Locmelis signed a 3 year ELC with the Bruins, so if Providence makes a deeper run, he ain't joining.
Happy for him.
This does not help our situation with centermen at all, though.
WC: Team Latvia 2025 Roster Talk
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Locmelis signed a 3 year ELC with the Bruins, so if Providence makes a deeper run, he ain't joining.
Happy for him.
This does not help our situation with centermen at all, though.
SoundAndFury
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- May 28, 2012
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I thought Daugavins retired and Rihards Bukarts required surgery?
Or was it, like, a cosmetic surgery?My Latvia team WC25
Merzlikins
Gudlevskis
Grigals
Freibergs - Jaks
Zile - Mamcis
Rubins - Komuls
A. Bergmanis - Cibulskis
Bindulis
Balcers - Abols - Daugavins
Tralmaks - Blugers - Dzierkals
Ri. Bukarts - Locmelis - Indrasis
Egle - Batna - Gavars
Lavins, Ravinskis
wait for:
F: Vilmanis (Ravinskis), D: Balinskis (Bindulis), G: Silovs (Grigals)
injured players: Smirnovs (C), Ro. Bukarts (W)
other reasons for non-participation: Krastenberg (the birth of a child), Girgensons (My opinion is that even if he were free, he wouldn't be invited and wouldn't come)
Merzlikins
Gudlevskis
Grigals
Freibergs - Jaks
Zile - Mamcis
Rubins - Komuls
A. Bergmanis - Cibulskis
Bindulis
Balcers - Abols - Daugavins
Tralmaks - Blugers - Dzierkals
Ri. Bukarts - Locmelis - Indrasis
Egle - Batna - Gavars
Lavins, Ravinskis
wait for:
F: Vilmanis (Ravinskis), D: Balinskis (Bindulis), G: Silovs (Grigals)
injured players: Smirnovs (C), Ro. Bukarts (W)
other reasons for non-participation: Krastenberg (the birth of a child), Girgensons (My opinion is that even if he were free, he wouldn't be invited and wouldn't come)
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
Daugavins probably back because he wanna play in OlympicsI thought Daugavins retired and Rihards Bukarts required surgery?
It warms my heart seeing our forward and goalie depth nowadays, seems like it's improving every year. But then I take a look at our D and see that 36-years old Cibulskis from Danish league is still a very serious contender for the spot in the national team, and my mood worsens.
It's the 2nd or 3rd time he returns from 'retirement', so the only person not expecting this at some level was probably Daugavins himself.I thought Daugavins retired and Rihards Bukarts required surgery?
He clearly was in good shape early this season and was dominating in Slovakia in a way that Krastenbergs or Egle did not.
Clearly, we shall see if the powder is dry in the exhibition games, but it's a pretty obvious spot in the top 6 and on the PP for him.
Rihards Bukarts has dropped down the pecking order quite a lot. This was annus horribilis for him, so a lot is at stake for him.
A decent crack at the roster, with some major issues. Rubins is the clear cut 1st D without Balinskis.
Indrasis is useless in the bottom 6, while Dzierkals is a PK specialist who would fit much better on the 3rd or 4th line.
The top 2 lines are interchangeable and pretty even, with both having offensive talent, but I would personally prefer
Balcers - Abols - Indrasis
Tralmaks - Blueger - Daugavins
I would love to see Prohorenkovs at 4C, Gavars was a complete non-factor and should not make the team, Egle has been pretty mediocre, while Rihards should probably play on the 4th line.
Vilmanis - Locmelis - Ravinskis would be an awesome energy line, Ri. Bukarts - Prohorenkovs - Dzierkals as the 4th line.
Also, it's starting to look like Bolts will face Florida in the 1st round, so there's some chance we will get Balinskis. If Girgensons makes it, I would place him on the 4th line instead of Ri. Bukarts.
2021/2022 season, our guys in QMJHL:
Niks Fenenko - 0.7 PPG as a two-way defenceman in his draft year;
Raivis Ansons - 1 PPG as a two way forward, drafted in the NHL;
Anri Ravinskis - 0.5 PPG as an overager.
2025:
Niks Fenenko strugling in Mestis, first cut from NT camp;
Raivis Ansons - scored an impressive 5 AHL goals in three seasons, is either injured or a healthy scratch most of the time;
Anri Ravinskis - 0.6 PPG in Liiga, legit contender for NT debut.
I know, I know. Fenenko is still the youngest and might turn it around. And Ansons was in his 20 y.o. season so it was expected that he would fair well against kids. But still, three years ago I would have claimed that Ravinskis, as a bottom line overager, will probably end up in Alps league by now. And definitely would not be a legit contender to be among the 12 best availiable forwards.
Niks Fenenko - 0.7 PPG as a two-way defenceman in his draft year;
Raivis Ansons - 1 PPG as a two way forward, drafted in the NHL;
Anri Ravinskis - 0.5 PPG as an overager.
2025:
Niks Fenenko strugling in Mestis, first cut from NT camp;
Raivis Ansons - scored an impressive 5 AHL goals in three seasons, is either injured or a healthy scratch most of the time;
Anri Ravinskis - 0.6 PPG in Liiga, legit contender for NT debut.
I know, I know. Fenenko is still the youngest and might turn it around. And Ansons was in his 20 y.o. season so it was expected that he would fair well against kids. But still, three years ago I would have claimed that Ravinskis, as a bottom line overager, will probably end up in Alps league by now. And definitely would not be a legit contender to be among the 12 best availiable forwards.
Yup, I have almost entirely given up on Ansons.
Ravinskis has literally grown 2 inches over the last 3-4 years and added 11 lbs of muscle. A prime example of a late bloomer.
However, 0.6 ppg in Liiga is not exactly stellar anyway, he's a depth piece for the national team, but it's obviously great to have a guy of his size and skill on the 4th line. It really shows how much our depth has increased over the last decade. He barely cracks the roster if everyone is available.
SoundAndFury
Registered User
- May 28, 2012
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Batna is still not playing. How serious is his injury? I did a half-assed look around the HK webpage but didn't find anything other than the acknowledgment of the fact that he is injured.
Current roster
Latvijas izlases treniņnometnes sastāvs
| NR. | VĀRTSARGI | DZ.G. | NŪJ. SAT. | AUGUMS | SVARS | KLUBS | |
| 35 | ĒRIKS | VĪTOLS | 2001 | K | 184 | 85 | JYP (LIIGA, SOMIJA) |
| 40 | MAREKS | MITENS | 1998 | K | 185 | 84 | SPISSKA NOVA VES (SLOVĀKIJA) |
| 50 | KRISTERS | GUDĻEVSKIS | 1992 | K | 192 | 93 | FISCHTOWN PINGUINS (DEL, VĀCIJA) |
| 88 | GUSTAVS | GRIGALS | 1999 | K | 188 | 89 | DUKLA TRENCIN (SLOVĀKIJA) |
| AIZSARGI | KLUBS | ||||||
| 42 | MIKS | TUMĀNOVS | 2001 | K | 195 | 90 | JYP (LIIGA, SOMIJA) |
| 6 | MARKUSS | KOMULS | 1998 | L | 183 | 86 | KLADNO (ČEHIJA) |
| 77 | KRISTAPS | ZĪLE | 1997 | K | 188 | 92 | LITVINOV (ČEHIJA) |
| 3 | RALFS | BERGMANIS | 2002 | K | 179 | 81 | MINNESOTA STATE UNIV. (NCAA, ASV) |
| 55 | ROBERTS | MAMČICS | 1995 | K | 195 | 100 | KARLOVY VARY (ČEHIJA) |
| 90 | SANDIS | SMONS | 1999 | K | 180 | 86 | LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS (SL, ŠVEICE) |
| 48 | NAURIS | SĒJĒJS | 2001 | K | 184 | 84 | GUSNACHT LIONS (SL, ŠVEICE) |
| 5 | ARTŪRS | ANDŽĀNS | 2001 | K | 190 | 90 | HPK (LIIGA, SOMIJA) |
| 44 | BOGDANS | HODASS | 2003 | K | 191 | 100 | HEARTLANDERS (ECHL, ASV) |
| 65 | ARVILS | BERGMANIS | 1999 | K | 182 | 86 | RPI (NCAA, ASV) |
| UZBRUCĒJI | KLUBS | ||||||
| 16 | KASPARS | DAUGAVIŅŠ | 1988 | K | 183 | 100 | BEZ KLUBA |
| 36 | HARALDS | EGLE | 1996 | L | 180 | 88 | HC 32 LIPTOVSKY MIKULAS (SLOVĀKIJA) |
| 13 | RIHARDS | BUKARTS | 1995 | L | 177 | 86 | HC VITKOVICE (ČEHIJA) |
| 82 | FĒLIKSS | GAVARS | 2002 | K | 180 | 83 | ST. LAWRENCE UNIV. (NCAA, ASV) |
| 43 | ANRĪ | RAVINSKIS | 2003 | K | 191 | 91 | HPK (LIIGA, SOMIJA) |
| 12 | GĻEBS | PROHORENKOVS | 2001 | K | 187 | 85 | NIAGARA UNIV. (NCAA, ASV) |
| 11 | RAINERS | RULLERS | 2004 | K | 194 | 88 | RPI (NCAA, ASV) |
| 36 | MARTINS | LAVIŅŠ | 2003 | L | 186 | 84 | UNIV. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (NCAA, ASV) |
| 39 | GEORGS | GOLOVKOVS | 1995 | K | 183 | 82 | FRYDEK MISTEK (MAXA LIGA, ČEHIJA) |
| 87 | KRISTAPS | SKRASTIŅŠ | 2003 | L | 178 | 81 | UNIV. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (NCAA, ASV) |
| 14 | RODŽERS | BUKARTS | 2004 | K | 183 | 86 | GUSNACHT LIONS (SL, ŠVEICE) |
| 83 | KLĀVS | VEINBERGS | 2003 | K | 191 | 90 | COLORADO COLLEGE (NCAA, ASV) |
| 81 | RAIMONDS | VĪTOLIŅŠ | 2002 | L | 184 | 85 | MIAMI UNIV. (NCAA, ASV) |
| 92 | BRUNO | OSMANIS | 2006 | L | 177 | 75 | IF BJORKLOVEN (ALLSVENSKAN, ZV |
Latvian national team is not yet at the level, where 0.6ppg in Liiga isn't considered as stellar and only indicates a depth guy.
----
The center line is really worrying.
Blueger not making it, Smirnovs not making it, Girgensons not making it, Batna still being injured, Lochmelis' team being in the playoffs zone this - this really looks pretty sad. At least Abols should be able to come, hopefully.
But with things being like that, Prohorenkovs might need to debut in the 2nd line already. There is then Egle, who is fine, and then what, the likes of Lavins and Vitolins potentially making it?
I mean, I wrote about this months ago.
Smirnovs is not an A team centerman, so it's not a loss.
Girgensons is a winger and can only be used at C as a backstop.
Locmelis will join the national team instead of AHL play-offs, according to our head coach.
Lehigh is likely facing P-Bruins, so Abols is likely to join the team.
Abols (same as last year)
Locmelis (same as last year, promoted from 3C to 2C)
Prohorenkovs (he looks competent and I actually prefer him over Batna)
Egle (Same as last year)
If Abols or Locmelis are for some reason not available, I would play Tralmaks at C.
Also, Lavins played 2 games last year.
So things are looking pretty average. Since our depth has increased, this is an opportunity to take a look at some younger players. For instance, Prohorenkovs and Ravinskis have been very productive together.
SoundAndFury
Registered User
- May 28, 2012
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Namejs prefers an NCAA 2nd line forward over an established middle-six forward in a professional European league. Color me surprised.
But you know who else does? Philadelphia Flyers as Abols is getting scratched for the 2nd straight game in favor of NCAA-signee Karsen Dorwart.
If only there had been someone on these boards with expertise in both Latvian players and the NCAA who could have foreseen that the rebuilding team would be switching out 30-year-old replacement players for a much younger, much cheaper talent at the organizational level.
But you know who else does? Philadelphia Flyers as Abols is getting scratched for the 2nd straight game in favor of NCAA-signee Karsen Dorwart.
If only there had been someone on these boards with expertise in both Latvian players and the NCAA who could have foreseen that the rebuilding team would be switching out 30-year-old replacement players for a much younger, much cheaper talent at the organizational level.
More and more of what you're writing in general becomes detached from reality as you desparately try to prove me wrong as your main motivation behind posting.
Who is this mysterious established "middle six" forward?
If you meant Batna, he's a 3rd liner in Extraliga. In what %share of games in Extraliga did he play on the 2nd line? Could you post that number here, please? And how many times did he play on the 4th line for Mountfield?
Please, stop talking out of your ass. You've been doing that a lot lately.
Batna is scoring at a rate of 0.37 ppg over there. That is not good. He's never been a scorer, he does not have great hands. He has always been a gritty bottom 6 forward that uses his size and strength.
Batna was abysmal as the 2C last year and it was obvious to anyone with 2 brain hemispheres. He plays an undisciplined kind of hockey and earns more penalties than points. This goes entirely against the Latvian game philosophy, making him a liability.
Prohorenkovs has a solid hockey sense and playmaking skills. He has 3 points in 3 games in exhibition games vs. Austria and Finland and has looked good so far. So, yes, I would prefer him over Batna as 3C.
As for Abols, you have constructed a straw man and have been barking at it for 2 months now. If that is how you entertain yourself, go on. I have never said Abols is likely to get an NHL contract.
SoundAndFury
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He was a 2nd line center for Jukurit last year on a weaker team in Liiga and he is 3rd line center now since he moved to one of the 4 best teams in Czechia. This isn't rocket science.It just once again shows that you are willing to look at things/player production that happened decades ago if it suits you and unwilling to go as far back as last season if it doesn't.
Also, we are talking about who can take/is better at the 3C role on the Latvian NT so the focal point should be adeptness to play it, not an A-tier scoring touch that, as everyone and their mum understands, Batna doesn't have.
Now you can prefer one over another and like I said, you are being very consistent. In my opinion, someone who played an important part in the bronze medal run and is at the very prime of his career shouldn't be treated as good riddance. Especially in light of some NCAA 2nd liner who has literally never played at the pro level but "looked good" against Austrian league competition so it's good enough for you. But that's me and having a difference of opinion is your prerogative, I'm not even sure what you got so riled up about on this one. Especially when we are having this or a similar conversation year after year.
Oh the irony. It is, indeed, very entertaining.
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Buddy, you're really not very good at admitting your own mistakes. Batna has never been an established 2nd line C in Liiga. In the play-offs (you know, when it matters) Jukurit literally used him as a 4th liner. In the regular season he mostly played on the 3rd line, playing on all other lines in some matches.
Why "middle six"? Obviously, to use a half-truth and create a point out of nothing.
Admit your mistake and move on. He's a prototypical bottom 6 guy.
0.37 ppg in Extraliga is worse than 0.87 ppg in the Atlantic conference/NCAA. Of course Prohorenkovs almost hasn't played at the pro level (actually, he did play 7 games in the KHL and recorded a point there as a junior). He's playing collegiate hockey. Same as Locmelis did a few weeks ago. How is that a valid argument?
Batna played on the bronze medal team, correct. It does not earn him a lifelong membership on the team. And, yes, if he was healthy, he would fit neatly into that 4C role since we are missing Blueger.
I don't really see him on the team in a best-on-best situation. Maybe as the 13th/14th forward and an agitator type.
SoundAndFury
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Let's see how good are you at admitting your mistakes. This is Batna's TOI in the last PO:
20 minutes per regulation in a must-win game, literally a 4th liner. Once again, you are showing no regard to the reality or the fact that anyone can do a basic check on the "facts" you make up. So once again, no point in talking to you further.
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SoundAndFury
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If anything, after taking a closer look even this season just reinforces the "middle-six" notion and there is nothing remotely close to "half-truth" about it. The way HK use their forwards is the definition of "middle-six" with the gap in average TOI between 4th and 8th most played forward being 13 seconds:
But again, don't let the reality get in the way of your narrative.
But again, don't let the reality get in the way of your narrative.
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ozo
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- Feb 24, 2010
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I fully expect some arguments about what word "established" really means like we did with "hopeless".
It's good that you caught yourself screwing up before I had the chance to reply.
If a team rolls their lines more evenly than average and the 3C gets 15 minutes of ice time, how does that make a 3C into a 2nd liner if he is their literal 3C?
Look at the lines and don't backtrack.
You just posted a screenshot of Batna having the 8th most ice time amongst forwards yet you are trying to skew this into him being a 2nd liner?
This is Russia-tier truth-spinning.
SoundAndFury
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- May 28, 2012
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Nice time loop we are having here. You didn't comment anything about him as a 20-minute TOI 4th liner in the playoffs though, totally by accident, I'm sure.
Also from a person so prudent in numbers, I thought you were aware enough Batna isn't 8th but 7th when it comes to the lineup since Estephan only played 10 games and Bunnaman replaced him, they were never in the same lineup. But yes, how dare I call the forward that is 7th in TOI and trailing the 6th one by a whole ONE SECOND a middle-six forward. "Russia-tier truth-spinning," I tell ya
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