Head coach Marc Crawford already knows Rudolfs Balcers from his time with the Ottawa Senators, for which the Latvian international played from 2018 until 2020. "I consider Rudolfs as a strong skating winger with playmaking qualities," ZSC Lions' team manager Sven Leuenberger says.
With the Latvian national team, Rudolfs Balcers won the bronze medal at this year's World Championship. In ten games, he scored two goals and added seven assists. In addition to 41 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season (eight goals, eight assists), he also appeared in 17 NHL games for the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning (three goals, two assists).
With the addition of Rudolfs Balcers, the Lions now have five import players on their roster. For the sixth spot, they are planning to sign another forward.
