Murnieks has been a star for Latvia on the international stage for years now. He made the jump to the QMJHL this year and has impressed, scoring nine points in his first 10 games. Murnieks plays a pro-style game already at just 17, utilizing a north-south game and actively engaging physically. His skating form is a tad wonky, but he makes up for it with good straight-line speed, which complements his style of game well. Defensively, he is stout and breaks up cycles with intelligent pinches and gaps. He also thinks the game is a step ahead of the play, which allows him to constantly be in the right place at the right time. While the ceiling may not be as high as others in the class, Murnieks is a strong bet to play NHL games and projects as a bottom-nine forward.-