The scene at the CHL import draft is much different from the NHL Draft that takes place a few nights earlier. Instead of a big production with team management, players, families and fans gathering to draft players, the import draft takes place in offices across the Canadian Hockey League as teams select international players with the hope they’ll come to North America.
This year, 78 players were drafted by teams in the QMJHL, WHL and OHL, with the three leagues rotating draft slots. Each CHL team is allowed to carry two import skaters, meaning a lot of teams end up skipping a pick since one of those slots are already filled. That’s why a total of 42 draft selections were passed over this year.
An import draft is a riskier affair than a regular draft for the three leagues. Major junior teams don’t have the array of internal scouts like they have on home soil. For many general managers, the only time they’ve seen their import picks in person is at tournaments such as the U-17 worlds.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward scenario. Last year, the QMJHL was dominated by import picks, with the top six rookie scorers all joining the league through the import draft. The WHL’s top point-getter in the regular season, Danish forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, was selected with the 26th pick of the 2012 import draft by the Portland Winterhawks.
When the second overall pick of the 2014 CHL import draft, Vladislav Kamenev, didn’t report to the Quebec Remparts last season, acquiring another import became a top priority for Philippe Boucher, who said “I think you need two imports in any lineup to have success,” after acquiring Vladimir Tkachev for the Memorial Cup hosts.
Here are a few players from the QMJHL, OHL and WHL who could play important roles this season:
QMJHL
Vladimir Kuznetsov, LW, Acadie-Bathurst Titan
The first overall pick of the import draft, Kuznetsov may not have been the best player available, but in this draft, willingness to play for a CHL team trumps skill. The six-foot-two, 190-pound left winger already has posed in pictures with a Titan jersey bearing the No. 98 he’ll wear next season, also the year he was born. Last year with Avto Yekaterinburg of the Russian junior hockey league, Kuznetzov had seven goals and five assists in 43 games. The Titan selected playmaker Antoine Morand with the second overall pick of the QMJHL draft earlier in June. Together, Morand and Kuznetsov should provide a big boost for the goal-starved Titan.
Vladimir Kuznetsov #98 #ABTitan pic.twitter.com/Jbh2JmXF2v
— Titan AcadieBathurst (@ABTitan) June 30, 2015
Vitali Abramov, LW, Gatineau Olympiques
Last season, Yakov Trenin turned out to be one of the best players for the Gatineau Olympiques, finishing the season with 67 points as a rookie. In the import draft this year, Gatineau took another Russian from Trenin’s junior team Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk. Vitali Abramov could be a first-rounder in the 2016 NHL Draft. He was part of the Russian gold medal-winning squad at the under-17 tournament in Sarnia in November. Head coach and general manager Ben Groulx seems confident Abramov will join the squad.
Martin Dzierkais, C, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
When the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Martins Dzierkais in the third round this year, it was reported the Latvian would most likely be coming to the CHL. When the import draft rolled around, it was the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies who drafted the 5-foot-11, 180-pound centre with the 22nd pick. The Leafs think he could be a sleeper and he could turn into a huge addition for the Huskies. Dzierkais already has lots of international experience, playing above his age class with Latvian under-18 and under-20 teams.
Noranda confident that Dzierkais will report to them. #CHLImportDraft
— Mark Edwards (@MarkEdwardsHP) June 30, 2015
Alexander Dergachev, RW, Shawinigan Cataractes
The Cataractes added a big Russian to their roster, selecting the six-foot-four, 225-pound Alexander Dergachev with the 40th pick of the draft. Last year he won silver with Russia at the world juniors, scoring a goal and adding three assists in seven games. The right winger power-forward battles hard for the puck and is a scoring threat with his good hands. A third-round pick (74th overall) by the Los Angeles Kings this year, Dergachev and dual American-Russian citizen Dennis Yan (selected 10 picks earlier by the Tampa Bay Lightning) could provide some serious size and scoring for the Cataractes this season.
Will like to welcome Alexander Dergachev @LAKings #Cataractes #CHLImportDraft pic.twitter.com/FzNqKyV09m
— Martin Mondou (@MartinMondou) June 30, 2015
OHL
Dmitry Sokolov, LW, Sudbury Wolves
If the 2016 NHL Draft were to happen today, there’s a good chance Dmitry Sokolov would go in the top 10. The Sudbury Wolves selected the Russian with the third overall pick of the import draft. He led Russia at the under-17 tournament with six goals and three assists in six games and picked up a gold medal in the process. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound winger’s excellent tournament made him a big target in the import draft. He’s a good scorer with good hands and will join a Sudbury Wolves team that’s had success with import picks, led in scoring last season by Minnesota Wild prospect Pavel Jenys.
Alexander Nylander, LW, Mississauga Steelheads
The Steelheads selected another Nylander you should know about. Alexander, the son of former NHLer Michael Nylander and younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander, went to Mississauga with the 12th pick of the draft. He’s excellent with the puck, sharing many of the same skills as his brother. The Steelheads selected the older Nylander with the 13th pick of the import draft last year, but he never reported. Michael is a potential first-rounder in the 2016 NHL Draft.
#OHL @OhlMississauga picked William Nylander's brother Alexander in #CHL import draft. Last year the team selected William in draft. #Leafs
— Tony Ambrogio (@Tony_Ambrogio) June 30, 2015
Vili Saarijäriv, D, Flint Firebirds
Finnish D-man Vili Saarijäriv already has had a taste of North America, playing 57 games for the Green Bay Gamblers is the USHL last season. The Flint Firebirds selected him ninth in the import draft days after the Detroit Red Wings nabbed him in the third round of the NHL draft. The skilled but small forward-turned-defender — he’s only 5-foot-9 and 161-pounds — may end up returning to Finland to play for Karpat in the top men’s league.
.@ViliSaarijarvi said he'd like to play for Flint but it's up to Karpat to let him come to OHL.
— George Sipple (@GeorgeSipple) July 2, 2015
Olli Juolevi, D, London Knights
Another Finnish blueliner selected in the import draft, the London Knights picked Olli Juolevi with the 45th pick. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder is a potential first-round pick in next year’s NHL Draft. He’s a two-way D-man who had 32 points in 44 games with Jokerit’s under-20 team in Finland. If he ends up wearing the Knight’s jersey this season, he’ll remind people of another Finnish import pick, Olli Maata, who played for London and went on to be a first-rounder in the NHL.
London Knights GM Basil McRae has spoken to Olli Juolevi and says, "There is still work to be done but it looks good (to get him here)."
— Ryan Pyette (@RyanatLFPress) June 30, 2015
WHL
Oliver Kylington, D, Brandon Wheat Kings
Swedish defender Oliver Kylington had a monopoly on the 60th draft slot in hockey drafts in June, going to the Calgary Flames at that spot in the NHL Draft and to the Brandon Wheat Kings in the CHL import draft. Joining the powerhouse Wheat Kings is no sure thing for Kylington. He’s under contract with AIK of the second-tier Swedish league Allsvenskan, the team where he played last year while on loan from top-tier Farjestad. There’s also a chance he could play in the American Hockey League if he can get out of his AIK contract. The two-way defender took a tumble in the NHL draft, falling to the bottom of the first round after being a potential first-rounder.
Michael Spacek, RW, Red Deer Rebels
For the second year in a row, Michael Spacek has been drafted by a WHL team in the import draft. Last year, the Medicine Hat Tigers picked him, but the Czech winger remained in his home country, playing for HC Dynamo Pardubice in the top Czech league. Armed with a good shot, the small playmaker would need to get out of his contract to come to play for the 2016 Memorial Cup host Red Deer Rebels. Spacek was selected in the fourth round by the Winnipeg Jets in June.
At the draft, Michael Spacek expressed interest in playing in North America next season. Rebels are hosting the 2016 Memorial Cup #NHLJets
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebeSunSports) June 30, 2015
Juuso Välimäki, D, Tri-City Americans
There’s no need for speculation when it comes to Finnish defender Juuso Välimäki as he’s publicly stated he’s crossing the Atlantic to join Tri-City this fall. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound player had 20 points in 44 games in Jr. A in Finland last season. While the 2017 NHL Draft is far away, International Scouting Services has identified him as a potential top pick in that draft.
So excited to be a part of @TCAmericans on the next season!
— Juuso Välimäki (@juike4) July 1, 2015