Sea Dogs own 7th overall Import Draft pick

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Saint John Sea Dogs will have the seventh overall pick in this year's CHL Import Draft, the league confirmed Friday.

Saint John owns the seventh and 67th overall picks, respectively, in this year's draft. That 67th selection, if the Sea Dogs choose to use it, will likely be much higher with some teams opting to pass on their picks.

Both of Saint John's imports from this past season — forwards Eriks Mateiko and Pavel Simek — are eligible to return for 2024-25, so it'll be interesting to see what Saint John does here. Mateiko, who will likely be chosen in this year's NHL Draft, will be generating quite a bit of trade interest at the QMJHL Entry Draft.

The seventh overall pick would be a high pick to pass on but where you pick in the Import Draft doesn't matter a whole lot. Plus, the reality is that Saint John will likely pick high again in 2025.

The Val-d'Or Foreurs will pick first overall followed by the WHL's Kamloops Blazers and OHL's Windsor Spitfires.

The CHL also confirmed that Russians and Belarusians are eligible for this year's Import Draft. From the CHL's news release:

Russian and Belarusian players will be eligible for selection in the 2024 CHL Import Draft and they will be able to play in the CHL as long as they are granted the necessary visa that they require to enter and play hockey in North America. In addition to this change to the CHL Import Draft, the CHL will permanently cancel the Canada-Russia Series as part of its annual calendar of events moving forward.

The CHL Import Draft will take place Wednesday, July 3 beginning at noon Atlantic.