When Darryl Sutter took over the Sharks coaching reigns five seasons ago, he would have been more than slightly surprised if you told him that five years from then, one of his top forwards, and three of his top prospects, would be Germans. After all, barely a handful of Germans are in the entire NHL even today.

However, San Jose's Director of Amateur Scouting Tim Burke saw something in 2001 when he and Sharks General Manager Dean Lombardi selected Germans Marcel Goc (1st round, 20th overall), Christian Ehrhoff (4th round, 106th overall) and Dimitri Patzold (4th round, 107th overall) in the same draft. Patzold is a native of Kazakhstan, but holds a German passport. Now that he has seen the group first hand, Sharks Head Coach Darryl Sutter also likes what he sees.

Although Patzold has now returned to Germany for the season, Goc and Ehrhoff will remain with San Jose through the weekend and likely play in all three upcoming contests. Then they will join Patzold for the German Elite League.

"They will probably play all three games," said Sutter of the upcoming weekend. "Most of us haven't seen them play in North America. It's good for them if it's their aspiration to come over."

"I am pretty excited about tomorrow," said Ehrhoff. "I have really wanted to play in a game here."

Goc, a center, is obviously the higher profiled player, having been the first round selection, but Ehrhoff, a defenseman, is showing the Sharks staff what he can do.

"Both are good kids with a great work ethic," said Sutter. "Their skill level is at the top end here and the attitude they have reminds me so much of Marco. They are mature beyond their years."

The two will have to take the knowledge gained over the weekend and apply it to potentially playing next year in North America. The duo has the added benefit of playing in a German league that allows 14 imported players on every team. That introduces a very North American style of play in Germany, despite the larger rink.

"My plan is to spend one more year in Germany and then come over here," said Ehrhoff. "Some of the things I want to work on before then is adding some weight and improving defensively. It has helped me a lot over the years to play with experienced defensemen. They have helped prepare me for coming over here."

No matter how prepared a European player is for North America and visa versa, the rink still takes an adjustment.

"It is a little tougher on a smaller rink just because when you go into the corners, the forwards are immediately on you," said Ehrhoff. "But if you move the puck quickly you should be fine."

Despite being half a world away, Ehrhoff is able to keep up with the club he hopes to someday play for thanks to the electronic age.

"I try to keep up on the Sharks and the NHL when I am back home," said Ehrhoff. "I watch NHL Power Week, every week and use the Sharks site. They are usually on TV live once or twice a month, but the games are on so late that I usually tape them."

It will be at least another season before Marco Sturm has the ability to talk German in the Sharks lockerroom, but if Goc, Ehrhoff and Patzold stay on their current track of progression, Sturm could have German teammates sooner than anticipated.

MISCHLER SENT HOME
On Wednesday, the Sharks sent center Graig Mischler home to heal from a fractured orbital bone suffered earlier in Rookie Camp. Mischler will allow the injury to heal before assigned to the Cleveland Barons for the 2002-03 season.