Lean Bergmann Explained

Lean Bergmann
Birth Date:4 October 1998
Birth Place:Hemer, Germany
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:205
Position:Forward
Shoots:Left
League:DEL
Team:Eisbären Berlin
Former Teams:Iserlohn Roosters
San Jose Sharks
Adler Mannheim
Ntl Team:GER
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2018

Lean Bergmann (born 4 October 1998) is a German professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with Eisbären Berlin in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He has previously played with the San Jose Sharks in the National Hockey League (NHL). He also plays internationally for the German national team.

Playing career

Bergmann played at the under-16 level in his native Germany with Mannheimer ERC. As a 15-year-old, Bergmann opted to further his development by moving to Sweden and playing in the J18 and J20 Elit junior levels with Frölunda HC and Almtuna IS.

During the 2015–16 season, Bergmann left Almtuna and Sweden on 4 January 2016 to pursue his North American ambition by signing for the remainder of the season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[1]

Following seasons in the USHL with the Stampede and the Green Bay Gamblers, Bergmann was not selected in his eligible NHL Entry Draft years. He returned to Germany to embark on his professional career, agreeing to a one-year contract with his hometown club, the Iserlohn Roosters of the top-tiered Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) on 26 July 2018.[2]

In his rookie professional season in 2018–19, Bergmann quickly adapted to show his scoring abilities with the Roosters, finishing third among teammates with 20 goals in 50 regular season games. As the youngest DEL player to reach the 20-goal plateau, Bergman was signed in the midst of the campaign to a lucrative one-year contract with contending club Adler Mannheim for the 2019–20 season on 17 January 2019.[3]

In the off-season, before he could commence his contract with Championship-winning Adler Mannheim, Bergmann gained the interest of NHL teams as an undrafted prospect. On 28 May 2019, he was signed by the San Jose Sharks to a three-year entry-level contract.[4] Bergmann made his NHL debut with the Sharks on 2 October 2019 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Following his second season within the Sharks organization, having appeared in just 13 games with San Jose, Bergmann was placed on unconditional waivers in order to mutually terminate the remaining year of his contract with the Sharks on 23 July 2021.[5] On 26 July 2021, Bergmann as a free agent returned to the German DEL, re-joining Adler Mannheim on a two-year contract.[6]

At the conclusion of his contract with Mannheim, Bergmann left as a free agent to sign a two-year contract with his third DEL club, Eisbären Berlin, on 10 May 2023.[7]

International play

Bergmann made his senior international debut, representing Germany at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia.[8] He finished the tournament scoreless in 5 appearances, as Germany placed 6th.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2013–14Frölunda HCJ1841120
2013–14Frölunda HCJ18 Allsv52022
2014–15Frölunda HCJ18 1133620
2014–15Almtuna ISJ18 881914
2014–15Almtuna ISJ18 Allsv13491335
2014–15Almtuna ISSWE.2 U2020000
2015–16Almtuna ISJ18 1614102416
2015–16Almtuna ISSWE.2 U2013781512
2015–16Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL28571225300012
2016–17Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL41791695
2017–18Green Bay GamblersUSHL5611142513220002
2018–19Iserlohn RoostersDEL502092987
2019–20San Jose SharksNHL120114
2019–20San Jose BarracudaAHL31891749
2020–21San Jose SharksNHL10004
2020–21San Jose BarracudaAHL3225737
2021–22Adler MannheimDEL32951436
2022–23Iserlohn RoostersDEL26471136
2022–23Adler MannheimDEL6336111010126
2023–24Eisbären BerlinDEL1533681422436
DEL totals1293927661782432562
NHL totals130118

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2019GermanyWC6th50000
2021GermanyWC4th61010
2022GermanyOG10th20112
Senior totals 131122

Awards and honours

AwardYear
DEL
Champions (Eisbären Berlin)2024[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2015–16 USHL suspensions and transactions . . 4 January 2016 . 4 January 2017.
  2. Web site: Lean Bergmann returns home from North America . . 26 July 2018 . 26 July 2018 . German.
  3. Web site: Eagles sign Lean Bergmann . . 17 January 2019 . 17 January 2019 . German.
  4. Web site: Sharks sign forward Lean Bergmann. . 28 May 2019 . 28 May 2019.
  5. Web site: Sharks forward Lean Bergmann placed on unconditional waivers . fearthefin.com . 23 July 2021 . 23 July 2021.
  6. Web site: Bergman returns to the Eagles . . 26 July 2021 . 26 July 2021 . German.
  7. Web site: Lean Bergmann joins Berlin . . 10 May 2023 . 10 May 2023 . German.
  8. Web site: Bundestrainer Toni Söderholm gibt Kader für die WM bekannt. deb-online.de. 8 May 2019.
  9. Web site: The Eisbären Berlin are German champions 2024! . . 26 April 2024 . 26 April 2024 . German .