Alain Berger
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Birthday:
1990-12-27 |
Position:
RW |
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Eligible for draft:
2008 |
Shoots:
Right |
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Drafted:
|
Height:
6-4 |
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Acquired:
Free agent signing, 2011 |
Weight:
200 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- D
History
2008-09: Berger appeared in 19 games with Bern in the Swiss League, was one of the top forwards for Bern's Junior A champion club and represented Switzerland at the World Junior U-20 Division 1 championship. In limited ice time with the men's club he was scoreless and had 6 PMs in 19 games. In 13 games with the junior team (including playoffs) he scored 10 goals with 9 assists. Berger scored 1 goal with 1 assist and had 6 PMs in five games with the national junior team as Switzerland won promotion to the top division. Berger was selected by the Oshawa Generals in the 1st round (27th overall) of the 2009 CHL Import Draft.
2009-10: Berger had a tough first season in North America with Oshawa – missing nearly two months due to a foot injury and playing for a Generals team that failed to reach the OHL playoffs. Despite the setbacks, Berger provided consistent offense for the Generals, particularly on the power play. In 44 games he scored 8 of his 19 goals on the power play and had 14 assists with 56 PMs. Berger's -4 plus/minus was the second-best mark among Generals regulars. Berger's injury kept him out of the 2011 World Junior U-20 championship.
2010-11: Berger was a team leader as an overage forward in his second OHL second season as Oshawa turned things around. In 65 games for the Generals he had 29 goals (14 on the power play) with 23 assists and was +19 with 86 PMs as Oshawa finished second in the East Division. In 10 playoff games Berger scored 5 goals with 3 assists and was +2 with 14 PMs. Berger was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Canadiens in April 2011.
2011-12: In his rookie AHL season, Berger played in only 43 AHL games and has struggled to stay in the Bulldogs line-up while seeing spot duty on the fourth line. The young Swiss-born winger worked hard with the coaches to improve his overall play and to correct his skating deficiencies. He missed just over 45 days with a groin injury suffered on November 25 and finished the season with only one goal along with six assists and a terrible minus 19 rating on a poor Hamilton team.
Talent Analysis
At 6'4, 200 pounds, Berger plays hard, bringing grit and toughness. He likes to hit and will drop the gloves when called upon. Berger also brings a net-front presence, screening the goaltender and scoring from in tight. Berger's weakness is his skating.
Future
Berger could struggle to stay in the line-up at the AHL level in Hamilton and see time in the ECHL if does not improve his overall game for the upcoming season.
