CHL Import draft recap

02 Jul 2014 | Luis Lopes

Pavel Zacha number one pick by the Sarnia Sting was the history of day by not report to CHL.

Czech Republic rising prospect Pavel Zacha was the main story of the 2014 CHL import draft. Sarnia Sting GM made a gamble and lost by picking Zacha first overall. The response would come two minutes later by his agent Allan Walsh: "That's a wasted pick. Sarnia was advised that Pavel zacha has a professional contract in Czech Republic for two more years and he's not interest in playing for them"

Like every year in the CHL import draft there are players that you have to keep one eye on if they report to CHL. Because they have good chances to be picked in the first round in the 2015 draft. From Sweden Ramus Andersson(37th Barrie Colts) has everything to be successful in NHL. Gustaf Franzen(4th Kitchener Rangers) is the name of the other Swedish prospect that you have to take a note. From Czech Republic besides Zacha, Jakub Zboril(5th Saint John), Michael Spacek(51th Medicine Tigers) have a great future in professional Ice hockey. From Switzerland arrives the "twin Ehlers"(9th overall in this years NHL draft by Winnipeg), Denis Malgin(26th Rouyn-Noranda) has everything to do same kind of splash that Nikolaj Ehlers did last year with Halifax.

Mention to two first rounds and three second rounds in this years NHL draft, that were also picked in the CHL import draft: Vladislav Kamenev(2nd Quebec Remparts), David Pastrnak(10th Belleville Bulls) William Nylander(13th Mississauga Steelheads), Dominik Masin(25th Peterborough Petes) and Julius Bergman(52nd London Knights).

List of the 71 players picked in CHL import draft by country:

Russia 24 players, Czech Republic 13 players, Sweden 12 players, Slovakia 4 players, Switzerland 4 players, Denmark 3 players , Finland 3 players, Austria 2 players, Belarus 2 players, USA 1 player, Latvia 1 player, Norway 1 player and special mention to Hungary(Tamas Laday) 1 player.