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General managers hoping their gambles pay at CHL import draft
There were lots of gambles taking place on Tuesday as the Canadian Hockey League held their annual import draft. Many big names – including players taken last weekend at the NHL entry draft – were in the mix as 120 players had their CHL rights picked up.
Going first overall to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan was Russian forward Vladimir Kuznetsov. The 17-year-old won a gold medal with Russia at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge last year and played the regular season with his hometown Yekaterinburg in the MHL, Russia’s junior league. He finished with 12 points in 43 games. He won't be eligible for the NHL draft until 2016.
Russia lead the charge at the draft with 19 players selected followed by the Czech Republic (12) and Finland and Sweden tied at nine players a piece.
One of the biggest names taken on Tuesday was Swedish defenceman Oliver Kylington, a second-round pick of the Calgary Flames. The 18-year-old was one of the biggest surprises last weekend when he fell late in the second round – 60th overall – despite being projected as one of the top European skaters for the entry draft in Sunrise, Fla.
“Oliver is a tremendous talent that will be an impact player at the major junior level,” said Brandon coach and GM Kelly McCrimmon in a statement. “He’s currently under contract in Sweden…so his availability to play in Brandon is uncertain at this time but we will work with the Flames and Oliver’s representatives to confirm his status.”
Kylington’s Swedish team AIK still reportedly has the defender under contract for two more seasons, though he is currently playing in the HockeyAllsvenskan – the Swedish second division, behind the SHL. Kylington started the season with the SHL’s Färjestad BK where he scored five points in 18 games before being sent to AIK where he finished with four goals and three assists in 17 games.
Brandon also used their second pick in the draft to take Austrian forward Dario Winkler.
Each CHL team is permitted to carry two import players. The Wheat Kings still have imports Ivan Provorov and Rihards Bukarts on their roster. However, Burkarts is an overager who could turn pro and Provorov was taken in the first round of the NHL entry draft (seventh-overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers and could potentially stay in the NHL this season – opening the door for new imports.
Leafs prospect William Nylander saw his younger brother, Alexander, 17, drafted by the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads. The Steelheads swung for the fences last year in selecting the elder Nylander, who was a no-show. Instead the 19-year-old played in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies. The Steelheads are hoping they have better luck with Alexander who is eligible for the 2016 NHL draft.
"We hope that there's a better chance (of getting Alexander to report) because William is here in Toronto," said Mississauga coach and GM James Boyd. "I spoke with his agent before the draft and we don't have any assurances at this point.
"We're hoping to speak with him because we feel there's a natural fit ... but right now he's a player who has options."
Mississauga's second pick in the draft, Swedish winger Daniel Muzito-Bagenda is better bet to join the Steelheads next season. The 19-year-old played with Modo's junior team last season and averaged almost a point-per-game with 10 goals and 25 assists in 37 games.
"I think he's a good fit for us because he's played some international hockey and he's a bigger guy," said Boyd of the 6-foot-1, 198-pound forward. "He wants to come over, but I don't know what his contract status is. I anticipate he'll be with us next year."
The Flint Firebirds took Detroit Red Wings third-round pick Vili Saarijarvi with their first pick in the import draft. The 18-year-old defenceman played last year with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers where he scored six goals and 17 assists in 57 regular season games.
Despite spending the season in North America, Saarijarvi signed a three-year deal to play with Karpat Oulu in the Liiga – the top hockey league in Finland. Karpat is one of the best teams in Finland and coached by Lauri Marjamäki, widely considered to be one of the top Liiga coaches, so it’s questionable whether Saarijarvi heads to Flint.
The Firebirds felt it was worth the risk to take Saarijarvi, even though he could play next season in Finland.
"We're hopeful that everything gets worked out and he'll be playing in Flint next year," (Flint GM Terry) Christensen said.
"I did talk to Vili and we expressed to him how excited we were to have been able to draft him. He was very, very excited that we did draft him. He wants to be in Michigan. He wants to be as close as he possibly can to the Detroit situation." (Detroit Free Press)
Maple Leafs third-round pick Martins Dzierkals of Latvia was also taken in the import draft by the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He is expected to report.
The Halifax Mooseheads are also optimistic that Finnish forward Otto Somppi - their 19th overall pick - will be with them next season. According to Mooseheads GM Cam Russell, the 17-year-old is not under contract with any team in Finland.
