Typically yes they have shown up. The Attack under DeGray have an excellent track record of getting players over, even if they don't work out.
Teams do that all the time, especially at the time I believe because you could protect a 3rd import's rights if they were a first round NHL pick. Seider was looked at as a possible first rounder even then. Sometimes it works out and a high end player gets picked by an NHL club, they sign them, and then get assigned.
Seider was so good the odds were incredibly low he would have come over even for London. Seider played a Top 4 role on the DEL Champions in his draft year, in the AHL at 19, SHL (and dominated it) at 20, and NHL at 21. Most kids aren't that good though.
The import draft is pretty cooked and teams often have an idea of who might show up. Again, that article Beacher found from Fuessen's website confirms Bleicher is going to show up. Varosyan is a wildcard for sure. And maybe he won't come. But he was also a second round import pick. If only Bleicher comes, and Varosyan heads west to say St. Petersburg or Moscow, then the Attack draft a new guy round 1 next year.
The guy to watch this year that would fall under the "pray and hope it works out" is Emil Hemming to Barrie. Day after the import draft his agent poured cold water on the idea of him showing up. But a couple weeks later, Dallas signs him and all of a sudden they decide where he goes.
