Looking at Botterill’s history, I see them going after more American (or college bound at least) and Swede’s in the draft. Maybe a Canadian in junior if he’s clearly the best available.
He wants guys that they can slow cook, or st least better control the development of more easily. The guys who come from CHL do come with a bit more difficulty in development, in my opinion, in the fact that they can’t go to the AHL until they’re 20, and when they are done with 2 years in juniors, there’s no place to go besides the AHL. It’s a catch-22. You often have guys who aren’t ready for the NHL but are too good for the AHL early on in their development. But then you have later picks who aren’t ready for the AHL but are no longer eligible for juniors. The NCAA or European development is a much more steady development, and allows the team more options regarding said players development.