ZURICH – A press release on October 24 started it all. It was an unofficial opening of the player hunting season in the Swiss National League A when HC Davos goalgetter Michel Riesen signed a four-year contract with the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, the last-ranked team in the standings, starting in 2009-2010.

It was only four weeks ago but since the Riesen signing, the Swiss bazaar has come to full swing. While players and clubs in other nations try to keep any activities secret, or where they’re even prohibited to behave like this, as in the NHL, transfer rumours keep Swiss hockey fans entertained.

Swiss are often considered early-planners who like safety and who tend to be well-organised. That seems to count be true in hockey as well. How can a Swiss player sleep without knowing which team he’ll play next autumn?

Another reason why the Swiss are world champion in early transfers might be that the market doesn’t offer too many top shots. Only four imports are allowed, some of the top players try their luck abroad despite valuable pay checks at home. More could follow as national team forwards Julien Sprunger and Roman Wick intend to try their luck in the NHL while ZSC Lions defenceman Severin Blindenbacher, according to persisting rumours, is highly attracted to Swedish top club Färjestad Karlstad. For comparison: Neighbour Germany allows 10 imports per team and game.

The early Swiss transfer frenzy is not completely without controversy. Playing with a team while knowing you have a contract with another next season might look shady. Last spring, the worst-case scenario occurred when Stefan Tschannen, a Basel player, had to face Biel, the club he had a contract for the following season, in the relegation series. The player was suspended by his old team after a game because of the conflict of interest.

“It’s allowed to sign players already and obviously the clubs don’t want to decide against that,” says the National League’s manager Denis Vaucher. “The feeling seems to be that the clubs don’t think it’s a good thing but that they can’t do anything against.”

Probably it’s no coincidence that Rapperswil-Jona announced the first big deal for this year’s hunting season. They had a horrible start with nine consecutive losses. After 23 games with only six wins, Swedish head coach Morgan Samuelsson was released on Monday. With so much bad publicity, it’s at least a ray of hope to have better expectations for next season. First come, first serve, is the motto. An eventually-promoted team has to do with crumbs.

Also other clubs with limited playoff chances are active on the market, though not so successful.

The SCL Tigers Langnau are in seventh position and could make the playoffs for the first time after missing them the last ten years. They also developed defenceman Martin Stettler and forward Mathias Joggi, who debuted in the national team recently. However, they can only enjoy them until April. Stettler will join SC Bern next season, Joggi will go to Davos.

Also EV Zug and HC Ambrì-Piotta, who both have new coaches with Doug Shedden and John Harrington respectively, are suffering. Some players aren’t happy and intend to leave their clubs. Some already did. Ambrì’s Corsin Camichel joined his brother Duri in Zug. Thomas Walser left Zug for Kloten in a trade with Damien Brunner. Other players announced their interest to leave Zug next season. Dominic Meier already did. He will join giant SC Bern next season. In Ambrì, the problem is even bigger as not only some players plan to leave but the whole board announced their resignation during the season.

Top teams have the better positions on the merry-go-round. Bern can take its time to add to their team. With the two new defensemen and after re-signing Canadian Travis Roche, some of the most important steps are already complete.

ZSC Lions Zurich don’t need to worry too much. They signed national team forward Patrik Bärtschi from SC Bern to a multi-year contract and are looking for selective additions. The biggest question mark is the goalie position. Will they keep going with Ari Sulander, who’s turning 40 in January, or will they start with two Swiss netminders? Lukas Flüeler re-signed recently and there are rumours that the Lions have interest in Swiss goalies like Reto Berra (Davos) and Daniel Manzato, who’s with Carolina’s AHL farm team Albany River Rats.

There are not many options left in the scare market of Swiss top shots. Many big fish in the tiny Swiss pond already have long-term contracts or they just extended like Servette Geneva’s giant Goran Bezina or Zug’s Olympic hero Paul Di Pietro. It’s also believed that HC Davos might announce contract extensions with their brothers Jan and Reto von Arx, which is traditionally done around the Spengler Cup tournament at the end of December. And the Kloten Flyers recently announced new contracts with head coach Anders Eldebrink and five players.

It seems that the carrousel could slow down soon before the player bazaar opens in other countries.

MARTIN MERK