Trade?

[Puro_man]

Does any one know anything about Richards Berzins? I have tried but cant really find anything. Thanks

[hllywd99]

delete

[CHL Watcher]

Just a side note.....

Moncton has a headache they probably would like to move....
Kirill Kabanov 1992 birth 3rd rnd Islanders 2010
http://www.moncton-wildcats.com/en-ca/t ... YER_ID=352

This guy walked twice and sat out the big games and it seems mainly because teammates and fans didn't like his selfish attitude (ironically, that caused him to walk).

I expect someone to take a chance on the kid just because of his talent level and age...and pair him up with another Russian with a more level head. Moncton also has a former connection (coach) to the OHL.

Just thought you may like to know it's out there. Moncton claims some reconciliation, but me thinks Mr. Irving and company know enough not to talk down about their own product.

Looking at what Moncton went into the Memorial Cup dealing with makes me wonder about how they would have done if not for the fact of missing top end players.

As for this deal....
It's great if they have an import in mind that will be there at #58 and also good if they don't have any import in mind that would have come or that they could afford. Otherwise it's still not too bad.

This whole team has to take their defense more seriously.


More on a team not bothering....
http://www.dailytownsman.com/article/20 ... port-draft


Now that I've seen who they have actually drafted I really like this deal. Richards Berzins 19/12/1992 Riga Dynamo Latvia Defenceman 6.04 205 2011

I wasn't "watching" the draft at all.

[CHL Watcher]

Listed at 6'1" 160 and 6'2" 161 on the two European sites I've checked out.

Gangly and growing, apparently....and a far cry from 6'4" 205

A pair of defensemen suits me fine.

Otherwise, I agree with Digger....there's no evidence the coach can mold a team out of it or do much of anything that can help.

Ownership's complacency and comfort level remains far too high for good business.

[CHL Watcher]

Here you go...
http://balticsportsagency.com/en/hockey/men_u20/122/

[PL8R G8R]

Thanks Watcher for finding out who he was.

[hllywd99]

For me the import draft is nothing to get excited about. All the information you can find is the kids weight and how tall he is and nobody has seen him play and what kind of league he played in. Ruzicka(sp) and Sekera were great finds by Futa and how many were exited when you saw the #'s on Dozcy? The jury is still out on the Birdman after an auspicious start to last year. I am however pleased that we now have a savvy veteran to mentor the still young defense.

[PensFan101]

Solid deal for the Attack. DeGrey needed a replacement for McGurk and he found one in Stanisz. Berzins looks pretty solid, and is in the kind of situation where he could come over to the OHL easily (it's higher than any level he'll play at unless he jumps straight to the KHL). Looks like a good project and doesn't even need to come over next season, could be the year after. Hope to see him at camp this fall.

Adding one stud blue liner and adding another potential defenseman makes it a good day for the Attack. Progress for progress' sake.

[CHL Watcher]

Yep

The attention was on the defense and with one pick they've netted a proven stay-at-home defenseman for a year, a 4th round Priority pick, and a Latvian defensive prospect eligible for next year's NHL draft.

Latvians you remember....

Juris Stals
GP G A. Pts PIM Seasons Yrs. Pos. Birthdate Birthplace
25 8 15 23 14 2002-2003 1 R 1982-04-08 Riga, Latvia

Agris Saviels
GP G A. Pts PIM Seasons Yrs. Pos. Birthdate Birthplace
128 19 64 83 83 2000-2002 2 D 1982-01-15 Riga, Latvia

Anyway...
Pretty solid move.

[hllywd99]

The Attack's three probable overagers include wingers Jason Wilson, Bobby Mignardi and Stanisz.

"If I get all three of them, there will not be too many teams in this league with better overages than us," said DeGray.

Berzins fell into DeGray's lap Tuesday at the draft. His agent thought a deal had been made to have another CHL team -- DeGray would not say who it was -- draft his client.

But another import was available who interested the unnamed team more, which left Berzins' agent scrambling to find the defenceman a home.

"At the point that he called me, I now had three different players that I would have taken at that pick and two were there (at 58th)," said DeGray, who chose Berzins over a forward.
"With his size and his being a defenceman, (Attack coach) Mark Reeds and I talked and we couldn't pass on that. If there's anything we could have more depth at, it would be on defence."

The addition of Stanisz and Berzins means DeGray is done acquiring defencemen -- for now.

"I'll certainly look at the options when they come available," said DeGray.

"I'm not going to actively look right now but in August I know of some kids who might come available and quite possibly we'll look at them. Right now my goal is to make us a better team than we were last year so we can compete with a very tough (conference) going into this year."

I hope that he chases down another 19 yr old!

[highstickside]

Here's what Brock Otten has to say about the Attack's pick in the import draft:

58. Owen Sound Attack - Ricards Berzins - Defenseman
Berzins is a late birth date 1992 defenseman from Latvia, making him eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He has good size at 6'2 and would appear to bring some physicality to the Attack line up (based on his statistics). However, Elite Prospects has him as only playing 9 games this year. After doing some digging, he missed the majority of last season with a knee injury that required surgery. Which would explain why he did not play for Latvia at the Under 18's this year. It'll be interesting to see what type of shape he shows up to Owen Sound camp in.
Scouting Report: It's quite difficult to find information on Latvian players (at least at the level Berzins was playing at. All we've got to go on are the brief words from Attack General Manager Dale Degray. "Richards will add some much needed depth and size to our blueline." Pretty vague. Almost makes you wonder if very little is known about Berzins and he came on a recommendation from an agent working the lines or someone outside the organization. Sorry Attack fans, this one could be a mystery!

Dale sure likes to scour the scratch & dent sales...shades of Berdnikov?

[goldfish]

I think being 100 % and having a year in Canada under his belt....Roman is going to have a fine year.....(I hope)

if the new guy works out it is all bonus....who knows with imports at 58. The star of this deal is Matt Stansz.

[highstickside]

Goldfish, I think you're correct on both counts.

[Yogi Bear]

Exactly goldfish.From everything I can dig up ,not only is Stanisz a steady d-man he is a QUALITY person off the ice to.A O/A like this would ,at the deadline ,cost you a second,third and possibly a young player or any combo of two of those.Dale effectivly got him for nothingas we probably got what we could afford in the import draft.Remember the high end guy's will cost some serious coin to get here.IMHO as long as Matt doesn't get an invite to a pro camp and pull a kolomatis we got a steal here.If he does make a pro roster we got a 4th and still got an import.

[oldref]

Maybe we should be talking to Moncton about this problem child of theirs called Kabanov. We did this before with a guy named Robin Big Snake from the WHL and he turned out to be a fan favourite and a definite asset to the team until the coaching staff handcuffed him for the playoffs. Maybe a Russian ¨Big Snake`would have a bigger bite.