Thursday, August 7, 2008

OHL Out of the Import Draft?

The Canadian News Service had a story on the Ontario Hockey League not participating in the CHL Import Draft.

My reaction is why? I find the overall theme of this story is some teams not able to sign these players. It might be a jerk reaction from Richard Panik not committing to the Windsor Spitfires for this season. They thought they had him coming over but he decided to stay in the Czech Republic.

Teams need to do their homework. When the Lewiston Maineiacs selected Filip Janosik in this year's Import Draft, their head coach and GM, Ed Harding, even said the team had rarely seen him play during the season. He went to the NHL Entry Draft to talk to teams on possible selections for the Import Draft. Maybe teams throughout the CHL should hire NHL European scouts to work for them on a part time basis. The Moncton Wildcats have Kyle Woolief as an European scout. He's the head scout for the Redline Report.

Will Windsor complain again when Cam Fowler doesn't sign? They would probably want to Americans in the OHL Priority Selection Draft. Please that will never happen because the OHL is in direct competition with the NCAA. The OHL will never back down from the NCAA.

It's a risk you are taking a high end talent. What now? Gary Bettman will announce tomorrow that Europeans are no longer eligible to be drafted because there's no transfer agreement. That won't go over well and the Kontinental Hockey League will open a bottle of champagne.

The KHL is thinking of creating a junior league its own and according to the story it will be a "moot point" to have an Import Draft. It's not a moot point until the KHL has teams in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, and/or Germany. Not too many Russians are taking in the Import Draft usually. This year there was a high number of Russians though. Just like OHL will never back down from the NCAA, the OHL shouldn't backdown from Europe.

The argument was made that homegrown talent can fill the two spots that Europeans take on the roster (Thank you Don Cherry for putting your two cents into this article.) Please we aren't talking about Peewee hockey where every kid needs to play. Junior Hockey is a big business. To pass up an opportunity to select a first liner to give that roster spot to a third liner because he's home grown makes no sense.

If a team thinks there's no more 1st line talent in the Import draft where there are drafting, don't make a selection. No one is forcing a team to make a selection to make the pick. I am sure the Hunter's and other OHL teams with money will find away past this rule. They will recruit these players at 14 or 15 to come to North America to live in Ontario for a year or two. Then they will become eligible for the OHL Priority Selection Draft.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for MVN.com. He's the writer for the Asylum which covers the Lewiston Maineiacs of the QMJHL. He's also a regular contributor to the NHL Source also at MVN.com. He can be reached at fbbhgfan@aol.com)

3 comments:

SimonTemplar said...

Hi Nathan

I posted this same article on the Noof almost choking on my donut when I read it. What are they thinking because a few get sour grapes in their cornflakes.

You can bet a few heavyweights who have been burned are now looking to level the playing field because they don't land these guys.

Why don't they land them ? Becasue they don't put forth the effort it takes to.

The Q and Dub must be doing handstands over a Web Conference call.

SimonTemplar said...

Hey Nathan I forgot to mention.

Over at the Western Complex tonight London have an alumni game in town.

Quite a few of the Mem Cup team members and a few others are here for some fun. Most train here in the off season hanging around town from July until pro camps start.

When the Knights open their camp it is usually loaded with ex-players hanging around helping out and must be a real eye opener for rooks.

I will give you a heads up later on who outscores who. Perry, Kane and Gagner are sure to make a few goalies tired tonight.

Former Knights face off in four-on-four tourney

Thu, August 7, 2008

Charity event features Corey Perry, Sam Gagner and Dennis Wideman


By KATHERINA DEHAAS Free Press.


They're back.

Catch your favourite London Knights-turned-pro tonight at the main bowl of the Western Fair Sports Centre in their NHL/AHL Alumni Charity Hockey Classic.

See Dallas Stars Dan Jancevksi and Krys Barch, New York Ranger Dan Girardi, Edmonton Oiler Sam Gagner, Chicago Blackhawks David Bolland and Patrick Kane, Boston Bruin Dennis Wideman, Anaheim Duck Corey Perry and Ottawa Senator Chris Kelly. They'll face off in a skills competition and then skate in a four-on-four tourney along with Knights who played in the AHL last season.

Check out 14 of your favourites, including Rob Drummond, Kyle Quincey, Alex Henry, Trevor Kell, Rick Nash, and Adam Perry. Also on the roster are Adam Dennis, Marc Methot, Drew Larman, Danny Syvret, Brandon Prust, Rob Schremp, Bryan Rodney and Dylan Hunter.

Tickets cost $20. Proceeds will benefit the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.




IF YOU GO

What: The London Knights NHL/ AHL Alumni Charity Hockey Classic

Where: Main bowl at the Western Fair Sports Centre

When: 7 p.m. tonight

SimonTemplar said...

Awesome time last night Nathan.

Talk about a skilled lineup it's hard to believe they all played junior here.

the silent auction was good until last minute when everything went crazy. I outbid big time on Kane's , Gagner's and Corey Perry's Jerseys only to be slammed at the buzzer. They allowed some linejumpers to make it to sign right at the cut-off and I was pissed.

Oh well I did get Pat Kane's Jerseys.