the North American game .. at his best when he is playing simple north/south hockey .. has the tools to effectively move the puck up ice consistently, and his improvement in decision-making speed has rapidly helped him become a contributor here as he was back home .. Parkkonen's increased patience has also resulted in him knowing better when to pick his spots when it comes to taking a shot or making a pass .. however, some things have remained the same .. the undersized defender's best gift is his ability to stop suddenly on zone entry and deliver a crisp pass to a streaking teammate, accurate even in the heaviest of traffic .. has become a better defensive player as well, seeing PK time in addition to powerplay duty thanks to his hockey sense .. is learning the tricks of the trade when it comes to getting to the puck from a bigger opponent.