Friday, June 30, 2017

Import Draft Notes: Who are Safin and Salda?

Since most hockey followers in this country don't follow European junior leagues, CHL Import Draft picks are usually a mystery. In a press release, Saint John Sea Dogs general manager Trevor Georgie gave some hints at what we can expect from the team's two 2017 picks.

“(Ostap) Safin is an impressive 6-foot-5 offensive winger that handles the puck well and skates well for his size,” Georgie said about the team's first round pick. “He has good offensive instincts and with his frame, he will create room for his teammates. He has a high ceiling that we really like. He gives Danny (Coach Flynn) and the coaching staff another weapon up front.”

Georgie called the team's second pick, Radim Salda, "a well-rounded left defenceman."

“He has good mobility and poise with the puck and will have an opportunity to be a top-four blueliner for us next season.”

"They both look forward to playing together again this upcoming season in Saint John," Georgie added. "We are pleased to have them as part of the Sea Dogs family and Saint John community.”

NHL picks

Safin, a fourth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in this year's NHL Draft, was one of 11 drafted players taken in this year's Import Draft.

Special rule

The Telegraph-Journal confirmed on Wednesday that the Sea Dogs were allowed to make two picks in this year's Import Draft because of Oliver Felixson's health.

From the T-J (paywall):

More Czechs

The Sea Dogs drafting out of the Czech Republic came as no surprise.

According to Elite Prospects, the Sea Dogs have now selected seven Czech players in the CHL Import Draft all-time. That's nearly half of Saint John's 16 total picks.

Past Czechs drafted by the Sea Dogs include Martin Bartos (2005), David Stich (2006), Jakub Izacky (2012), Jakub Zboril (2014) and Frantisek Hrdinka (2015).

There were 15 Czech players taken in this year's Import Draft, second only to the 19 Russian players drafted.

Video clips

Here are a few YouTube clips of Safin, including an interview from last weekend's NHL Draft in Chicago.






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