What you need to know about the 2023 CHL Import Draft

The Canadian Hockey League Import Draft is for the prospecters. 

Sure it's for the teams themselves, but after those calling the names and the players themselves, the import draft is a gold mine for those who live and breathe prospect coverage. 

It’s also one of the strangest drafts in hockey, with backroom deals, high picks never reporting, and teams passing on first-round picks – one thing that just never looks right.

By the numbers, 32 of the 75 players are first-time eligibles for the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft – many of which will surely be picked. Thirteen are already NHL draft picks. 

Let's look at the picks. 

The home run swings

It’s easy to forget how many players were labelled as “too good” for the CHL, came over, and were far from dynamic talents or started off very slowly. Oskar Olausso