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

[Willie Oree]

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.

Where are you getting your sources from? Its a 3rd round pick, our staff decided this is the guy for them at 68 what's the problem here? Did you see someone on the board you valued higher?

Trust the process you're not even an amateur

 

[shaner8989]

If he can put some weight on him OMG. Dynamic skill. Can not teach that.

 

[Highlander23]

A fan avourite, trust me. he is everything you want if you want a home run pick

 

[Svartsyn]

Where are you getting your sources from? Its a 3rd round pick, our staff decided this is the guy for them at 68 what's the problem here? Did you see someone on the board you valued higher?

Trust the process you're not even an amateur

I say i might be OK with it. Did you read that? No Im not an amateur but I can learn from history. You obviously cant.

 

[Svartsyn]

A fan avourite, trust me. he is everything you want if you want a home run pick

OK wtf lets go with this guy and pray...

 

[GX]

First interview with Dzierkals after the draft

'I have no words. I followed the draft online, and when I saw my name, my hands started shaking. Maple Leafs already have called me, and said that I will have to come to the new player development camp in a week or two.'

'I hoped that I would get picked, but I wasn't 100% certain. In total I talked to 7-8 teams, most seriously with Nashville and Toronto. I hoped that they would pick me, but didn't expect it would happen so soon.'

'Yes, they saw me at the U18 Worlds. Later on scouts of Maple Leafs also came to Latvia to speak to me.'

'Certain [CHL] teams have been interested in me, have talked to me and asked to play for them. Now I'll have to listen what Maple Leafs want me to do.'

http://sportacentrs.com/hokejs/nhl/27062015-dzierkals_runat_uz_latviju_bija_atbraukus

 

[SprDaVE]

First interview with Dzierkals after the draft

'I have no words. I followed the draft online, and when I saw my name, my hands started shaking. Maple Leafs already have called me, and said that I will have to come to the new player development camp in a week or two.'

'I hoped that I would get picked, but I wasn't 100% certain. In total I talked to 7-8 teams, most seriously with Nashville and Toronto. I hoped that they would pick me, but didn't expect it would happen so soon.'

'Yes, they saw me at the U18 Worlds. Later on scouts of Maple Leafs also came to Latvia to speak to me.'

'Certain [CHL] teams have been interested in me, have talked to me and asked to play for them. Now I'll have to listen what Maple Leafs want me to do.'

http://sportacentrs.com/hokejs/nhl/27062015-dzierkals_runat_uz_latviju_bija_atbraukus

Did he get drafted to the CHL yet or is he still up for the import draft?

Could be great to see him in the CHL.

 

[Rare Jewel]

First interview with Dzierkals after the draft

'I have no words. I followed the draft online, and when I saw my name, my hands started shaking. Maple Leafs already have called me, and said that I will have to come to the new player development camp in a week or two.'

'I hoped that I would get picked, but I wasn't 100% certain. In total I talked to 7-8 teams, most seriously with Nashville and Toronto. I hoped that they would pick me, but didn't expect it would happen so soon.'

'Yes, they saw me at the U18 Worlds. Later on scouts of Maple Leafs also came to Latvia to speak to me.'

'Certain [CHL] teams have been interested in me, have talked to me and asked to play for them. Now I'll have to listen what Maple Leafs want me to do.'

http://sportacentrs.com/hokejs/nhl/27062015-dzierkals_runat_uz_latviju_bija_atbraukus

Nice.

Now get drafted by London in the import draft, Then go play with Mitch.

 

[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.

This is what you initially said. So basically without knowing anything about the player or without having another player on the board you'd rather have, you've decided to make this statement.

I have no idea what role history plays....

 

[The Nic]

First interview with Dzierkals after the draft

'I have no words. I followed the draft online, and when I saw my name, my hands started shaking. Maple Leafs already have called me, and said that I will have to come to the new player development camp in a week or two.'

'I hoped that I would get picked, but I wasn't 100% certain. In total I talked to 7-8 teams, most seriously with Nashville and Toronto. I hoped that they would pick me, but didn't expect it would happen so soon.'

'Yes, they saw me at the U18 Worlds. Later on scouts of Maple Leafs also came to Latvia to speak to me.'

'Certain [CHL] teams have been interested in me, have talked to me and asked to play for them. Now I'll have to listen what Maple Leafs want me to do.'

http://sportacentrs.com/hokejs/nhl/27062015-dzierkals_runat_uz_latviju_bija_atbraukus

Sounds like this kid is more than willing to play in the CHL next year... London Knights?

 

[bigdirty]

Reading about him in hockeyprospect.com Black Book... I'll paraphrase a bit of what they said:

'Smaller player, but plays big and has no fear on the ice. Always goes into the corners and is very tough to play against because of his intensity.'


I like what I'm hearing about this kid. Maybe not top-6 potential, but who knows at this point.

 

[htpwn]

Fast Fact: Dzierkals is the first Latvian player to be drafted by the Leafs.

 

[LeafGrief]

Would be absolutely fantastic if he comes over in the CHL import draft. While it would be cool if he went to London, I think he probably wouldn't get enough opportunities and ice time on a STACKED Knights team. I'll gladly offer my Halifax Mooseheads as tribute

 

[The Nic]

This is what you initially said. So basically without knowing anything about the player or without having another player on the board you'd rather have, you've decided to make this statement.

I have no idea what role history plays....

It's just possible that Mark Hunter knows more about available junior age players around the world than the magazine you paid $5.99 for at the local newsstand. I find that the media "experts" have very little knowledge of European players... and especially eastern European players. It's telling that the kid says he's talked with Toronto on more than one occasion... sounds like we're out there doing what we're supposed to do. I guess that the days when our scouts were only allowed to go as far as Belleville are officially over.

 

[Pholus]

Did he get drafted to the CHL yet or is he still up for the import draft?

Could be great to see him in the CHL.

He wasn't drafting to the CHL last year, but is likely to be taken in 3 days.

Sounds like this kid is more than willing to play in the CHL next year... London Knights?

Personally, I would rather he not go to London. Since the recently signed Jones & Tkacuk, he probably wouldn't be getting top 6 minutes. I believe I have seen his name mentioned in connection to Peterborough though.

 

[DutchLeafsfan]

Wonder if we can get Latvians to vote him into the All-Star game a few years down the line

 

[Big Easy]

Why must Latvian names be so hard to pronounce.

 

[BalticWarrior]

It's just possible that Mark Hunter knows more about available junior age players around the world than the magazine you paid $5.99 for at the local newsstand. I find that the media "experts" have very little knowledge of European players... and especially eastern European players. It's telling that the kid says he's talked with Toronto on more than one occasion... sounds like we're out there doing what we're supposed to do. I guess that the days when our scouts were only allowed to go as far as Belleville are officially over.

Dzierkals isnt Eastern European tho,latvians are northern europeans.

 

[Side Stache]

Why must Latvian names be so hard to pronounce.

Yeah, this one is little tricky.

Fast Fact: Dzierkals is the first Latvian player to be drafted by the Leafs.

FF a little bit more - first Latvian from Maple Leafs voted in to ASG.

 

[Cor]

Yeah, have the Knights draft him and bring him over

 

[JMcLeaf]

James Mirtle ‏@mirtle 19s20 seconds ago
Leafs pick Martins Dzierkals (the Latvian) is expected to come over and play in the CHL. Probably for team of Toronto's choice.

 

[Cor]

lol he's Knights bound

 

[Highlander23]

Hope not, the knights are stacked. i want him to go to a team where is a go to guy, he can be a scoring leader, no need to pencile him as a 3rd liner !!

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Send Bracco and Dzierkel's to Kitchener!

Interesting pick. I know it's a stereotype kind of, but based on the Latvian teams on the international stage, they always seem to be some of the hardest working teams. Hopefully he has that work ethic.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I think it was a reach honestly. Same with Nielsen. They put a smudge on what would otherwise be a solid A-grade draft. Even in looking for high end skill, we did better in the later rounds than we did here. Much rather have one of those high end goalie prospects that dropped.