Top Swiss player makes the transition to the QMJHL and that will be a good measuring stick of his all around skill and competitiveness. Supports the play on all three zones with a strong stick and crafty moves in the attack zone. Transitions out of his end come to him and he quickly gains entrance into the attack zone and is elusive enough to engage more than one defender as he darts in and out of small areas, allowing his teammates join the attack. After the success of Swiss centre Nico Hischier a high bar of expectation was set with Nussbaumer’s ensuing entrance into North American hockey and the Quebec Major junior league which seems a perfect fit for him, as he saw time in the top Swiss league last season and it seemed like his shiftiness, great instincts, a deft touch and vision would transfer effortless to the Q. But his 17 goal, 38 point year with Shawingan can only be described as a disappointment. I do think an NHL teams will invest in by the fourth round and wait for him to figure it out.
—Bill Placzek—
