Prospect Pulse

Shying away from the beaten path a little, the Regina Pats have an Italian prospect in camp. Marco Insam, an 18 year old winger, came to Canada at age 15 to play for the Hounds of Notre Dame. The Regina Pats selected him in the second round of the CHL import draft after he posted decent numbers in Midget AAA.

The 6-2, 200 pound Insam decided to come to Canada and adopt a North American style of game in order to further his career. Though not a lock to even make the Pats’ roster, his story may help to send scouts into more untraditional hockey locales in search of talent. The young Italian notes that hockey is becoming more popular in Northern Italy, given its proximity to Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The recent success of Slovenian Anze Kopitar and the economic realities of the cap world should spur a new focus on untapped markets. This may help GM’s to “steal” quality players in the late rounds of the draft and provide their teams with much needed youth and depth.

News You Can Use in the Late Morning:

-Former Calgary Flame and Jeff Friesen in talks with Leksand of the Swedish Elite League. Maybe he can be the latest teammate of Ed Belfour to slip and fall and cut his head.

-Per TSN Broadband, Scott Niedermayer apparently will not attend Ducks’ training camp. Niedermayer is an all-world defenseman with nothing left to prove, but seriously, shit or get off the pot. Its September already.

-My Swedish is a little rusty, but I think Hayley Wickenheiser may have signed with IFK Arboga.

-The Blues have signed slick winger David Perron, currently stomping Commies with Team Canada. This is another feather in the cap for JD, who is assembling a talented, up and coming squad.

-A slideshow of the Penguins’ new uniforms (set to A-Team-esque music). Not that bad, I guess.

-Rangers prospect Carl Hagerlin, a high scoring Swede, opts for the University of Michigan over the CHL or Swedish Elite League.

-Interesting story on TSN Broadband this morning about Benjamin Rubin, an Orthodox Jew playing in the QMJHL.

-Team Canada Coach Sutter praises the trio of goaltenders for being the difference in the series. Is it so lopsided that Sutter has stopped watching? From what I have seen, the goalies aren’t getting that much work. Also note how Luke Schenn refers to the coach as “Mr. Sutter”.

-Former Fighting Sioux centre Brady Murray is back from Switzerland and is skating at Kings’ rookie camp. Note to Murray, my sister in law is single and lives in LA. Please date her before and actor gets her.

-Calgary’s GM not too pleased with his prospects heading overseas.

-Vets vie for the captaincy in Edmonton.

-Leafs prospect not the second coming of Borje Salming, but may compete for a roster spot. Great, get ready for wall to wall Anton Stralman coverage on TSN.

-A legal battle brews over the White Out. Like man, this belongs to Winnipeg. Perhaps friend of the blog Joshua Slayen could write a brief on this matter?

KK out.