ANAHEIM, Calif. - Goaltenders David Aebischer of Colorado and Martin Gerber of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are the only Swiss players in the NHL.

Aebischer was the trailblazer, shocking his countrymen with his audacity when he signed with the Avalanche in 1997 and came to North America to try minor-league hockey. It worked out, though. Aebischer not only spent the past three seasons as Patrick Roy's backup, the Avs now at least have publicly anointed the 25-year-old as Roy's successor for the No. 1 job.

Gerber noticed Aebischer's bold move, wondering if his fellow Swiss' progression through the ranks would affect his future, whether that meant providing inspiration or convincing NHL organizations that Switzerland should be taken more seriously as part of the European talent pool.

"When David went over, I had just gotten to the top Swiss league," Gerber said Sunday, after the Mighty Ducks' practice on the eve of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the New Jersey Devils. "I knew I would have to make my point over there. At that time, it was surprising for everybody that someone was leaving the country to try it over here. Nobody had done that before.

"So it was kind of, 'Let's see how he does."'

Aebischer was in the Stanley Cup Finals two years ago, and got his name on the trophy. This time, Gerber, the 28-year-old rookie backup to Jean-Sebastien Giguere, is the Swiss watching a renowned (in this case, a suddenly renowned) French-Canadian goalie working. As Aebischer was two years ago, Gerber is one collision from being called on.

But even that is a big deal in Switzerland, especially when packaged with Aebischer's promotion in the wake of Roy's retirement.

"It's an amazing opportunity for David, and I think he earned it," Gerber said. "I think it's ... a chance to prove he's ready for it. I think he is, too. He's so skilled and technically really good.

"He's going to need some good fortune, too. There will be pressure on his shoulders, but if he can handle that, he's going to be fine."

In 2002, when Gerber was playing professionally in Europe for Farjestads of the Swedish Elite League, he and Aebischer were teammates on the Swiss Olympic team in Salt Lake City. Aebischer played the first game, a 3-3 tie with France, less than 24 hours after posting a shutout against the Minnesota Wild for the Avalanche, and he was noticeably shaky. He started against Ukraine in the next game, but was yanked and Gerber took his place; Gerber got the other two starts in the tournament.

That could have created tension between the two, but apparently it didn't.

"We're not calling each other every day," Gerber said with a smile. "But we are around one another. Last summer when I knew I was coming over, we practiced together twice a week back home, and that helped me. It was good to talk with someone who had been over here, to get those ideas and points of view."

Gerber was drafted by Anaheim in 2001, a couple of weeks after Aebischer's name was engraved on the Stanley Cup. As a rookie, he had an impressive goals-against average of 1.95 and a saves percentage of .929, both better than Giguere's figures (2.30, .920). But his record, 6-11-3, was unimpressive.

But now he's in the Finals. Most likely, all he will do is watch, but this series - like the Avalanche's 2001 matchup with the Devils - is being noticed in Switzerland.

"It's really big because the last few years, the Swiss have realized what the NHL is, and what it means to come here," Gerber said. "They're pretty excited, and now even with David taking the first job in Denver, that's going to lead to even more of a push over there, and that's good for hockey in our country."