Prospect Update: Matt Berkovitz

By Thomas Harrington

A fifth round pick from 2014, Matt Berkovitz has taken an interesting career path. A year ago, he was expected to go to the University of Wisconsin. Instead, he opted for one more season in the USHL and will attend the US Military Academy as a freshman this coming season. This is not the first time that he has put off going to college.

This past season was Berkovitz’s third season in the USHL. He was the oldest player on the Green Bay Gamblers and was one of the team’s alternate captains last season. Overall, he played in a career high 53 games and scored two goals and 25 points. The 23 assists and 25 points were both career highs for him, and the two goals matched his total from the previous season. His 23 assists were fourth on the team, and second among defensemen. He also picked up seven power play points and three shorthanded points. Overall, his 23 assists were 11th among defensemen in the USHL last season.

A year ago, I said that I hoped that Berkovitz would earn the trust of his new team as the season went along. Well, with him once again deferring his NCAA career, my expectations for Berkovitz were thrown out the window. However, setting career highs in assists and points by such large margins is a good sign of his development, especially for a player not known for his offensive abilities. So while he didn’t meet the expectations I set out for him, I would consider last season a successful one for Berkovitz.

This coming season, Berkovitz will finally make his NCAA debut. I’ve typed that for the last two years, but hopefully, I’m right this time. He’s already 21, so will be older than most freshman. As a result, my expectations for him are going to be a little higher than most players in their first year of NCAA hockey. As always, Berkovitz is going to go through a transition period in the new league. What I want from Berkovitz is for that transition period to be smaller than it would have been for him a year ago. Given his skillset and play style, I won’t expect a ton of offense from him, but I am expecting him to put up some points with his new team this season.

Berkovitz is still several years away from making his NHL debut. It’s unclear how long he’ll spend in the NCAA, but I believe he’ll be there for at least two or three years, meaning he won’t be turning pro until he’s close to 25. Right now, if he has one, Berkovitz’s NHL future is difficult to predict. Hopefully, he can turn in some solid seasons in the NCAA and be a late bloomer who finds his way into the NHL in four or five years.

The Ducks currently hold Berkovitz’s rights, and, as far as I know, will continue to hold them through the end of his college career. When that time comes, it’s difficult to predict whether or not Anaheim will be offering him an entry-level contract. It’s going to largely depend on two things. First, how well Berkovitz develops during the course of his college career. Second, how Anaheim and San Diego’s defense is looking in three years or so. Given the wealth of young talent on defense that Anaheim has, the Ducks may not have a need for Berkovitz. However, if he develops into what looks like a solid fourth or fifth defenseman, then I have no doubt the Ducks will find room for him in their system.

My next prospect update will be on Steven Ruggiero.

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September 2nd, 2017

Filed under: Ducks News Tagged: Anaheim Ducks, Ducks, ducksnpucks, matt berkovitz, Prospect update