CHL Import Draft takes place Tuesday

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs made a move on the eve of the CHL Import Draft.

The Sea Dogs made a trade with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, acquiring a second-round pick, 66th overall in Tuesday's Import Draft in exchange for the 78th overall selection and an eighth-round pick in the 2027 QMJHL Entry Draft (originally Drummondville's).

The Sea Dogs now own the 14th, 44th, 66th and 136th overall picks. Saint John is expected to make three selections.

This is the second time the Sea Dogs have inched their way up the second-round, which gives some indication that there are some nerves that the player(s) they want may not be available later in the draft. The CHL Import Draft has always been more about who you know compared to where you pick – but one unexpected selection can really throw off plans.

While not confirmed yet, it's certainly looking like the Sea Dogs may have three open import spots on their roster. Goaltender Arseni Radkov was traded while it seems unlikely that defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson will return for an overage season. There continues to be noise that forward Olivers Murnieks, who was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres this weekend, will join Boston College for the upcoming season.

Olivers Murnieks des #SeaDogs réclamé par les #Sabres a confirmé tantot qu'il quittait la #LHJMQ pour se joindre à Boston College #NCAA

Meme s'il a eu une saison décevante c'est une grosse perte pour Saint John qui vise les grands honneurs en 26-27

— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) June 27, 2026

Murnieks leaving would be a blow to Saint John's forward group – but, in theory, the team has the picks to find a suitable replacement for his offense.

The Sea Dogs made three selections in last year's draft and all three started the season with the club: Murnieks (sixth), defenseman Patryk Zubek (67th) and defenseman Max Vilen (128th). Both Murnieks and Vilen were selected in this year's NHL Draft.

The CHL Import Draft begins at noon Atlantic and can be followed online. A reminder that there are some new rules to keep an eye on.

The OHL's Oshawa Generals will pick first followed by the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads and the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes.

The Mooseheads acquired the second overall pick from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar on Monday, a move that certainly caught some attention given Halifax's impressive import pick history. As the CHL website notes, "Halifax has built one of the CHL Import Draft’s strongest track records for developing high-end international talent, with alumni including Jakub Voracek, 2017 first-overall NHL Draft pick Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Ladislav Nagy, Filip Zadina and 2026 Stanley Cup champion Nikolaj Ehlers."