Undrafted and much like his cousin Jeff, Lerg was of a small physique as a junior. A solid checker he played a strong, gritty game for his small stature. Opting to play collegiate hockey, in his freshman season with the Michigan State Spartans, Lerg accumulated 15 points (10 goals, 5 assists). By his Sophomore season, he had 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) and in his junior season was given the honor of alternate captain and scored 36 points (23 goals, 13 assists), leading the Spartans to a national championship, in which he scored 8 game-winning goals to lead the NCAA. He was elected captain of the Spartans by team vote for the 2007-08 season and accumulated 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) to be named the Spartans Offensive player of the year for a second time.[citation needed]
After attending his first Oilers training camp, Lerg was reassigned to the Falcons to begin the 2008–09 season.[3] Despite injury, Lerg scored 17 points in 42 games with the Falcons while also spending time in the ECHL with the Stockton Thunder. In the following season, Lerg suffered another injury and with a loss of form, struggled to cement his place within the Oilers farm team, scoring 7 points in 36 contests.[citation needed]
Unable to earn another contract with the Oilers, and with a lack of NHL interest, Lerg signed a try-out contract with Swiss team, Genève-Servette HC, of the Nationalliga A. Appearing in just a single game for Genève-Servette in the 2010–11 season, he returned to North America and the AHL, signing a one-year contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on December 8, 2010. Lerg made an immediate contribution with the Penguins and posted 32 points in 65 games to earn a one-year contract extension on July 13, 2011.[4]
Prior to the 2011–12 season with Wilkes-Barre, Lerg was invited and attended the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp.[5] After he was returned to their affiliate, Lerg produced a team leading and career high 27 goals to finish second on the team with 53 points.[citation needed]
On July 1, 2012, Lerg was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[6] With the 2012 NHL lockout in effect, Lerg was directly assigned to American League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, to start the 2012–13 campaign. Shortly after the resumption of the season, he was announced as team captain on October 30, 2012.[7] In the midst of a productive campaign with the Monsters in scoring 9 goals in 28 games, Lerg's season was cut short after he suffered a season-ending torn Anterior cruciate ligament injury which required surgery.[8]
On April 22, 2013, Lerg agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche. He scored 27 points in 35 games before he was again struck by injury, sidelining himself for the majority of the season.[citation needed]
After two seasons within the Avalanche organization, Lerg left as a free agent to sign a one-year, two way contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 10, 2014.[9] After participating in his first Sharks training camp, Lerg was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks to begin the 2014–15 season. For the third successive season, Lerg was selected as an AHL team captain. While leading Worcester in scoring and after 8 professional seasons, Lerg's perseverance was rewarded on April 6, 2015, in receiving his first NHL call up to the San Jose Sharks as they approached the final games of the regular season. On April 9, 2015, Lerg made his NHL debut against his original NHL club, the Edmonton Oilers. Lerg impressed in scoring his first NHL goal, the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory.[10]
On May 4, 2016, he left the Sharks organization as an impending free agent to sign with Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).[11]
Personal information
He is the cousin of former college teammate Jeff Lerg.
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