Balcers, 24, appeared in 41 games for San Jose, recording 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) with 16 penalty minutes (PIM). Balcers set career highs in several categories, including games played, goals, assists, points, and game-winning goals (2). He recorded his first career three-point game on Apr. 2 at Los Angeles (two goals, one assist), made his Sharks debut on Feb. 6 at Anaheim and followed with his first goal as a Shark on Feb. 20 at St. Louis.
Over the course of his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators and Sharks, he has recorded 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 92 games. He has also appeared in 143 career American Hockey League (AHL) games, scoring 115 points (56 goals, 59 assists) with the San Jose Barracuda, San Jose's top developmental affiliate in the AHL, and the Belleville Senators. He was named to the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic.
During the 2017-18 season, Balcers led the San Jose Barracuda, the Sharks AHL affiliate, in points (48), goals (23), shots on goal (165), and finished second in assists (25). He was named to the 2018 AHL All-Star Game and led the Barracuda in playoff points (4), scoring two goals and two assists in four games.
Previously, Balcers spent the 2016-17 season with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), recording 77 points (40 goals, 37 assists) in 66 games. Amongst all WHL rookies, Balcers ranked first in goals, fourth in assists, third in points, and first in game-winning goals (7).
Before joining the WHL, he spent time with the Stavanger Oilers of the Norwegian League. In 79 games, from 2014 to 2016, he registered 23 goals, 22 assists, and a plus-38 rating. He helped the Oilers win the Championship in both of those seasons (2014-15, 2015-16).
In addition, Balcers helped his native Latvia win gold medals at the D1A World Junior Championships in 2013-14 (U18) and 2015-16 (U20), and represented his country in the World Jr. Championships (2017) as well as two World Championships (2019, 2018).
The five-foot-eleven, 180-pound native of Liepaja, Latvia was originally selected by San Jose in the 2015 NHL Draft (fifth round, 142nd overall).
