Lean Bergmann’s perspective is part six of a series that will be highlighting some of the prospects within the San Jose Sharks organization.
The San Jose Sharks are targeting skaters who have more of an edge to their game to fill out some of their prospect depth along the boards.
One of these pickups this off-season was 20-year-old Lean (Leon) Bergmann out of Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He signed a 3 year deal with the Sharks on May 28th worth 836,667 annually, per Capfriendly.
While his rights were owned by Alder Mannheim at the end of the season, the German born winger spent the entirety of last season playing for the Iserlohn Roosters. Bergmann suited up in 50 games for the club and tallied 20 goals (10th in the league) and recorded 29 total points, per eliteprospects.
The 6’2 205 pound skater has shown the ability to play both the right and left while shooting with his left hand. So far during his hockey career Bergmann’s built a reputation on being a pest who uses his size to get the better of his opponents along the boards and around the crease. This was one of the main reasons why the San Jose Sharks thought he would be a nice fit for the style of play they want to instill organization wide.
Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson cited his physical style of play as one of the reasons why Team Teal offered a contract to the kid from Hermer, Germany. Wilson elaborated by saying that “We like his compete level and work ethic and the physical nature of his game should translate well to how we like to play. We’re excited to add him to our organization.” which got announced in a press release after the Bergmann signing in late May.
Bergmann exhibited that he’s not afraid to play with a bit of an “edge” during his San Jose Sharks debut during the 2019 Developmental camp scrimmage mixing things up with Zach Gallant (who was responding to an apparent cross check by Bergmann).
We have some fisticuffs! Lean Bergmann and Zach Gallant go at it at the end. Team Marchment 4, Team Ricci 3 is the final. Off to the shootout. #SharksDevCamp #sjsharks #sjbarracuda pic.twitter.com/5FfAafNfzd
— TEAL TOWN USA - A San Jose Sharks Podcast (@TEALTOWNUSA) June 29, 2019
Lean Bergmann’s frustrations are not typically aimed at potential teammates. The power forward spends most of his time making life hell for his opponents. PIM isn’t the greatest stat to reference but his 87 penalty minutes last season in the DEL and staggering totals during his time in the USHL show that Bergmann isn’t afraid to mix things up and get heavily involved in the play around the puck.
The San Jose Sharks obviously believe in the winger’s ability to take even bigger strides in his hockey career in the next few seasons. At 20 Bergmann is likely still trying to fill out his 6’2 frame and will only get better the more he adjusts to the style of play at the pro level in North America. However he just spent a season in the DEL playing against professionals and was able to maintain his trademark physical style so perhaps the transition won’t be as strenuous as it might be for a player coming up from the junior ranks.
Bergmann’s point and goal totals might not leap out at you initially however he’s proven that he’s got finishing ability around the net to go along with his aggressive nature on the ice. Don’t be surprised if we start to hear more chatter surrounding the 20-year-old when training camp rolls around in just a short while.