Martins Dzierkals

January 2024 – While still considered NHL property of the Golden Knights, don’t hold your breath for Dzierkals’ return to North America. Since being acquired in the same three team deal which brought Robin Lehner to Vegas back in 2020, Dzierkals is yet to cross the pond or sign a deal with the team. He currently sits at one goal scored through 23 games with Skellefteå of the SHL this season. Taylor Davis

November 2021 – The 24-year-old Dzierkals has had a relatively impressive scoring season thus far for HC Plzeň of the Czech Extraliga, totaling seven goals and 12 assists in 21 contests. The nearly point-per-game pace far exceeds that of his previous play in the KHL and Liiga (21 goals and 30 assists in 133 games), after his lone North American campaign with the ECHL and AHL in 2017-18. While Vegas holds his draft rights, it seems less-than-likely that the Latvian-born Dzierkals will return soon despite his newly-found points production. Kevin Wickersham  

February 2020 – Dzierkals’ rights were involved in a three-way trade the sent Robin Lehner from Chicago to Las Vegas, with first going through Toronto who shipped Dzierkals to Vegas as well. Dzierkals requested a trade out of Toronto years ago (according to @A_Kalnins) and now finally gets his wish. Pat Quinn

June 2019 – After managing just 36 points in 56 ECHL games in 2017-18, rookie pro Dzierkals took his talents overseas in pursuit of a better chance to succeed. He hasn’t burst back onto our radars but he didn’t fall off a cliff either; his 13 points in the KHL wasn’t bad and he performed well in a short playoff stint. It’s easy to forget the former 3rd-round-pick is only 22-years-old, and while he certainly shouldn’t be owned in even the deepest dynasty leagues, he worth keeping tabs on. Hayden Soboleski

Feb 2018 – Dzierkals struggled to start his professional debut with the Marlies after four scoreless games he was sent off to the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL. He has found his game with the Solar Bears with nine goals and ten assists in 24 games this year. Marlies forward depth is such that it is hard to crack but the way Dziekals is playing with Orlando he could be called up any time soon. Brian Harling

October 2017 – The exciting winger’s career is currently in limbo as he is officially playing, nowhere. The Leafs declined to sign him to a contract but still retain his rights for another year as he maintains junior eligibility, he actually signed an AHL contract for the Toronto Marlies but is not included on their official roster nor has he been assigned to the ECHL. When we find him, we will let you know. He had a pretty good prospect camp, but he did get thrown around too while working cycles or when defense got in tight. He showed speed, very high-quality stick skills (picking off/receiving poor passes and dangling defenders) and exciting elusiveness outside the slot. After a pair of years compiling 116 points in 106 games, there is little more junior can offer him. He is ready to play against men and move forward, where ever he ends up. He did play amongst higher quality talent last year in an Olympic qualifying, Dzierkals managed a single goal in a trio of games in Latvia’s failed attempt but one game was against a German team that featured several quality players. The upside remains, but not winning a job anywhere that will take credit for him is an odd scenario to be played out. Jason Banks

February 2016 – Dzierkals is another undersized, tantalizingly skilled, winger that the Leafs have laid a claim to in the third round of last year’s draft. He has been flying high in his rookie season in the QMJHL for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies with 57 points in 49 games. He currently leads the team with 11 power play goals, but his role has been reduced with the acquisition of Timo Meier. He has just pulled off a pair of games in which he has hit the score sheet a trio of times sandwiching a single point effort. Back in October he was on the score sheet for every game he played on a 14 game point street that seen him compile 24 points. He will have another year to serve in the ‘Q’ before turning pro, but like many smaller forwards he will need to add muscle to his core. He plays the game with a large hockey IQ, extremely shifty at full speed, not afraid to drive into dangerous areas and has a quick release. His bread and butter is high profile one-timer that seems rather precise on top of the velocity it carries. Dzierkals seems like a forward that fits in with the possession game in which the Leafs are trying to emulate. Should he secure a NHL job, he should become the best and most productive player to come from Latvia. Jason Banks