When trading franchise defenseman Erik Karlsson, a player like Balcers must deliver as part of the return.
So far, so good for Balcers, a forward who came to Ottawa in a multiplayer trade with the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 13. After a strong AHL rookie season in San Jose, Balcers is repeating the performance in Belleville with 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 23 games.
Balcers (5-foot-11, 175 pounds), led the Barracuda with 48 points (23 goals, 25 assists) in 67 regular-season games last season and represented Latvia at the 2018 IIHF World Championship with six points (four goals, two assists) in six games.
The 21-year-old has taken a different path to Belleville. He played two seasons in Norway's top pro league with Stavanger and the Sharks chose him in the fifth round (No. 142) of the 2015 NHL Draft. Balcers then played Kamloops of the Western Hockey League for one season and had 77 points (40 goals, 37 assists).