Tuesday 2 July 2013

CHL Import Draft: Changes & Draft Order



The Victoria Royals have the 31st overall pick...
 
2013 CHL IMPORT DRAFT TAKES PLACE WEDNESDAY,  JULY 3

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced details for the 22nd annual CHL Import Draft which takes place on Wednesday July 3, 2013, beginning at 11:00 am Eastern. 

The two-round draft will take place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL’s three leagues using an inverse order of final regular season standings within each league from the 2012-13 season.  The WHL’s Vancouver Giants hold the number one pick, followed by the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, and the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.  

New in 2013:

-teams are no longer permitted to trade picks up to or during the CHL Import Draft process,

-only goaltenders eligible to be selected are those born in 1994 or 1995 and are only permitted to be selected during the first round.  

Each team in the CHL is permitted to dress and play a maximum of two import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft. 


Last season the Moncton Wildcats used the first overall pick to select Russian native Ivan Barbashev who scored 62 points in 68 games and is eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft.  Fellow 2014 NHL Draft prospect Leon Draisaitl of Germany scored 58 points in 64 games for the Prince Albert Raiders after being selected second overall in the Import Draft, while Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending prospect Oscar Dansk of Sweden was chosen third overall by the Erie Otters and played in 43 games between the pipes last season.

A total of 11 players acquired through the CHL Import Draft were recently selected in the 2013 NHL Draft including first round picks Russian defenceman Nikita Zadorov of the London Knights chosen 16th overall by the Buffalo Sabres, and Swiss defenceman Mirco Mueller of the Everett Silvertips chosen 18th overall by the San Jose Sharks.  Russian forward and CHL Rookie of the Year Valentin Zykov of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar was also picked in last year’s CHL Import Draft and was a second round pick of the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday in New Jersey.

Last season a total of 77 players were selected consisting of a total of 52 forwards, 17 defencemen, and 8 goaltenders.  11 different countries were also represented in the 2012 CHL Import Draft led by 20 players selected from both the Czech Republic and Russia.

The 2013 CHL Import Draft can be followed online as well as on tablet and mobile devices at www.chlimportdraft.com