How many Europeans on starting roster 06-07?

I'm beginning to wonder... with Lou+Conte's predisposition towards drafting NCAA (or NCAA-headed) players, and the ongoing tendency to keep the defense primarily-North-American... and now, headed into a summer where much of the team's European forward corps stands to walk... I begin to wonder if we'll be seeing as close to a European-free team as we've seen... on any NHL team in the past decade. And if this is a trend that will continue for this franchise.

Brylin's still under contract, I understand. But Elias, Kozlov, and Albelin are UFAs. Bergfors, Pihlman, Pikkarainen, and Vrana may not quite be ready for full-time NHL jobs yet. And Malakhov and Mogilny aren't about to be invited back.

After the Malakhov and Mogilny disasters (and some past disappointments, like Zyuzin) - do you think Lou's apt to shy away from European-trained players on the UFA market?

After the Malakhov and Mogilny disasters (and some past disappointments, like Zyuzin) - do you think Lou's apt to shy away from European-trained players on the UFA market?No. Mogilny and Malakhov aren't going to prevent Lou Lamoriello from adding quality European players. Those guys are more "older" players than they are "European" players.

I don't think Lou will shy away from signing European players - wasn't he one of the first to bring over Russian players?

Next year I think Brylin will be back, Kozlov will be gone, and Albelin probably retired (but you never know). I hope Elias will be back, I think Bergfors has a good chance to make the team, and we could see some other prospects come up and see some playing time (Pihlman, etc.). So I think we'll have around the same number of European players as last year.