Player Profile: Luca Sbisa
Monday, 06.18.2012 / 2:00 PM
/ News
Comment
Print
By Matt Vevoda
AnaheimDucks.com
Season Overview
Luca Sbisa skated in his fourth NHL season in 2011-12, his third with the Anaheim Ducks. It was a breakout season for the defenseman, who set new career highs in several categories. His five goals, 19 assists and 24 points all topped his previous bests for one single season and it more than doubled his career outputs in each category. More career marks were set in games played (80, missed two games in March with an upper body injury), shots (88) and average time on ice (17:55).
Luca Sbisa Video Highlights
While Sbisa is starting to put up numbers on the offensive end, he is even more refined back in the Anaheim's own end. A physical blueliner, the 6-2, 207-pound blueliner led the Ducks with 186 hits (also tied for 15th in the Western Conference) and ranked fourth on the club with 99 blocked shots. He also dropped the gloves on three occasions, giving him eight career fights in the NHL up to this point in his career.
Highlight
Helping Anaheim claim its fifth victory in six games over the rival Sharks, Sbisa was a force on the Honda Center ice on March 28. He dished out a season-high seven hits and tied his season-best with plus-two rating in 22:37 of ice time in the 3-1 win. The young defenseman also tallied an assist when his blasted one-timer was tipped in by Teemu Selanne for the game-winning goal in the third period.
By the Numbers
156, the number of games Sbisa has suited up with Anaheim since being acquired by the team in a draft day trade with the Flyers in 2009. He has totaled all seven of his career goals and 35 of his 42 career points in a Ducks sweater. Chris Pronger, who was the lone player sent to Philadelphia in that deal and recently battled concussion symptoms, has appeared in 145 contests since. Along with Sbisa, the Ducks also received first round picks in 2009 (Kyle Palmieri), 2010 (Emerson Etem) and Joffrey Lupul (later traded to Toronto in the Francois Beachemin trade) from the Flyers.
Looking Forward
Four seasons into his NHL career, Sbisa is already a veteran of the league at just 22 years old. Clearly, there is a lot of good hockey left for the defenseman and it will come in Anaheim at least for the forseeable future. He is one of just three players (along with Bobby Ryan and Francois Beauchemin) currently under contract with the Ducks through the 2014-15 season. Look for him to continue to build on his 2011-12 campaign and possibly see an uptick his average time on ice under head coach Bruce Boudreau.
Personal
Born in Ozieri, Italy, Sbisa and his family moved to the Zug region of Switzerland when he was a toddler. The first NHL jersey he owned was an Anaheim Ducks sweater, his favorite team. His favorite NHL player growing up was Mats Sundin. Enjoys playing golf and tennis during the offseason. Considers Roger Federer his favorite athlete outside of hockey. Cited his mom's homemade Schnitzel, potato salad and tiramisu as his favorite meal. His favorite TV show is "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Has represented Switzerland in several international competitions, including the Winter Olympics (2010), IIHF World Junior Championships (2008, 2010) and IIHF World Championships (2011, 2012).
He Said It
“I try to take care of defense first. The way I play, sometimes I rush the puck up or whatever. Those points are going to come. I’m just trying to play a decent all-around game. That’s my goal.” - Luca Sbisa
AnaheimDucks.com
 |
 CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS |
Luca Sbisa skated in his fourth NHL season in 2011-12, his third with the Anaheim Ducks. It was a breakout season for the defenseman, who set new career highs in several categories. His five goals, 19 assists and 24 points all topped his previous bests for one single season and it more than doubled his career outputs in each category. More career marks were set in games played (80, missed two games in March with an upper body injury), shots (88) and average time on ice (17:55).
Luca Sbisa Video Highlights While Sbisa is starting to put up numbers on the offensive end, he is even more refined back in the Anaheim's own end. A physical blueliner, the 6-2, 207-pound blueliner led the Ducks with 186 hits (also tied for 15th in the Western Conference) and ranked fourth on the club with 99 blocked shots. He also dropped the gloves on three occasions, giving him eight career fights in the NHL up to this point in his career.
Highlight
Helping Anaheim claim its fifth victory in six games over the rival Sharks, Sbisa was a force on the Honda Center ice on March 28. He dished out a season-high seven hits and tied his season-best with plus-two rating in 22:37 of ice time in the 3-1 win. The young defenseman also tallied an assist when his blasted one-timer was tipped in by Teemu Selanne for the game-winning goal in the third period.
By the Numbers
156, the number of games Sbisa has suited up with Anaheim since being acquired by the team in a draft day trade with the Flyers in 2009. He has totaled all seven of his career goals and 35 of his 42 career points in a Ducks sweater. Chris Pronger, who was the lone player sent to Philadelphia in that deal and recently battled concussion symptoms, has appeared in 145 contests since. Along with Sbisa, the Ducks also received first round picks in 2009 (Kyle Palmieri), 2010 (Emerson Etem) and Joffrey Lupul (later traded to Toronto in the Francois Beachemin trade) from the Flyers.
Looking Forward
Four seasons into his NHL career, Sbisa is already a veteran of the league at just 22 years old. Clearly, there is a lot of good hockey left for the defenseman and it will come in Anaheim at least for the forseeable future. He is one of just three players (along with Bobby Ryan and Francois Beauchemin) currently under contract with the Ducks through the 2014-15 season. Look for him to continue to build on his 2011-12 campaign and possibly see an uptick his average time on ice under head coach Bruce Boudreau.
Personal
Born in Ozieri, Italy, Sbisa and his family moved to the Zug region of Switzerland when he was a toddler. The first NHL jersey he owned was an Anaheim Ducks sweater, his favorite team. His favorite NHL player growing up was Mats Sundin. Enjoys playing golf and tennis during the offseason. Considers Roger Federer his favorite athlete outside of hockey. Cited his mom's homemade Schnitzel, potato salad and tiramisu as his favorite meal. His favorite TV show is "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Has represented Switzerland in several international competitions, including the Winter Olympics (2010), IIHF World Junior Championships (2008, 2010) and IIHF World Championships (2011, 2012).
He Said It
“I try to take care of defense first. The way I play, sometimes I rush the puck up or whatever. Those points are going to come. I’m just trying to play a decent all-around game. That’s my goal.” - Luca Sbisa
