The CHL import draft is an important one for NHL scouts to keep an eye on, as it brings some of the best talent in the world over to play and develop a little closer to home. While not all of the players selected make the trip across the ocean, many of the top draftees eventually make their mark in the NHL draft, as we saw first hand just last weekend.
Olli Juolevi, Alex Nylander and Mikhail Sergachev all were import drafts in 2015 and made their name in the OHL before going in the top-10 on Friday. Others, like German Rubtsov have already gone in the first round (#22 to the Flyers) before even being selected for the CHL. Here is the first round of the 2016 CHL Import Draft:
#1 Kootenay – Klim Kostin (C, Russia)
#2 Guelph – Dmitri Samorukov (LD, Russia)
#3 Baie-Comeau – Ivan Chekhovich (C, Russia)
#4 Vancouver – Filip Zadina (RW, Czech Republic)
#5 Sudbury – Jachym Kondelik (LW, Czech Republic)
#6 Halifax – Nico Hischier (RW, Switzerland)
#7 Saskatoon – Mark Rubinchik (LD, Russia)
#8 Flint – Michal Steinocher (LD, Czech Republic)
#9 Drummondville – Pavel Koltygin (LW, Russia)
#10 Swift Current – Aleksi Heponiemi (LW, Finland)
#11 Hamilton – Marian Studenic (C, Slovakia)
#12 Sherbrooke – Yaroslav Alexeyev (LW, Russia)
#13 Edmonton – Artyom Baltruk (C, Belarus)
#14 Saginaw – Filip Hronek (RD, Czech Republic)
#15 Acadie-Bathurst – Igor Galygin (D, Russia)
#16 Medicine Hat – Kristians Rubins (LD, Latvia)
#17 Oshawa – Eeli Tolvanen (RW, Finland)
#18 Blainville-Boisbriand – Axel Simic (LW, Switzerland)
#19 Tri-City – PASS
#20 Mississauga – Jacob Moverare (LD, Sweden)
#21 Quebec – Philip Kurashev (LW, Switzerland)
#22 Spokane – Ondrej Najman (LW, Czech Republic)
#23 Peterborough – Matyas Svoboda (LW, Czech Republic)
#24 Victoriaville – Ivan Kosorenkov (RW, Russia)
#25 Portland – Henri Jokiharju (RD, Finland)
#26 Sault Ste. Marie – Otto Makinen (C, Finland)
#27 Chicoutimi – German Rubtsov (C, Russia)
#28 Prince George – Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (LW, Sweden)
#29 Owen Sound – Maxim Sushko (LW, Belarus)
#30 Charlottetown – Saku Vesterinen (RD, Finland)
#31 Regina – Filip Ahl (LW, Sweden)
#32 Ottawa – Andrei Golikov (RD, Russia)
#33 Rimouski – Denis Mikhnin (LW, Russia)
#34 Moose Jaw – Dmitry Zaitsev (LD, Russia)
#35 Niagara – Pavel Demin (C, Russia)
#36 Cape Breton – Vasily Glotov (C, Russia)
#37 Prince Albert – PASS
#38 North Bay – Adam Thilander (RD, Sweden)
#39 Moncton – Simon Le Coultre (LD, Switzerland)
#40 Everett – Eetu Tuulola (RW, Finland)
#41 Windsor – Urho Vaakanainen (LD, Finland)
#42 Saint John – Alexander Vdovenko (LW, Russia)
#43 Kamloops – Rudolfs Balcers (LW, Latvia)
#44 Barrie – Alexey Lipanov (RW, Russia)
#45 Shawinigan – Samuel Bucek (RW, Slovakia)
#46 Calgary – Vladislav Yeryomenko (RD, Belarus)
#47 Sarnia – Filip Helt (F, Czech Republic)
#48 Gatineau – PASS
#49 Red Deer – Alexander Alexeyev (RD, Russia)
#50 Kitchener – Cedric Schiemenz (C, Germany)
#51 Val-d’Or – Ivan Kozlov (C, Russia)
#52 Seattle – Sami Moilanen (RW, Finland)
#53 Kingston – Linus Nyman (LW, Finland)
#54 Rouyn-Noranda – Jan Drozg (RW, Slovenia)
#55 Lethbridge – PASS
#56 London – Janne Kuokkanen (C, Finland)
#57 Kelowna – PASS
#58 Erie – German Poddubnnyi (C, Russia)
#59 Brandon – Linus Nassen (LD, Sweden)
#60 Victoria – PASS
You can find more information about the draft, and the full second round results at the CHL website here.