Sea Dogs pick three in CHL Import Draft

Jan Běhounek

The Saint John Sea Dogs added two forwards and a defenseman during Tuesday's CHL Import Draft.

With their first selection, 14th overall, Saint John selected 17-year-old Czech forward Matyas Cancik. With their second pick of the first-round, the Sea Dogs chose 17-year-old Slovakian forward Oliver Ozogany at 44th overall.

In the second round, the Sea Dogs boosted their backend by selecting Finnish defender Vertti Svensk with the 66th overall pick. Svensk, who was a fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in this year's NHL Draft, will turn 19 in November.

Cancik split last season with Bílí Tygři Liberec's under-20 and under-17 teams. At the U17 level, the forward posted 22 goals and 22 assists in just 23 games while adding three goals and seven assists in nine playoff games. At the U20 level, he recorded a goal and seven assists in 12 games.

Cancik, listed at 5'9" and 170 lbs, is familiar with the Maritimes having played in the U17 World Challenge in Truro this past November. He recorded a goal and an assist in four games with Czechia.

Ozogany, meanwhile, is more familiar with the North American game having played with the USHL's Tri-City Storm this past season. In 58 games with the Storm, the forward posted nine goals and eight assists.

Listed at 6'2" and 197 lbs, Ozogany played with Slovakia at the recent IIHF U18 World Championship where he recorded an assist in five games.

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."

McFadden, Vilen both drafted; 20 QMJHL players picked

Saint John Sea Dogs prospect Brian McFadden was selected by the Washington Capitals in the fifth-round of Saturday's NHL Draft.

The Capitals picked the Holbrook, MA native with the 144th overall pick. The 18-year-old has spent the past couple seasons with Thayer Academy. In 29 games with the US prep school last season, McFadden, the team's captain, recorded two goals and 15 assists.

McFadden is listed at 6'5" and 183 lbs.

McFadden was a seventh-round pick of Saint John in the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft. He appeared in one pre-season game with the Sea Dogs before being amongst the second round of cuts from the team's training camp roster last August.

On the NHL Network broadcast, it was reported that McFadden is committed to Northeastern University – but not immediately. Where he plays this coming season is unknown and Saint John – or the USHL – is certainly an option.

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Max VileN, meanwhile, was taken in the seventh-round by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vilen was traded to the Moncton Wildcats mid-season where he helped the club reach the Gilles Courteau Trophy final. The 19-year-old had three goals and 24 assists in 54 regular season QMJHL games and added three goals and nine assists in 21 playoff contests.

Vilen and Sea Dogs forward Olivers Murnieks, who was taken in the fourth-round, were two of the 20 QMJHL players to be selected this weekend.

Murnieks drafted by Sabres

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Saint John Sea Dogs forward Olivers Murnieks has been drafted by the Buffalo Sabres.

Murnieks was selected in the fourth-round, 124th overall by the Sabres – a special moment given that this year's NHL Draft was being held at Buffalo's KeyBank Center.

The Latvian slid a bit but not too far. Most prospect publications had Murnieks going somewhere between the late second- and fourth-rounds.

The 17-year-old recorded seven goals and 13 assists in 31 games with Saint John last season – an injury plagued campaign. Murnieks also played for Latvia at last season's under-18, under-20 and men's worlds events.

We have selected Olivers Murnieks with the 124th overall pick!

Welcome to Buffalo, Olivers ⚔️

Details → https://t.co/l1hprW0LGM#LetsGoBuffalo | @SenecaBuffalo pic.twitter.com/oZipE26sGi

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 27, 2026

Murnieks is the first active roster Sea Dog to be drafted since Eriks Mateiko went in the third-round to the Washington Capitals in 2024. He is the second Sea Dog to ever be selected by the Sabres with the only other being Felix Schutz in 2006.

It's unclear where Murnieks will play next season. He is eligible to return to Saint John but it's also possible he joins Boston College for the 2026-27 season.

Lawrence drafted by Blues; two QMJHL players picked

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Fredericton's Tynan Lawrence was selected 11th overall by the St. Louis Blues in Friday's opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft.

The younger brother of former Saint John Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence, Tynan split last season between the USHL and NCAA.

After recording 10 goals and seven assists in 13 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, the forward joined Boston University for the second half where he posted two goals and five assists in 18 games. While it was likely the best move for his development long-term, Lawrence's modest numbers at BU likely pushed him down the draft rankings.

Welcome to the club, Tynan Lawrence! #stlblues pic.twitter.com/8Q0FndhOXf

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) June 27, 2026

Lawrence is the first New Brunswicker to be selected in the first-round of the NHL Draft since Bradly Nadeau of St-François-de-Madawaska was taken 30th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023. Like Lawrence, Nadeau didn't play in the QMJHL, suiting up in the BCHL before joining the University of Maine.

Only two current QMJHL players were picked on Friday. Quebec Remparts forward Maddox Dagenais went 16th overall to the Blues while Moncton Wildcats defenseman Tommy Bleyl went 31st overall to the Nashville Predators.

As expected, Penn State's Gavin McKenna – formerly of the Medicine Hat Tigers – went first overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The remaining rounds of the NHL Draft will take place Saturday.

NHL Draft begins Friday night

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

It's likely to be a quiet Friday night for the Saint John Sea Dogs – but that should change on Saturday.

While no Sea Dogs are likely to be selected in Friday's opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft, at least one current Dog should be picked during Saturday's remaining rounds.

Forward Olivers Murnieks is projected by most to be taken somewhere between the late second- and fourth-rounds. The Latvian recorded seven goals and 13 assists in 31 games with Saint John last season – an injury plagued campaign.

Murnieks also played for Latvia at last season's under-18, under-20 and men's worlds events.

Where Murnieks – who is a Boston College commit – plays next season is unclear. Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie has said that decision may ultimately come down to the NHL team that selects him this weekend and what they prefer for his development.

Murnieks was one of five Sea Dogs listed in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings. Cameron Chartrand, William Yared and Dylan Rozzi were also ranked amongst North American skaters while Rafaël Courchesne was listed amongst North American goaltenders. 

98 - Olivers Murnieks 

155 - Cameron Chartrand 

172 - William Yared 

195 - Dylan Rozzi 

27 - Rafaël Courchesne

Another player to keep an eye is defenseman Brian McFadden, who was ranked 115th by NHL Central Scouting. McFadden, who spent last season with the US prep school Thayer Academy, was a seventh-round pick of the Sea Dogs in the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft.