Janis Sprukts is not the solution to the Canadiens search for a big, talented center on the first two lines. If Sprukts were that great then he would have been drafted higher than the eighth round (234th overall) in the 2000 NHL draft. He was drafted almost 8 years ago and has played a grand total of 13 NHL games, not exactly a sure fire talent!!!! Some people will tell you that his insistence to sign a one way pro contract caused the Florida Panthers to balk at signing him (they did give him a two way qualifying offer that allowed Jacques Martin to retain his rights which Sprukts refused to sign). I’ve read that he is a solid two way center with great size (6’3″ 235lbs) and above average skating. He is limited on the offensive side of the rink and currently has 22 points (G-9 A-13) in 31 games with Rauman Lukko of the Finnish Elite League.
According to Team 990, the Montreal Canadiens may have acquired the rights to forward Janis Sprukts from the Florida Panthers. He only had a four month contract with Rauman Lukko that ended this month.
Sprukts has allegedly been corresponding with Team 990’s Shaun Starr via Facebook and allegedly told Starr that his rights could be”transferred” to the Montreal Canadiens shortly. Don’t hold your breath as Janis Sprukts is not the answer…….I’d rather have Tomas Plekanec as my #2 center until Gainey can find another center with size.
TSN (player profile): http://prodtsn.tsn.ca/NHL/teams/players/bio/?id=2917&hubname=nhl-panthers
Hockey Database.com: http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=00051231
