I'm just connecting the dots here. There were rumours about him moving to the US, he was drafted by Sioux City, there really are no other options left in the States.
It doesn't mean that it's confirmed, but it's likely.
C Olivers Murnieks - Sioux City Musketeers, USHL (2026 Draft)
- Thread starter GermanSpitfire
- Start date
It doesn't mean that it's confirmed, but it's likely.
LeProspector
AINEC
- Feb 14, 2017
- 5,752
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I understand, with this draft though, it’s more about recruitment than it is anything, the earlier selections are more likely to report, look at Gabriel Eliasson for example. As you get late in the draft, those picks are more “flyers” where teams take talented players that they have no idea would report they’re just talented so it’s worth the risk at that point in the draft.
I’m just pointing out, if he was as talented as we think he is, and was going to play in the US like you say, he would have went MUCH higher in the draft.
1) He was drafted late so Sioux will definitely try to get him over, but that doesn't mean that he is interested.
2) Never use the average point production for a league as a barometer for a player playing their first season overseas. A rough transition at 16 wouldn't necessarily mean anything for his draft position.
It's a different league but Timo Meier only put up 34 points in his first season in North America, but the skills were evident. Year 2 (his draft year), he started to show his full skillset and went 9th.
He's reported to Sioux and will be playing in the USHL, as predicted.
Excited to see how he does.
Excited to see how he does.
Great news. With him and Berzkalns, and Flugins in OHL, thats going to be an exciting junior hockey season (should they all make their teams, of course).
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Keep in mind he’s very young for the league. Not many U17’s will even play a full USHL regular season. I wouldn’t worry much what line he’s on in preseason, and sometimes the number line, especially in preseason, doesn’t reflect the quality of linemates, situations, or amount of ice time, let alone what the team is thinking. Preseason is a time to experiment.
JohnWillow
Registered User
- May 27, 2015
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Murnieks starts the season with two goals after four games while playing on the 4th line.
Another goal and assist in the next two.
Murnieks has quietly picked up 3g+1a in 6 games
7 points in 11 games and I think it's fair to say the switch from Latvia to major junior hockey in North America has been successful.
Murnieks initially played on the 4th line with limited ice time, I see now that he scored a goal on the power play last night, so that's a good sign as well.
Currently 2nd in points among U17s in the USHL
Murnieks initially played on the 4th line with limited ice time, I see now that he scored a goal on the power play last night, so that's a good sign as well.
Currently 2nd in points among U17s in the USHL
Murnieks made the WJC roster and it actually looks like he's going to center the Latvian top line.
Points in both exhibition games against Czechia and Switzerland. Very excited to see how he holds up against the US and Canada at age 16.
The 3rd youngest player in the tournament.
Points in both exhibition games against Czechia and Switzerland. Very excited to see how he holds up against the US and Canada at age 16.
The 3rd youngest player in the tournament.
Antiillafire
Registered User
I must admit, he looks absolutely legit. Very good 2 way C. Reminds me of Sebastian Aho in his movement and viewing of the game. What I was suprised the most by was how strong he looks at 16, he wasn’t getting bullied along the walls or being brushed off in the neutral zone. Also a very capable skater. Tsn commentators were of course going crazy over McKenna but I thought Murnieks was the best 2026 player on the ice.
sting101
Registered User
- Feb 8, 2012
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Got to tip the hat.
Impressive performance today
Impressive performance today
Gonna hop on the bandwagon of a couple others and say he was very very good today. Well on his was to challenging Girgensons for the highest ever drafted Latvian player title
A 3 point game for Murnieks and he currently leads all U18 players in points at the WJC at age 16.
I did some research. Since the 2004 WJC there have been 40 U17 players at the World Juniors total.
The top 10 in terms of points per game:
Bedard 1.14 ppg
Crosby 0.84 ppg
Murnieks 0.80 ppg
Nemec 0.80 ppg
Scherzer 0.75 ppg
McDavid 0.57 ppg
Barkov 0.57 ppg
Frolik 0.57 ppg
Granlund 0.50 ppg
Dvorsky 0.50 ppg
Murnieks finished with 4 points in 5 games and a +4. Latvia only scored 10 goals and conceded 16. Murnieks spent ~19 minutes on ice per game and centered their top line the entire tournament.
The top 10 in terms of points per game:
Bedard 1.14 ppg
Crosby 0.84 ppg
Murnieks 0.80 ppg
Nemec 0.80 ppg
Scherzer 0.75 ppg
McDavid 0.57 ppg
Barkov 0.57 ppg
Frolik 0.57 ppg
Granlund 0.50 ppg
Dvorsky 0.50 ppg
Murnieks finished with 4 points in 5 games and a +4. Latvia only scored 10 goals and conceded 16. Murnieks spent ~19 minutes on ice per game and centered their top line the entire tournament.
SoundAndFury
Registered User
- May 28, 2012
- 12,289
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A tiny bit better than Ian Scherzer, that's my conclusion 
You might be joking, but that's literally true right now - he's slightly better than him at 16 yo. Scherzer just stopped progressing 3 years ago. He was a decent prospect.A tiny bit better than Ian Scherzer, that's my conclusion
Fun fact: Scherzer scored 3 out of his 4 points at the World Juniors in the old best of 3 relegation round against Latvia.
Anyways, not the worst list of names to be surrounded with at his young age. I'm not complaining.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
I agree with your general sentiment and draft placement, but I'm not sure I agree with your framing of him as a defensively responsible forward.
Murnieks is an all-around player. He's very good at a lot of things, but the question is whether that's good enough to become a 2C at the NHL level.
The one thing that I do not particularly like is a lack of an increase in production during the course of the season. I know Murnieks is trying to finish 2 years of schooling in 24/25 and that he's 16 and it's his first season abroad, but I would really love to see some more multi-point games and more dominance.
He can still end up in the top 10 with a great showing next season or drop to the bottom of the 1st round if he fails to produce more.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
That's fair. In talking about his defensive game I'm probably more projecting there based off the tools, and will defer to you if you feel his defensive game needs more work than I'm suggesting.
Appleyard
Registered User
Yeh, USHL is really, really hard for 16 year olds to produce in though... harder than CHL because an older and deeper league (even if not the top end talent), so talented younger guys generally play less in lesser roles, and it is lower scoring too.
In the last 10 years only:
Celebrini, Svechnikov, Savoie
managed over 1 P/GP at age 16 while not playing for USNTDP.
This is probably the best crop of non-NTDP 16 year olds ever in the USHL tbh with Lawrence, Shilov, Murnieks, Valentini, Zielinski and Hextall. All six should be gone by pick 64 in 2026 unless someone really stalls... and 4/6 on track most likely for 1st round.
Whenever Murnieks has played for the Latvian junior teams, he's played a two-way game and hustled back, he's been strong along the boards, etc., despite being the leading player.
What I'm saying is that it's way too early to project him as a bottom 6/defensive forward just because he's good at it. He currently does not fit the mold.
Can he be molded into a bottom 6 guy? Sure, because he does have the tools.
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