Barbashev the top pick in the CHL Import Draft

28 Jun 2012 | Jon Rowson

The Moncton Wildcats bolstered their offence by taking Russian forward Ivan Barbashev with the first selection in the 2012 Draft.

Moncton looked to Russia to find their new star import, as the Wildcats selected the HC MVD and Russia U17 captain Ivan Barbashev with the first pick of the Draft. Canadian Hockey League teams use the import draft each season to bolster their ranks, as each team can ice up to two imports per game. A number of NHL stars have come through the Import Draft, not least the 2012 first overall pick in the NHL Draft Nail Yakupov, who was drafted second by the Sarnia Sting in 2011.

Barbashev, who has already committed to report for Moncton is one of a number of young Russian players, such as Yakupov and Mikhail Grigorenko (also selected in the 2011 draft) who see their best chance of making the NHL is by going through the CHL. Barbashev is an extremely offensively minded forward, who has talent in abundance. Already standing 183cm as a 16 year old, look out for Barbashev to make an impact in the CHL.

The second pick of the draft was with the Prince Albert Radiers, who selected German forward Leon Draisaitl. The well built winger represented Germany at both the U17 and U18 level this year, and was the second top point scorer in the Deutsche Nachwuchsliga this season. The Erie Otters selected 2012 NHL Draft pick Oscar Dansk with the third selection in the draft. The 18 year old was the first pick of the second round last Saturday in the NHL draft, and with rumblings that he will head across the Atlantic to play for the Otters, it is no surprise that the promising Swedish goalie went so high. Czech-born Slovak forward Martin Reway was the fourth pick of the draft, and the small, skilled winger who played for Sparta Praha last season, is one of the most promising prospects coming out of Slovakia in recent years. Rounding out the top five was Finnish goalie and third round pick in the NHL Draft in 2012, Joonas Korpisalo, who was selected by the Prince George Cougars.