2025 CHL Import Draft

[pgfan66]

It’s that time of year again. With the CHL moving to 3 imports, we’ll be seeing an additional round this year, which likely means every single team will use their first pick and therefore we’ll have more players selected than ever before, perhaps twice as many as in past years. This along with the NCAA rule change will lead to even more uncertainty around this draft than we’re used to.

Still, who are some players from your country you expect to be picked? Who are past picks who didn’t report but might report next season? Who are some players to take a swing at and hope to be able to recruit them if pro doesn’t work out yet?

For Germany, I’d expect all the USHL picks to be potential CHL targets too, plus one 06 who hasn’t played much DEL/DEL2 yet:

06 F Maxi Brunner
07 G Lukas Stuhrmann
07 F Dustin Willhöft
07 F Gustavs Griva
07 F Rihards Griva
08 D Darian Rolsing

I could also see Owen Sound dropping 07 D Max Bleicher so he can go through the draft again, but maybe they’ll keep him given the extra import slot.

Every other German top prospect has either spent significant time in the DEL/DEL2 already and/or announced a pro contract for the upcoming season, making them more unlikely.

 

[hellwar9]

Might report next season:
Luka Radivojevic (probably won't go NCAA, but will move to CHL for 1 more year)
Tobias Tomik (draft year, he has already announced that he is 100% going to the CHL)
Jan Chovan (stagnating in Finland, he wanted to go there already this season)
Adam Nemec (the smallest chance for a report, but still there is some, Nitra will focus mainly on Tomas Chrenko's development and Nemec's overseas would help in development more)
Tomas Pobezal (stagnation in Nitra, lower offensive potential and slow Slovak league didn't help him much, he needs to play faster league, high chance to move to OHL)

Players expect to be picked:
Michal Svrcek
Michal Capos
Alex Misiak
Alex Zalesak
Martin Kalis
Samuel Murin
Jakub Dubravik
Matus Lisy
Ivan Bercik
Ivan Matta
Alexej Kubat
Adam Goljer
Lucas Novak (I don't think he even needs to be drafted, he doesn't need to be considered an import, if I'm not mistaken, it was already clear a few months ago that he's going to try-out for an unnamed CHL club in the summer)
Matej Stankoven
Tobias Zvolensky
Leo Habda
Samuel Hybsky
Juraj Rausa

 

[jtechkid68]

Nemec is most interesting because should be 3-4 th round pick , not commited to college - would assume he goes CHL ?

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Might report next season:
Luka Radivojevic (probably won't go NCAA, but will move to CHL for 1 more year)
Tobias Tomik (draft year, he has already announced that he is 100% going to the CHL)
Jan Chovan (stagnating in Finland, he wanted to go there already this season)
Adam Nemec (the smallest chance for a report, but still there is some, Nitra will focus mainly on Tomas Chrenko's development and Nemec's overseas would help in development more)
Tomas Pobezal (stagnation in Nitra, lower offensive potential and slow Slovak league didn't help him much, he needs to play faster league, high chance to move to OHL)

Players expect to be picked:
Michal Svrcek
Michal Capos
Alex Misiak
Alex Zalesak
Martin Kalis
Samuel Murin
Jakub Dubravik
Matus Lisy
Ivan Bercik
Ivan Matta
Alexej Kubat
Adam Goljer
Lucas Novak (I don't think he even needs to be drafted, he doesn't need to be considered an import, if I'm not mistaken, it was already clear a few months ago that he's going to try-out for an unnamed CHL club in the summer)
Matej Stankoven
Tobias Zvolensky
Leo Habda
Samuel Hybsky
Juraj Rausa

As a Sudbury fan, I'm certainly hoping both Nemec and Chovan report this year. Lots of ice time available for them.

 

[kiwi123]

Might report next season:
Luka Radivojevic (probably won't go NCAA, but will move to CHL for 1 more year)
Tobias Tomik (draft year, he has already announced that he is 100% going to the CHL)
Jan Chovan (stagnating in Finland, he wanted to go there already this season)
Adam Nemec (the smallest chance for a report, but still there is some, Nitra will focus mainly on Tomas Chrenko's development and Nemec's overseas would help in development more)
Tomas Pobezal (stagnation in Nitra, lower offensive potential and slow Slovak league didn't help him much, he needs to play faster league, high chance to move to OHL)

Players expect to be picked:
Michal Svrcek
Michal Capos
Alex Misiak
Alex Zalesak
Martin Kalis
Samuel Murin
Jakub Dubravik
Matus Lisy
Ivan Bercik
Ivan Matta
Alexej Kubat
Adam Goljer
Lucas Novak (I don't think he even needs to be drafted, he doesn't need to be considered an import, if I'm not mistaken, it was already clear a few months ago that he's going to try-out for an unnamed CHL club in the summer)
Matej Stankoven
Tobias Zvolensky
Leo Habda
Samuel Hybsky
Juraj Rausa

18 picks?? Not a bit unrealistic?

 

[LeProspector]

18 picks?? Not a bit unrealistic?

You’re right, there will probably be more Slovaks picked since there is an extra import slot and round this year.

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

Any swedes?

 

[hellwar9]

18 picks?? Not a bit unrealistic?

I didn't say all of them will be drafted to the CHL. But these are the biggest favorites. I think 12-16 players will be drafted to CHL so yeah there might be a bit more of them than last years because, as mentioned, there will be 1 more Import. And most of them will go to the CHL afterwards.

 

[dr1234]

18 picks?? Not a bit unrealistic?

There were 32 Czech/Slovaks picked last year alone, and that’s before the third import slot opened up

 

[Rusty7550]

Might report next season:
Luka Radivojevic (probably won't go NCAA, but will move to CHL for 1 more year)
Tobias Tomik (draft year, he has already announced that he is 100% going to the CHL)
Jan Chovan (stagnating in Finland, he wanted to go there already this season)
Adam Nemec (the smallest chance for a report, but still there is some, Nitra will focus mainly on Tomas Chrenko's development and Nemec's overseas would help in development more)
Tomas Pobezal (stagnation in Nitra, lower offensive potential and slow Slovak league didn't help him much, he needs to play faster league, high chance to move to OHL)

Players expect to be picked:
Michal Svrcek
Michal Capos
Alex Misiak
Alex Zalesak
Martin Kalis
Samuel Murin
Jakub Dubravik
Matus Lisy
Ivan Bercik
Ivan Matta
Alexej Kubat
Adam Goljer
Lucas Novak (I don't think he even needs to be drafted, he doesn't need to be considered an import, if I'm not mistaken, it was already clear a few months ago that he's going to try-out for an unnamed CHL club in the summer)
Matej Stankoven
Tobias Zvolensky
Leo Habda
Samuel Hybsky
Juraj Rausa

It would be cool to see Stankoven in Kamloops Blazers. But QMJHL is probably better for his style

 

[Hinterland]

From a Swiss point of view it's, as always, rather difficult to predict. There are lots of candidates, probably even more because of CHL leagues now allowing teams to carry three imports. Furthermore, because of CHL players now eligible to go to college, CHL teams are likely to lose lots of older players to college teams and could be tempted to select and carry more older or even overager imports. As a result, I could see some 06 kids from Switzerland getting picked as well though I have no idea who'd be interested in heading overseas. Anyway, here the names that came to mind as possibilities, players who could potentially be both good enough and interested:



Goalies:

06 Elijah Neuenschwander
06 Laurin Solèr
07 Gian-Andri Steinmann
07 Matia Birchler
07 Jovin Trachsel


Defensemen:

07 Dorian Moret
07 Finn Bichsel
07 Luca Nappiot
08 Niccolo Castiglioni
08 Vito Thoma


Forwards:

07 Jeremiah Mundy
07 Mike Aeschlimann
07 Arthur Dandois
08 Clemens Troxler
08 Nolan Rohrbach
08 Maxime Sauthier
08 Raphael Achermann
08 Thierry Berger
08 Yanis Lutz
08 Elia Liniger
08 Fabrice Bouvard

 

[Czechboy]

The one draft where Czechs and Slovaks excel.lol

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Finns who might come to CHL
Julius Saari
Matias Vanhanen.

Jokerit has already confirmed Saari is going to play in north-america next season.

Vanhanen also considers going CHL route.
But staying to HIFK is not out of question especially now when Olli Jokinen is HIFK's head-coach.

 

[Czechboy]

The thing that interests me is that now the USHL is showing more interest in Czechs. Many will be drafted by both. Curious where they all choose? Simple one is a mid level prospect like Jan skok.

 

[pgfan66]

The thing that interests me is that now the USHL is showing more interest in Czechs. Many will be drafted by both. Curious where they all choose? Simple one is a mid level prospect like Jan skok.

Probably depends on how high they were drafted. The USHL draft has so many rounds, anyone picked in the later ones (4 and on) probably told them they’re considering CHL too.

 

[alko]

As part of a new policy adopted for the 2025-26 season, CHL clubs will now be permitted to carry up to three import players on their rosters...

Then it is clear, why 3 rounds...

 

[pgfan66]

From a Swiss point of view it's, as always, rather difficult to predict. There are lots of candidates, probably even more because of CHL leagues now allowing teams to carry three imports. Furthermore, because of CHL players now eligible to go to college, CHL teams are likely to lose lots of older players to college teams and could be tempted to select and carry more older or even overager imports. As a result, I could see some 06 kids from Switzerland getting picked as well though I have no idea who'd be interested in heading overseas. Anyway, here the names that came to mind as possibilities, players who could potentially be both good enough and interested:



Goalies:

06 Elijah Neuenschwander
06 Laurin Solèr
07 Gian-Andri Steinmann
07 Matia Birchler
07 Jovin Trachsel


Defensemen:

07 Dorian Moret
07 Finn Bichsel
07 Luca Nappiot
08 Niccolo Castiglioni
08 Vito Thoma


Forwards:

07 Jeremiah Mundy
07 Mike Aeschlimann
07 Arthur Dandois
08 Clemens Troxler
08 Nolan Rohrbach
08 Maxime Sauthier
08 Raphael Achermann
08 Thierry Berger
08 Yanis Lutz
08 Elia Liniger
08 Fabrice Bouvard

I’m sure that 10-15 of those names will be picked. But personally, I’d probably only want a handful of them at most. Especially the 07s didn’t exactly help their cause at the U18s.

 

[Hinterland]

I’m sure that 10-15 of those names will be picked. But personally, I’d probably only want a handful of them at most. Especially the 07s didn’t exactly help their cause at the U18s.

I'm not sure if that many will be picked but it's very difficult to predict who's gonna actually deliver and who's gonna be back in Switzerland in no time. Even just looking at last season, Schenk was seen as a high profile prospect while Pedrotti was an absolute nobody and as a 07 late birthday maybe even the youngest import and one of the younger players in the league, too. Still, Pedrotti played well and managed to stick around while Schenk didn't. Also, nobody expected Steiner to dominate the way he did or Körbler to fall off a cliff like that. We're talking about kids in a foreign country, far away from home, different language, different coaching styles, smaller rinks etc. You never know who's gonna work out and who's gonna fail.

Re the WJC18 I thought Mundy, Aeschlimann and Trachsel had a very good tournament. Dandois barely played, must have been sick or injured. Moret and Bichsel were fine but their ice time was inconsistent and they both missed a game so my guess is they weren't 100% either. Nappiot was fine in a smaller role I thought. I'm not the biggest fan of him but he's skilled and versatile. Steinmann, for whatever reason, didn't play a single minute so Birchler I think is the only one who didn't help his chances at the WJC18. Not just for the CHL import draft but also the upcoming NHL draft. He was brutal.

 

[pgfan66]

Re the WJC18 I thought Mundy, Aeschlimann and Trachsel had a very good tournament. Dandois barely played, must have been sick or injured. Moret and Bichsel were fine but their ice time was inconsistent and they both missed a game so my guess is they weren't 100% either. Nappiot was fine in a smaller role I thought. I'm not the biggest fan of him but he's skilled and versatile. Steinmann, for whatever reason, didn't play a single minute so Birchler I think is the only one who didn't help his chances at the WJC18. Not just for the CHL import draft but also the upcoming NHL draft. He was brutal.

I’d agree with Trachsel. But other than that, I didn’t see great (immediate) CHL upside from anyone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m generally of the opinion that at least 90% of European top-division national team players could play in the CHL based on their talent level. But imports are supposed to be impact players, not bottom-sixers.

Neuenschwander looked by far the most talented, to no-one’s surprise, but he’s too young for the import draft and will be a pro anyway. Behind that, this team was really missing a guy at Steiner level. Schenk was just ok, he’s probably a third-liner in the CHL at 19. Mundy looked like a bottom-six role player. Pedrotti was the best D for me but didn’t look like an impact CHL D yet either. Nappiot looked a lot worse than he did in league play all season. Haas was physical but nothing else. Guys like Aeschlimann and Van Der Kaaij were solid and played good roles for this team but are easily below-average in the CHL. Troxler and Bouvard weren’t a factor at all.

I really don’t think anyone did themselves a real favour, not even Schenk.

 

[kiwi123]

I’d agree with Trachsel. But other than that, I didn’t see great (immediate) CHL upside from anyone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m generally of the opinion that at least 90% of European top-division national team players could play in the CHL based on their talent level. But imports are supposed to be impact players, not bottom-sixers.

Neuenschwander looked by far the most talented, to no-one’s surprise, but he’s too young for the import draft and will be a pro anyway. Behind that, this team was really missing a guy at Steiner level. Schenk was just ok, he’s probably a third-liner in the CHL at 19. Mundy looked like a bottom-six role player. Pedrotti was the best D for me but didn’t look like an impact CHL D yet either. Nappiot looked a lot worse than he did in league play all season. Haas was physical but nothing else. Guys like Aeschlimann and Van Der Kaaij were solid and played good roles for this team but are easily below-average in the CHL. Troxler and Bouvard weren’t a factor at all.

I really don’t think anyone did themselves a real favour, not even Schenk.

Interesting analysis. I wish you would do the same with the Slovak prospects.
I agree with you that an import must bring impact and it blows my mind that some people see 18 candidates for such impact players among the Slovaks.

 

[SergeConstantin]

Might report next season:
Luka Radivojevic (probably won't go NCAA, but will move to CHL for 1 more year)
Tobias Tomik (draft year, he has already announced that he is 100% going to the CHL)
Jan Chovan (stagnating in Finland, he wanted to go there already this season)
Adam Nemec (the smallest chance for a report, but still there is some, Nitra will focus mainly on Tomas Chrenko's development and Nemec's overseas would help in development more)
Tomas Pobezal (stagnation in Nitra, lower offensive potential and slow Slovak league didn't help him much, he needs to play faster league, high chance to move to OHL)

Players expect to be picked:
Michal Svrcek
Michal Capos
Alex Misiak
Alex Zalesak
Martin Kalis
Samuel Murin
Jakub Dubravik
Matus Lisy
Ivan Bercik
Ivan Matta
Alexej Kubat
Adam Goljer
Lucas Novak (I don't think he even needs to be drafted, he doesn't need to be considered an import, if I'm not mistaken, it was already clear a few months ago that he's going to try-out for an unnamed CHL club in the summer)
Matej Stankoven
Tobias Zvolensky
Leo Habda
Samuel Hybsky
Juraj Rausa

I assume these teams still own their 2024 draft pick rights.

Radivojevic (Charlottetown, QMJHL)
Tomik (Vancouver, WHL)
Chovan (Sudbury, OHL)
Chrenko (Kitchener, OHL)
Nemec (Sudbury, OHL)

 

[Hinterland]

I’d agree with Trachsel. But other than that, I didn’t see great (immediate) CHL upside from anyone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m generally of the opinion that at least 90% of European top-division national team players could play in the CHL based on their talent level. But imports are supposed to be impact players, not bottom-sixers.

Neuenschwander looked by far the most talented, to no-one’s surprise, but he’s too young for the import draft and will be a pro anyway. Behind that, this team was really missing a guy at Steiner level. Schenk was just ok, he’s probably a third-liner in the CHL at 19. Mundy looked like a bottom-six role player. Pedrotti was the best D for me but didn’t look like an impact CHL D yet either. Nappiot looked a lot worse than he did in league play all season. Haas was physical but nothing else. Guys like Aeschlimann and Van Der Kaaij were solid and played good roles for this team but are easily below-average in the CHL. Troxler and Bouvard weren’t a factor at all.

I really don’t think anyone did themselves a real favour, not even Schenk.

Schenk dominated the tournament...unfortunately hurt the team by taking penalty after penalty vs Germany and probably didn't have his best game, too but he's been razor sharp in other pool games. I'm not sure if he wants to give the CHL another go though...which is why I didn't list him. Aeschlimann was tied with Schenk in terms of points and played a good Hlinka Gretzky already. I'm not the biggest fan of Mundy or Nappiot but they played a good tournament in a limited role. Haas is one of the best 07 born defensemen and has pro experience already...I have no idea why the coaches didn't play him properly. I didn't list Haas because I think he's too close to Lausanne's pro team to head overseas. Coaches also didn't select Mike Cuesta for the WJC18 which is another head scratcher.

I totally agree with you that the WJC18 team was lacking elite skill. Still, given the circumstances they played a very good tournament. They were at least equal vs a very good German team, the Czechia game was a one shot game until Switzerland pulled Trachsel. The other pool losses only looked so ugly because Birchler was leaky as f***. I haven't watched the Norway game but even the decision to start Birchler again was as stupid as it gets.

The 07's won't be the youngest imports anymore, won't be among the youngest kids in the CHL either. Also, since CHL teams are gonna lose veterans to college and are now allowed to carry three imports I think they'll have more room for players like I listed them.

We'll see. Like I said. Just the players that came to mind first.

 

[Bjindaho]

Schenk dominated the tournament...unfortunately hurt the team by taking penalty after penalty vs Germany and probably didn't have his best game, too but he's been razor sharp in other pool games. I'm not sure if he wants to give the CHL another go though...which is why I didn't list him. Aeschlimann was tied with Schenk in terms of points and played a good Hlinka Gretzky already. I'm not the biggest fan of Mundy or Nappiot but they played a good tournament in a limited role. Haas is one of the best 07 born defensemen and has pro experience already...I have no idea why the coaches didn't play him properly. I didn't list Haas because I think he's too close to Lausanne's pro team to head overseas. Coaches also didn't select Mike Cuesta for the WJC18 which is another head scratcher.

I totally agree with you that the WJC18 team was lacking elite skill. Still, given the circumstances they played a very good tournament. They were at least equal vs a very good German team, the Czechia game was a one shot game until Switzerland pulled Trachsel. The other pool losses only looked so ugly because Birchler was leaky as f***. I haven't watched the Norway game but even the decision to start Birchler again was as stupid as it gets.

The 07's won't be the youngest imports anymore, won't be among the youngest kids in the CHL either. Also, since CHL teams are gonna lose veterans to college and are now allowed to carry three imports I think they'll have more room for players like I listed them.

We'll see. Like I said. Just the players that came to mind first.

FWIW, Schenk's rights still belong to Saint John

 

[Hinterland]

FWIW, Schenk's rights still belong to Saint John

Good point. Official statement says "reassigned" not "released". Seadogs also haven't added any imports so you're most certainly right. In this case it will be interesting to see if they're interested in bringing Schenk back (and if the player wants to return to NA) or if they decide to use all picks instead.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Generally if a Russian/Swedish/Finnish kid is coming over, they're probably decently high-end and would clear the "2 per team" threshold pretty easily. I expect with a 3 per-team threshold, you'll see a lot more players from the other European countries where kids will be happy to come over even if they are only a marginal CHL-level player because it's still going to be a better development opportunity than what they'd face domestically.