The Leafs’ third round pick in the 2015 Entry Draft, Latvian winger Martins Dzierkals, has been drafted by Rouyn-Noranda of the QMJHL 22nd overall in the first round of the CHL Import Draft.
According to Mark Edwards, he is expected to report to Rouyn-Noranda.
Noranda confident that Dzierkais will report to them. #CHLImportDraft
— Mark Edwards (@MarkEdwardsHP) June 30, 2015
Dzierkals may be the biggest mystery box the Leafs drafted in 2015 — only ISS had him ranked (91st) among the major media scouting services, and he only just now got a hockeydb profile after the Leafs picked him. He’s been described as an undersized but competitive kid with intriguing skills and upside.
“High compete, good skills. Needs, of course, to get stronger. We hope he can be one of those sleepers in the draft that we believe people have not seen as much. We believe there’s some real good upside with this young man.”
– Mark Hunter
Dzierkals played last season in the top Russian junior league, the MHL, where he posted 28 points in 32 games. He put up nine points in six games for Team Latvia at the WJC U18s.
If he officially comes overseas, going from the top Russian junior league to the best junior hockey organization (CHL) in the world should be a good test for Dzierkals.
While the thinking was the Leafs would want him in the OHL for obvious reasons, the ability to monitor him, his training and his game closely — and establish lines of communication with the coach and GM at Rouyn-Noranda — will still be a plus for the Leafs.
William Nylander’s brother, Alex, was selected 12th in the draft by the Mississauga Steelheads.
