Nassen reports to Tigers

By Ryan McCracken on September 21, 2017.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

Just as it seemed Latvian blueliner Kristians Rubins and German centre Mick Kohler were set to be this year’s import players with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Linus Nassen touched down in Canada.

The Tigers selected the Swedish defenceman with the 119th overall pick in this summer’s CHL import draft knowing he did not report to the Brandon Wheat Kings after being drafted the year prior. While it seemed as though Nassen would remain in Sweden for another year after he did not report for training camp or pre-season, the third-round Florida Panthers draft pick finally arrived in the Gas City on Wednesday ready to battle for a spot on the team.

“It feels really good to be here, finally,” said Nassen, adding he and the Panthers decided it was time for him to start playing on North American ice. “I made a good decision with Florida. I was drafted by them last summer and they wanted me to play over here in the right time zone where they can watch me. It’s a good league. It’s a small rink if you compare it to the rink in Sweden, so I’m really excited.”

While the Tigers are only allowed to keep two import players for the duration of the regular season, Rubins is currently on the injured reserve recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. Medicine Hat will have seven days following his return to release either Nassen, Rubins or German centre Mick Kohler, which allows Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston some time to weigh his options.

“Rubins is a little ways away from being ready to go so that gives us a little bit of time to evaluate everything,” said Clouston. “There’s more to it right now, but really that’s the process all year. It’s a constant evaluation and things can always change. As things progress and happen throughout the season you re-assess and re-evaluate. Some years you’re adding guys and some years you’re standing pat. Right now, especially this early on, it’s an evaluation throughout the whole lineup.”

Rubins would fill two slots as an overage player and an import, but provides the Tigers with some important leadership on the blue line along with a 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame and a consistently reliable presence in the defensive zone. Clouston added Rubins wasted no time making himself a permanent fixture on Medicine Hat’s roster after joining the team last season, and they’re excited to have him back as an option.

“It’s interesting. Last year he comes in as an import and we don’t even look at him like that anymore,” said Clouston. “He’s a Tiger, he’s a leader, he’s a big strong man, he’s a presence, he’s a fearless competitor and such a great example for the young guys here right now.”

Up front, Kohler offers the Tigers some playmaking ability following the off-season losses of forwards Chad Butcher, Steven Owre, John Dahlstrom and Matt Bradley. Standing 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, Kohler is one of the larger frames on Medicine Hat’s active roster entering the season, but the 53rd overall import draft pick will have to prove himself if he wants to stick around after Rubins is ready to return.

“He’s engaged, he’s working hard and I think he’s excited about being here,” said Clouston. “There are some differences in the game from Europe to here. There aren’t very many small ice surfaces like ours, we play an up-tempo style of game and the centremen are a big part of that style. He’s doing great.”

While Kohler was the higher pick at this year’s import draft, Nassen is certainly the most highly-touted. The 6-foot, 179-pound defenceman made the jump from Junior SuperElit to the Swedish Hockey League — Sweden’s highest level of professional hockey — last season, where he logged a goal and an assist in 21 games with Lulea.

“To play in the SHL is a big challenge. Coming from juniors in Sweden, it’s not as good as over here, so going from juniors to SHL in Sweden is a big step and you have to be ready if you’re going to take that step. I think I played pretty well. I played up until 22 or 23 minutes maximum.,” said Nassen, adding he and the Panthers felt it was a better decision to stay in Sweden and take that step last year. “We felt I wasn’t ready yet to come over here. I had a good season in Lulea that year so I had to give it one more chance there.”

While he admits he’s not very familiar with the smaller North American ice surface, Nassen says he doesn’t think he will have to deviate from his game in order to find success at the WHL level.

“I’ve just played a few games (on North American ice) but it will get better and better,” he said. “I’m just going to focus on playing my game exactly as I did in Sweden. I think that’s going to be good in the small rink too.”

Nassen will make his WHL debut when the Tigers open their season Friday in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. The Tigers and Hurricanes make the trip to the Canalta Centre Saturday for Medicine Hat’s home opener at 7:30 p.m.

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