2025 CHL Import Draft

[Hinterland]

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.

The opposite is the case. From those countries, and especially from Sweden, prospects coming over are often times not really high profile prospects because the real top prospects mostly aren't interested in heading overseas. For example, Filip Ekberg was an absolute exception last season. Kids with his kinda standing usually stay in Sweden. I wouldn't be surprised to see CHL teams pick more of those sleeper picks from the countries you mentioned and not more just kids from smaller hockey markets. A bit of both maybe, mixed in with the occasional high profile prospect they hope they can convince to come over eventually.

 

[Bjindaho]

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.

They could either bring him back or find another Q team that he might fit better on (like maybe Rouyn-Noranda to play with Steiner)

 

[Kingpin794]

Important to note that not everyone is going to ice 3 imports. Some will but other will likely use 2 picks on decent players and the 3rd will be a home run swing for big name players. If a team does a really good job of recruiting Americans, they won't have as many open spots to fill so they might fall into the second group. Teams that are still having a hard time recruiting could use all 3 spots on so-so imports to fill out lineups.

 

[WarriorofTime]

The opposite is the case. From those countries, and especially from Sweden, prospects coming over are often times not really high profile prospects because the real top prospects mostly aren't interested in heading overseas. For example, Filip Ekberg was an absolute exception last season. Kids with his kinda standing usually stay in Sweden. I wouldn't be surprised to see CHL teams pick more of those sleeper picks from the countries you mentioned and not just kids from smaller hockey markets.

I see what you're saying as I dive in to Swedish kids, basically kids not prioritized domestically looking for a grass is greener scenario. I was admittedly mostly thinking of Russia where it's generally NHL-level prospects looking to come over to acclimate into North America whereas your typical "KHL prospect" will stick around the MHL and stay in the orbit of their KHL teams, and then extrapolating how Swedish prospects mostly stay domestic and made some incorrect assumptions.

 

[Trav]

If Tobias Tomik reports to the Vancouver Giants, that should be a big boost for them.

It was interesting seeing the Saskatoon Blades pick up Dominik Petr last week. They had a open OA spot so rather then take a gamble in the second round, they went with a proven import player. Not bad.

 

[frontsfan67]

Have predicted for half the season about the fronts picking Tuomas Uronens twin brothers Anttoni and Eelis. Hope I’m right. Forward and d out of Finland (08’s)

If there’s a 3rd pick not sure they might just hold onto Tuomas’ rights and hope for the family affair but I think he gets signed by the golden knights and plays for silver knights