The CHL is holding its annual import draft today, where teams from across the Canadian junior leagues get to select the rights to players around the world. Often these are recently drafted prospects, or those seen to have good chances at next year’s draft. Being selected has no guarantee that the player will actually ever suit up for the team, as Klim Kostin (the 31st-overall pick in this year’s NHL entry draft) has made very clear. Kostin was selected first-overall in the import draft last year, but has said that he has no intention of ever playing for the Kootenay Ice, instead hoping to play in the AHL or NHL next season.
Sometimes though, you can get an immense talent. Nico Hischier was selected sixth-overall by Halifax last season, and quickly rose to the first-overall pick in the 2017 Entry Draft. Mikhail Sergachev was also selected sixth in the 2015 draft before eventually being the return for Jonathan Drouin this summer. To be sure, there will be a name or two out of this year’s draft to make a huge impact in the NHL. Each team can only carry two import players on the roster, meaning many will pass on the opportunity to select another one. The results are below (including the NHL team that drafted them this weekend):
Round 1
1. Barrie – Andrei Svechnikov (RW, Russia)
2. Moncton – Alexander Khovanov (C, Russia)
3. Kootenay – Gilian Kohler (W, Switzerland)
4. Guelph – Alexei Toropchenko (RW, Russia/St. Louis Blues)
5. Sherbrook – PASS
6. Vancouver – Milos Roman (C, Slovakia)
7. North Bay – Filip Chytil (C, Czech Republic/New York Rangers)
8. Rimouski – Dmitri Zavgorodny (F, Russia)
9. Prince Albert – Dominik Bokk (RW, Germany)
10. Saginaw – Martin Necas (C, Czech Republic/Carolina Hurricanes)
11. Halifax – Filip Zadina (RW, Czech Republic)
12. Edmonton – Andrei Pavlenko (F, Belarus)
13. Niagara – Timothy Liljegren (RD, Sweden/Toronto Maple Leafs)
14. Val-d’Or – PASS
15. Saskatoon – PASS
16. Ottawa – Nikita Okhotyuk – (LD, Russia)
17. Baie-Comeau – Alexandre Texier (C, France/Columbus Blue Jackets)
18. Spokane – Milos Fafrak (LW, Slovakia)
19. Sudbury – Zack Malik (LD, Czech Republic)
20. Drummondville – Bastian Eckl (RW, Germany)
21. Calgary – PASS
22. Sarnia – Hugo Leufvenius (C, Sweden)
23. Quebec – Tomas Dajcar (LD, Czech Republic)
24. Brandon – Martin Kaut (RW, Czech Republic)
25. Flint – Nikita Alexandrov (D, Russia)
26. Gatineau – Mikhail Shestopalov (LW, Russia)
27. Red Deer – Kristian Reichel (C, Czech Republic)
28. Hamilton – Joni Ikonen (C, Finland/Montreal Canadiens)
29. Victoriaville – Matvei Zaseda (LW, Russia)
30. Victoria – Igor Martynov (RW, Belarus)
31. Kingston – PASS
32. Chicoutimi – Vladislav Kotkov (LW, Russia)
33. Portland – Samuel Fagemo (LW, Sweden)
34. Kitchener – Adam Liska (C/LW, Slovakia)
35. Cape Breton – Yegor Sokolov (LW, Russia)
36. Tri-City – Roman Kalinichenko (LD, Russia)
37. Mississauga – Albert Michnac (LW, Czech Republic)
38. Acadie-Bathurst – Michal Ivan (LD, Slovakia)
39. Swift Current – PASS
40. Oshawa – Nico Gross (RD, Switzerland)
41. Shawinigan – Jan Drozg (LW, Slovenia/Pittsburgh Penguins)
42. Kamloops – Justin Sigrist (C, Switzerland)
43. Peterborough – Gleb Babintsev (LD, Russia)
44. Blainville-Boisbriand – Jan Hladonik (C, Czech Republic)
45. Moose Jaw – Oleg Sosunov (LD, Russia)
46. Windsor – Kirill Kozhevnikov (C, Russia)
47. Rouyn-Noranda – Patrik Hrehorcak (RW, Slovakia)
48. Lethbridge – Yegor Zudilov (F, Russia)
49. London – Jesper Bratt (RW, Sweden/New Jersey Devils)
50. Charlottetown – Nikita Alexandrov (F, Germany)
51. Kelowna – Libor Zabransky (RD, Czech Republic)
52. Sault Ste. Marie – Rasmus Sandin (RD, Sweden)
53. Saint John – Ostap Safin (RW, Czech Republic/Edmonton Oilers)
54. Prince George – Vladislav Mikhalchuk (F, Belarus)
55. Owen Sound – Vasili Filyayev (F, Belarus)
56. Seattle – Nikita Malukhin (F, Russia)
57. Erie – Stephane Patry (LW, Switzerland)
58. Everett – Martin Fasko-Rudas (RW, Slovakia)
59. Medicine Hat – Mick Kohler (C, Germany)
60. Regina – Yegor Zamula (D, Russia)
Round 2
61. Barrie – PASS
62. Moncton – PASS
63. Kootenay – Martin Bodak (RD, Slovakia)
64. Guelph – PASS
65. Sherbrooke – PASS
66. Vancouver – Yannik Valenti (RW, Germany)
67. North Bay – PASS
68. Rimouski – PASS
69. Prince Albert – PASS
70. Saginaw – Tom-Eric Bappert (LD, Germany)
71. Halifax – PASS
72. Edmonton – PASS
73. Niagara – PASS
74. Val-d’OR – PASS
75. Saskatoon – PASS
76. Ottawa – Oliver True (RW, Denmark)
77. Baie-Comeau – PASS
78. Spokane – Filip Kral (LD, Czech Republic)
79. Sudbury – PASS
80. Drummondville – PASS
81. Calgary – PASS
82. Sarnia – PASS
83. Quebec – PASS
84. Brandon – PASS
85. Flint – PASS
86. Gatineau – PASS
87. Red Deer – PASS
88. Hamilton – PASS
89. Victoriaville – PASS
90. Victoria – PASS
91. Kingston – PASS
92. Chicoutimi – PASS
93. Portland – PASS
94. Kitchener – Rickard Hugg (C, Sweden)
95. Cape Breton – PASS
96. Tri-City – Sergei Sapego (F, Belarus)
97. Mississauga – PASS
98. Acadie-Bathurst – PASS
99. Swift Current – PASS
100. Oshawa – PASS
101. Shawinigan – Danil Roganov (D, Russia)
102. Kamloops – PASS
103. Peterborough – PASS
104. Blainvill-Boisbriand – Aleksi Anttalainen (LD, Finland)
105. Moose Jaw – PASS
106. Windsor – Lev Starikov (LD, Russia)
107. Rouyn-Noranda – Jakub Lauko (C/LW, Czech Republic
108. Lethbridge – PASS
109. London – Adam Boqvist (LD, Sweden)
110. Charlottetown – PASS
111. Kelowna – Marek Skvrne (RW, Czech Republic)
112. Sault Ste. Marie – Rasmus Kupari (C, Finland)
113. Saint John – Radim Salda (LD, Czech Republic)
114. Prince George – PASS
115. Owen Sound – PASS
116. Seattle – PASS
117. Erie – PASS
118. Everett – Pavel Azhgirei (F, Belarus)
119. Medicine Hat – Linus Nassen (LD, Sweden/Florida Panthers)
120. Regina – Emil Oksanen (LW, Finland)
Why pass?
I’ve updated above Connor, but CHL teams can only carry two import players on the roster.
Oh ok thanks