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DAMIEN BRUNNER
Damien Brunner
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Vitals: 5’11” / 187 lbs.
Birthdate: March 9, 1986
Hometown: Oberlunkhofen, Switzerland
Acquired: Signed as free agent by Detroit on July 1, 2012
CSS Ranking: Not Ranked
Contract: 2013
RWC Says: Scoring Winger

STORIES
None Listed

AWARDS
  • 2011-12 Swiss National League A All-Star
  • 2011-12 Swiss National League A Top Forward
  • 2011-12 Swiss National League A Scoring Champion
  • 2011-12 IIHF world championship (Switzerland top-three player selection)

HISTORY
2011-12
  • Returned to Zug for sixth full season in Switzerland’s National League A.
  • Led team and league in scoring (45-24-36-60, plus-17).
  • Equally impressive in post-season, leading league in scoring again (9-3-11-14, plus-2).
  • Averaged point per game at IIHF world championship (7-3-4-7).

SCOUT COMMENTS
“He’s high, high paced, he scored, looks like he has tons of skill. Can he adjust and play the North American game? We’re going to give him every opportunity. He’ll be a top-six forward to start with us and see where he goes with us.” — Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock (June 2012, MLive.com).

STRENGTHS
Flashy offensive player … Tremendous skater who can handle the puck in full flight … Loves to shoot the puck and has a tremendous shot and a great release … Natural scoring touch … Big-time point producer in Switzerland’s top pro league, averaging more than a point per game from 2009 to 2012, 164 points in 132 games … Good work ethic … Solid strength for his size.

WEAKNESSES
Has shown flashes of grit, but it’s not clear how he’ll handle the heavier traffic and tighter checking of the NHL … Sometimes tries to do too much offensively and go for the highlight-reel move rather than the more effective move … Needs to improve his defensive game.

PROJECTION
Head coach Mike Babcock scouted Brunner closely at the IIHF world championship and told MLive.com in June he has the skilled winger pencilled in on the Red Wings’ top two lines to start the season. Highly sought as a free agent after a breakthrough season in Switzerland — courted by a number of teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins — the Red Wings hope they’ve found a key cog in their lineup who will make an offensive impact for years to come.

Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2002-2003 Kloten U20 Elite Jr. A 6 1 0 1 0 |          
 2003-2004 Kloten U20 Elite Jr. A 21 9 5 14 8 |          
 2005-2006 Winterthur Switzerland3 17 18 11 29 28 |          
 2006-2007 Kloten NLA 42 9 9 18 22 | Playoffs 11 1 0 1
 2007-2008 Kloten NLA 50 5 2 7 6 | Playoffs 5 0 0 0
 2008-2009 Kloten NLA 12 0 0 0 2 |          
  Thurgau NLB 3 1 3 4 4 |          
  Zug NLA 35 12 14 26 16 | Playoffs 10 3 2 5
 2009-2010 Zug NLA 47 23 35 58 22 | Playoffs 13 5 5 10
  Switzerland WC 7 1 4 5 2 |          
  Switzerland (all) International 13 3 8 11 8 |          
 2010-2011 Zug NLA 40 19 27 46 34 | Playoffs 8 4 4 8
  Switzerland (all) International 5 4 1 5 0 |          
 2011-2012 Zug NLA 45 24 36 60 48 | Playoffs 9 3 11 14
  Switzerland WC 7 3 4 7 6 |          
  Switzerland (all) International 20 11 6 17 14 |          
 2012-2013 Zug NLA 33 25 32 57 49 |          
  Zug ET 1 1 2 3 2 |          
  Davos Spengler Cup 3 0 0 0 6 |          
  Detroit Red Wings NHL 44 12 14 26 12 | Playoffs 9 4 3 7
  Switzerland (all) International 2 1 0 1 0 |          

Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com



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