Prospect Info: Leafs pick #68 - Martins Dzierkals (F) HK Riga MHL 5'11" 169lbs

[ULF_55]

People want high risk and high reward, this is it. Plenty of skill in this kid from the sound of things.

But of course, people will cry about size and because they don't know him.

He's bigger than Marner!

The new smurfs?

 

[AddMan3001]

Sounds intriguing, but can't believe we couldn't have gotten him in later rounds.

Reminds of the Jamie Devane pick... someone nobody heard of taken high in the 3rd.

At least with Dz it's about skill, not about size. I don't so much mind the gamble when it looks like there's at least a chance (however small) that it pays off.

 

[GX]

Is he Russian or Latvian?

He's Latvian. Started the season in the local league, but was soon picked up by Dinamo Riga, played for HK Riga in the MHL. With 9 points he was the top scorer on Team Latvia at the U18 WC.

 

[dballislife2]

dont know nothing about him but the leafs drafted him so he has a chance to be special...am i doing this right?

 

[Brewsky]

At least the Leafs will have a great contingent at the World Juniors

Bracco in the US
Marner, Dermott in Canada possibly
Dzierkals in Latvia

 

[snizzbone*]

Sounds intriguing, but can't believe we couldn't have gotten him in later rounds.

Reminds of the Jamie Devane pick... someone nobody heard of taken high in the 3rd.

Devane is a goon. This guy is a skilled player. Big difference.

 

[91Stammer*]

So we take projected 7th rounder in 3rd. Hmmm that's some scouting talent now! If this guy makes it it's great, if not we didnt have 3 3rds anyway. Lol

 

[htpwn]

High-Risk/High-Reward.

I'd bring him over ASAP. Better to have him develop in the system than in the MHL.

 

[FlareKnight]

At least we have a good pattern going here .

Skilled and fast. You have to think with enough of those guys you'll have a team full of skill down the road.

 

[ULF_55]

You know 5'11", isn't like 5'9", Tyler Johnson.

 

[GX]

At least the Leafs will have a great contingent at the World Juniors

Bracco in the US
Marner, Dermott in Canada possibly
Dzierkals in Latvia

Well, Latvia failed to get back to elite WJC this year.. Perhaps 2017.

 

[91Stammer*]

High-Risk/High-Reward.

I'd bring him over ASAP. Better to have him develop in the system than in the MHL.

We have to check whether he has any contracts with KHL or not because people tend to go the KHL route after MHL.

 

[Calacatz]

This pick also let's us know our scouts are not just domesticated and are in tune world wide assessing talent.. Some have suggested Hunter is narrow minded with the CHL..

 

[Cor]

He's #10. Skip to 56 seconds. Scores two very nice goals.

 

[GX]

High-Risk/High-Reward.

I'd bring him over ASAP. Better to have him develop in the system than in the MHL.

There's no way he's staying in the MHL. It was recently announced that Russians have figured to have no foreign teams in the MHL next season. So HK Riga would play in MHL B, which is a place where only some fringe U18 guys could develop. If it was up to me, I'd pull the team out and let them play in Latvian league instead.

 

[PJJ]

kinda like Kucherov?

How do you pronounce his name? Jer-kals?

 

[Svartsyn]

What on earth....not rated here nor there and we use a 3rd on him. Somebody in the organisation better be really sure of what they're doing and that this guy is a big diamond in the rough.

If not: Horrendous pick. Just awful.

 

[Willie Oree]

Decent hands....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrudhlzzdIo

 

[Willie Oree]

What on earth....not rated here nor there and we use a 3rd on him. Somebody in the organisation better be really sure of what they're doing and that this guy is a big diamond in the rough.

If not: Horrendous pick. Just awful.

Lol... Who did you have on your board in the 3rd round?

 

[mikebel111*]

What on earth....not rated here nor there and we use a 3rd on him. Somebody in the organisation better be really sure of what they're doing and that this guy is a big diamond in the rough.

If not: Horrendous pick. Just awful.

I agree draft is a disaster if it doesn't work out. am I right?

seriously look at his scouting report. amazing skill and has some size to build on. swing for the fences pick

 

[7even]

Nice! Hunter doing some deep sea fishing!

 

[Svartsyn]

We could have had him in a later round most certainly. Get it?

And like I said, OK if they have taken a reaalllyyyy good look at him and think somebody else would have takeb him in the next round. Then Im fine with it. If not, Im not fine.

 

[RobertR]

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=103583115&postcount=9

 

[GX]

Dzierkals told Latvian media the teams most interested in him were Nashville and Toronto. Representatives of Toronto came to Latvia as well.

 

[Nithoniniel]

We could have had him in a later round most certainly. Get it?

And like I said, OK if they have taken a reaalllyyyy good look at him and think somebody else would have takeb him in the next round. Then Im fine with it. If not, Im not fine.

Perhaps. Or another team really likes him as well and picks him soon after.

You can't trust that players end up where consensus lists place them. You need to trust your own.