Lucas Thaler took a big step forward in his development last season. The 22-year-old talent from Villach set a new personal best with a total of 29 scoring points (14 goals, 15 assists). Thaler combines his innate scoring instinct with an unstoppable, hard-to-read shot and has also greatly improved his physical play in the past season, making him much more physically present on the ice. The forward, who is entering his fourth professional season with the Red Bulls, also wants to play a bigger role in the Austrian national team and is hoping for a place in the red-white-red team at the upcoming World Championship.