Luca Sbisa
Luca Sbisa was drafted 19th overall in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Originally from Ozieri, Italy (but grew up in Oberageri, Switzerland), he spent the entire 2007-08 season in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, along with all 19 of their playoff games before losing in the WHL Championship finals to the Spokane Chiefs. Also that season, he was chosen to play in the 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game and won the Carl Trentini Memorial Award as the Hurricanes’ Rookie of the Year. He then signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in October 2008. He made his NHL debut in the October 11, 2008 season-opener against the New York Rangers and recorded his first career point with an assist on October 22nd against the San Jose Sharks. In February 2009, he joined the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL for 18 regular season games, along with 11 playoff games. He then joined the Philadelphia Phantoms in the AHL for two games before making his first and only NHL post-season appearance with the Flyers on April 17th in game two of the Eastern Conference quarter-finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He finished his NHL rookie season with 7 points (all assists) and 36 penalty minutes (first among team rookies) in 39 games. He was then traded in June 2009, along with Joffrey Lupul, two first round draft picks and a conditional draft pick, to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle. In international hockey, he represented Switzerland at the 2008 and 2010 (team captain) World Junior Championships. He has also been named as part of Switzerland’s 2010 Olympic roster. At 6’2 and around 205 pounds, Sbisa is an all-around defenseman who owns good puck-moving and skating ability.
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