Ryan Ellis (4) during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Vancouver Canucks signed Russian D-man Nikita Tryamkin and Swedish forward Anton Rodin. How about some more European power?

After profiling 11 NCAA prospects the Vancouver Canucks could target this summer, we took a look at European options as well. The problem here: while there are several high-profile NCAA free agents available every year, Europeans coming to the NHL are much harder to predict, and we usually have to wait for rumours to emerge from reliable sources.

Still, the European leagues are full of young talent as well, and it would be silly not to take a look at who could be approached by NHL teams sooner or later.

The Vancouver Canucks are captained by Swedes Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Alexander Edler. The first line is completed by Dane Jannik Hansen, Swede Jacob Markstrom is in net, Swiss forward Sven Baertschi is relied on for scoring goals, and the club just signed Russian defenceman Nikita Tryamkin and Swedish forward Anton Rodin. It is rather obvious that Vancouver is not opposed to signing players out of Europe.

It is tough to predict whether European players will make it in the National Hockey League, but here are seven who definitely seem to have the tools.