Young NHLer Leaves America to Sign in Europe

After a very successful World Hockey Championship tournament earlier this year, Rudolfs Balcers, 26, has signed a two-year deal with the ZSC Lions in Zurich, Switzerland. Balcers played 10 games for Latvia at the WC, scoring nine points and winning a bronze medal.

The signing reunites Balcers with Marc Crawford, coach of the Lions. Crawford was the head coach of the Ottawa Senators when Balcers made his NHL debut with the team.

Balcers was a 5th round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks back in 2015. He was shipped to Ottawa in the trade that brought Erik Karlsson to the Sharks. After two seasons in Ottawa, Balcers was placed on waivers in January of 2021 by the Sens, and picked up by the Sharks, returning him to the team that drafted him.

Despite having his best season in the NHL in 2021-22, Balcers was placed on unconditional waivers by San Jose for the purpose of buying out the final year of his two-year deal. He then signed a one-year deal with Florida, but was again placed on waivers in November of 2022. This time he was claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Between the Panthers and Bolts, Balcers played 17 games in the NHL last season, scoring three goals and five points.