The NHL draft is now annually roughly split between a third of the selected players coming from each of Canadian major-junior, the U.S. collegiate NCAA and Europe.
With the former dominance of Canadian Hockey League major-junior now over, it has less of a sheen for aspiring young players. For instance, Matthew Wood of Nanaimo went the Junior A route through the Victoria Grizzlies of the B.C. Hockey League and University of Connecticut of the NCAA before being selected 15th overall last week in the 2023 NHL draft by the Nashville Predators. It’s also why there are so few Swedes or Finns in CHL major-junior because of the strong developmental systems in those countries.
Yet the two import players — meaning non-North Americans — that each CHL major-junior team is allowed on its roster can turn out to be key contributors if chosen wisely. Slovakian Samuel Honzek of the Vancouver Giants was selected 16th overall in the NHL draft last week by the Calgary Flames. Victoria Royals’ Czech import forward Robin Sapousek represented his homeland at the 2023 world junior championship and is eligible also for the 2024 world juniors.
The 2023 CHL import draft takes place today with selections rotating in turn between the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League. The inverse order is based on last season’s standings, and each league’s lottery draft if applicable, with the lower teams selecting first on up.
The Royals, the third-lowest team in the WHL last season, will select ninth overall in the two-round import draft. The Erie Otters of the OHL will select first, Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL second and WHL last-place Edmonton Oil Kings third. The Niagara IceDogs of the OHL will pick fourth, Val-d’Or Foreurs of the QMJHL fifth and Spokane Chiefs of the WHL sixth. The set following will be the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL selecting seventh, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMHL eighth and Victoria ninth.
The reigning WHL regular-season champion Winnipeg Ice, now the Wenatchee Wild, will pick 60th and last in the first round.
Russian and Belarusian players will be ineligible for selection due to the world situation.
With Sapousek returning and forward Marcus Almquist departing and having signed a pro contract in his native Denmark, the Royals have one spot open in 2023-24 for an import player.
Victoria GM and head coach Dan Price said the Royals will not use their second pick today because there is no need.
A key to the CHL import draft is assuring the prospective European players will show up to training camp, which makes clear and concise communication between the clubs and the players and their agents crucial to the process.
“You want a high degree of certainty the players are going to come to play for you before you select them,” said Price.
