Friday, 12. July 2024 | EHC Red Bull München: The NHL experienced players at the Red Bulls
The NHL factor: plenty of experience for the SAP GardenPart 4 of our crunchtime player series: The NHL stars // NEWSThe best ice hockey players in the world compete in the NHL. 3 professionals from EHC Red Bull München were part of the spectacle - including Jonathon Blum: "This league is unrivaled in every aspect." Nevertheless, he never regretted the move to Munich.Blum is a stroke of luck for the Red Bulls. The American has been playing for our club since 2021 - and since then he has been one of the most dominant defensive specialists in the DEL. His build-up play and ability to get teammates into finishing positions are top class. In each of his three DEL years, Blum has been one of the league's best defensemen in terms of points. Last season, he even topped the Red Bulls' internal scoring list.
Blum: "Everything on a different level"
"I've always had a good overview," says the 35-year-old from sunny California about his greatest quality. After eye-catching performances as a junior, the Nashville Predators drafted him in the first round of the 2007 NHL draft. He played 122 games in the best league in the world for the Tennessee franchise and later the Minnesota Wild.
"Everything is on a different level in the NHL. Heavy guys play there, but they skate fast. I've never experienced such a high physical level in any other league," reports Blum. And he continues: "I gained hugely important experience there."
Leading player Smith
Ben Smith's name is even engraved on what is probably the most coveted trophy in ice hockey. In 2013, the US American won the giant trophy with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Smith (264 NHL games) is an outstanding skater with great vision and quality on the boards. The 36-year-old has another skill that is hard to learn: He is a born leader. This package makes the 2015 World Championship bronze medallist hugely important for our team. Smith - like Blum - proved this when the Red Bulls won the title in 2023.
DEL premiere for Rieder
New signing Tobias Rieder also has leadership potential. The Landshut native has already shown this in his seven seasons in the NHL. Rieder has been on the ice 492 times in the best league in the world - only seven German outfield players have made more appearances. Our new No. 8 spent the past three years in Sweden with the Växjö Lakers, with whom he became champion in 2023.
Take part in "Fans recruit fans"
Hard to believe: The 31-year-old has not played a single DEL game in his career. Rieder moved directly from the Landshut junior team to the Canadian junior league OHL in 2010 and has played abroad ever since. But he has never given up his Bavarian dialect.
SAP Garden is "absolute NHL material"
Blum is still a long way from speaking good Bavarian. However, the US-American has made a small step forward in recent weeks. The Blums spent the summer break in Munich - which is rather unusual for contingent players. "Our son goes to school and we had to stay there. Apart from a few days in California, we were here the whole time," says Blum. He continued: "It was nice, even if the weather was very changeable."
The defensive playmaker is now looking forward to getting started again soon. Firstly, because he likes the ice hockey in Germany: "They play offensively here. Unlike in Sweden, for example, where I also played. It was rather boring there." Another reason is the Red Bulls' new arena: "The SAP Garden is absolute NHL material. It couldn't be better. We want to be successful there." Blum, Smith and Rieder - a trio that can contribute a lot with NHL experience.
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Brockmann and Pätzold complete the Red Bulls' junior coaching team// YOUTH
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