Futile greetings to Homer Simpson

Ironically, Vincent Praplan. It was from a Swiss perspective, the most unexpected news in the context of the transfer circuit, the penultimate Monday in the NHL.

Kevin Fiala from Nashville to Minnesota, and Nino Niederreiter of Minnesota would be dealt to Carolina, had a kitchen made in the Rumors earlier rounds. But Praplans exchange of the San Jose Sharks to the Florida Panthers hockey fans caught in the Switzerland on the wrong foot as the player himself.

must be specified: The former Klotener, the striker moved between the AHL farm team of the San Jose Barracuda to the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Vincent Praplan now wears the colors of the Springfield Thunderbirds. (Image: China Wong)

Behind the official, often three lines long transfer messages, too little adventure for the players involved rarely stuck. Praplan experienced the full force of the experience "Unexpected Transfer" with all sorts of troublesome circumstances, the 24-year-old Valais in retrospect, but also smile.

Here is the whole process from Praplans optics in time-lapse:

It begins in Des Moines

It is 21. February, Praplan and the San Jose Barracuda are on a Road Trip in the 3000 kilometres away in Des Moines, on the evening of the Iowa Wild, the farm team in Minnesota. Praplan is looking to the warm-up at noon on the lineup printed in the wardrobe, but finds his name.

The Coach calls the Swiss, and tells that he is not allowed to use it: a command from the Management! Praplan: "I asked him if I have any built in crap ... He said no, he knew the reason." Praplan shrugs, returns to the Hotel, in the evening, viewers.

The day after that. As is in the AHL at geographically widely spaced opponents, the two Teams again one another. For Praplan, a Déja-vu: warm-up – wardrobe – set – up- the missing Name of the Coach who is waving. This time, there's the justification: "He said I had been traded to Florida, thanked for my use, we gave us the Hand, the Whole thing lasted not a Minute."

Praplan adopted by the Team, the phone rings, there will be two short talks: the assistant General Manager of the Florida Panthers follow (looking forward), with the Secretary (of The flight to Detroit with a connection to Springfield is in 3 hours).

Praplan goes to the Hotel, packs his stuff, a lot of it is: a suit, a pair of pants, two T-Shirts, a sweater, three pairs of pants. Praplan: "I had Packed only for four days ..." In San Jose Praplan with Sharks striker Timo Meier lives on the phone he tells him the Trade and the end of the joint WG. Meier promises to pack Praplans rest of the clothes in two suitcases, and to send this by Post to Springfield.

Vincent Praplan and Timo Meier together in San Jose lived: A visit in October 2018. (Video: Kristian Kapp)

Only problem is that the Sharks are currently on a Road Trip to the East coast, Meier will only be four days later, back in California. As Praplan arrives, finally, in 2000 the region of Des Moines, away, Springfield, it's after midnight, the team leader of the Thunderbirds is driving him to the Hotel.

It is cold – especially in this Outfit

The next Morning, Praplan looks on the phone, first greetings from friends: "You're in Springfield? Tell Homer Simpson, Hello!" Praplan runs to the nearby ice rink, the Warm-up, stands in front of his first game with Springfield in the evening. It is Minus 10 degrees, the icy East coast Winds is of no help. Praplan is wearing Jeans and a sweater – the winter jacket is still in San Jose, he receives from the Team a new one.

After the Training, it is time for a first walk, a lunch, Praplan, a nearby Restaurant, the waiter more warns him of the drug scene a Block. Later, two messages, the first from the Team: A Gunman had been spotted in the vicinity of the ice rink, for the time being, better stay away. The second is from Denis Malgin, the Swiss striker with the Florida Panthers, also with Springfield experience: welcome greetings and the tip, in the night, not alone to walk around.

no, Homer Simpson doesn't live here

What is experienced players in North America is no secret, it should now dawn Praplan: He landed from hockey heaven in another world. San Jose in Sunny California is considered to be perhaps the best place, – Springfield has the opposite reputation.

Homer Simpson is not encounter Praplan here also. There are over a dozen Springfields in the USA, in the Comic series, it was for many years a Running Gag, not to betray the state until six years ago made public, Bart, Marge, Maggie, Lisa and Homer in Springfield, Oregon – the Thunderbirds, however, are in Springfield, Massachusetts. The place is immersed for years in a little glory on the rich tables of the United States: number of crimes per capita.

you don't live in Springfield, Oregon, Massachusetts: Homer Simpson (2. from right) and family. (Image: AP Photo/Fox Broacasting co.)

It

p is still up > But what's the point? Praplan is to play hockey here. After nearly two weeks, the move from the Hotel, last Monday in a small player-WG, where he lives in the guest room, and after four games with the Thunderbirds, he has to report only that which is Good. In San Jose he also came because of two multi-week Injury break and never in journey, the required in the case of the Barracuda "Dump-and-chase"Hockey caused him problems.

the beginning of The journey: Vincent Praplan in a test game with the San Jose Sharks against the Anaheim Ducks on December 18. September 2018 – soon after, he was sent to the AHL farm team in the same place. (Image: Matt Cohen/)

In Springfield, now he could be with the Puck more creative, says Praplan, "the last three games were perhaps my best ever in North America. I have created a lot of Plays, chances prepared." The Thunderbirds are on paper a weaker Team, Praplan gets more ice time, may in the first two lines and in key situations ran.

"Only one thing in mind"

And so he hopes, after a turbulent first year in North American professional hockey, but still a Happy End: "It is now up to me to for an extension of the contract to impose." It is called in Switzerland, he says, for next season, SC Bern, he does not want to comment.

Successful debut with Springfield: Vincent Praplan (#10) celebrates with Cliff Pu (left) and Goalie Chris Driedger to a victory against the Providence Bruins. (Image: China Wong)

"I only enforce one thing in mind: me, in North America," said Praplan. "A year is short. For me, this is a new world. I can't improve in the mental area, I was yet on the Level where I want to be."

The first case out of San Jose has arrived in the meantime, by the way. It is Packed in the Meier eight Pairs of shoes Praplans. On the other, with the rest of the clothes, is he still ... (daily Gazette.ch/Newsnet)

Created: 08.03.2019, 19:33 PM