Toronto Maple Leafs pre-season prospect rankings: 11-15
15. Martins Dzierkals
It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that Martins Dzierkals decided to sign in the KHL this season, because of the opportunity to get premium ice time and return home to Latvia, with Dinamo Riga.
The 2015 third round (68th overall) pick played last season in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears, scoring 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points. He also played four games in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, but got stuck behind the logjam of wingers in the Leafs system.
There has always been upside to the Latvians’ game with his skating ability, play-making and willingness to be physical. However, he isn’t a standout with his production, which is why he falls lower on the prospect list.
It also doesn’t help that his future with the Leafs is in doubt after a recent interview, where he didn’t seem committal with the team at this moment.
"“During the negotiations for my next contract, there weren’t any guarantees that the same thing wouldn’t happen to me again,” Dzierkals explained to Sportsnet. “The team front office said the same — that I would play in the AHL. I spent some time there but they sent me down. I wasn’t happy with their rules. Eventually, I got tired of waiting, I texted [Kyle Dubas] myself so I could figure things out. “I don’t know if I can tell you this, but I had made a trade request because I wasn’t happy with my contract. They had told me that they liked me and that they don’t want to move me.”"
With the depth the Leafs have on the wing it would benefit a winger like Dzierkals to get some experience against top competition in the KHL, since he didn’t have a realistic chance to play every day with the Marlies.