What comes to mind when you hear the word “Switzerland”? Banks, chalets, ski slopes, fine timepieces? Or maybe those guys from the Ricola commercials playing those long horns somewhere in the Alps?
Well, it may be time to add “impactful NHL players” to that list of things hailing from Die Schweiz. Among the 11 current NHL players from Switzerland are stars like Nashville’s Roman Josi (2020 Norris Trophy winner), LA’s Kevin Fiala, and the talented duo of Timo Meier and Nico Hischier (1st overall pick 2017) in New Jersey.
In his three years in Los Angeles, Fiala has scored 78 goals and racked up 114 assists. In 2024-25, the flashy left-winger is projected to score 31 goals, which would be his second time reaching the 30-goal plateau. Any potential playoff success in LA hinges upon the production that the St. Gallen native will bring to the table.
Surprisingly enough, Kevin Fiala is not the first Swiss-trained player to play for the Los Angeles Kings. That distinction belongs to goaltender Pauli Jaks. The 108th pick in the 5th round of the 1991 entry draft made history on January 29th, 1995, at the Great Western Forum as the first Swiss-born player to appear in an NHL game.
Happy birthday to former @LAKings goaltender Pauli Jaks, who was born on January 25, 1972.#LAKings#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/YHBpJUvQ1X
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) January 25, 2021
Jaks would relieve starter Robb Stauber after the LA netminder gave up four goals on 17 shots against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks after 20 minutes of play. This Chicago team would end up scoring 22 goals in their four regular season meetings against the Kings, so all the blame can’t be placed on Stauber. Even The Great One was -3 on the night and Marty McSorley didn’t even have any penalty minutes, if you can believe that. Moreover, Chicago boasted a talented roster with names like Tony Amonte, Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios, and Gary Suter, which makes Jaks' relief appearance really quite impressive.
In 40 minutes of TOI, Jaks made 23 saves on 25 shots, for a .925 SV%, allowing the Kings a chance to get back into the game. They would eventually lose 6-3 but Pauli Jaks made history and cracked open the door for future generations of Swiss players. Just six years after Jaks’ historic first and only NHL game, David Aebischer would become the first Swiss player to win the Stanley Cup with the 2001 Colorado Avalanche.
LA Kings’ fans are surely hoping that Kevin Fiala can join Aebischer by becoming the second Swiss player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.