Ottawa Senators: Top 10 Prospects Entering 2018
5. Rudolfs Balcers, LW [21] (5-142, 2015)
Stats (San Jose Barracuda, AHL): 67 gp, 23 g, 25 a, 48 p, 8 PPG (8 A), 5 GWG, 1 ENG, 165 SOG, .72 pts/g (4 pgp, 2 g, 2 a, 4 p, 1 PPA, 1 GWG, 12 SOG, 1 pt/g).
Rudolfs Balcers might be the best part of the Karlsson return, at least right now. He’s currently better than Norris, more NHL ready, and made a significant impact at the pro level already, as the leading scorer of the San Jose Barracuda, the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate. With 48 points and 23 goals in the AHL, Balcers had a very impressive season. He’s somebody who could play in the NHL this season and will be doing his best to impress in Belleville.
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He’s already a player likely to make an impact on the third line as a depth scorer. That could change as he continues to grow as a player, and at 21, he’s still relatively young. To make a splash at his age with the Senators would be something, considering the now lack of talent around him. If he does do well, it would not be surprising to see Balcers get up to the Senators’ top six this season.
His ceiling is not as high as the other prospects ahead of him, which is why Balcers is so low on this list. But he’s more NHL ready and has a higher probability of making the Ottawa Senators roster eventually. Even while he will start in Belleville first, that might be better for Balcers. Less pressure in a league he’s already dominated. He’ll also be seen as one of the main candidates for the first callup. The point is, Balcers has an NHL future. Whether that future is sooner or later depends on how the Senators view Balcers, and that should be highly.