One pick all team needs from CHL import draft
By RYAN MCCRACKEN on June 27, 2019.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken The Medicine Hat Tigers have a specific player in mind for today’s Canadian Hockey League import draft; now they just have to wait and see if he’s still available at pick No. 34. Tigers director of player personnel Bobby Fox says with any luck the Tigers will be able to secure the unnamed impact player they’re hoping for, but with 60 teams clamouring for difference-maker, there’s still plenty up in the air. “We’ve looked at some options and we’ve set our mind on a particular player but it is a draft so we have to see how things work out,” said Fox, whose Tigers will only have one pick in the draft this year. “There’s a lot of challenges with this draft. You’ve got to figure out who’s coming, who’s available. It’s very agent-driven, this draft. You’ve just got to put a list together the best you can and see how things unfold.” The Tigers were dealt a potentially significant blow Wednesday morning when captain James Hamblin went down with a leg injury while competing as a free agent at Toronto Maple Leafs development camp. While X-rays came back negative, the severity of the injury is yet to be determined – though Fox says it will not impact the team’s approach at the import draft. “Our full expectation is that we’re moving forward with Jimmy as our No. 1 centre,” said Fox. “Until that changes we’ll continue in that same direction.” Fox added the import draft is a vastly different animal than the WHL’s bantam counterpart, as his scouts rarely get to view European prospects with their own eyes and instead must rely on statistics, video and trusted sources. “In all honesty, there’s limited video, there’s limited reports and limited viewing on a lot of these guys, so you have to use contacts that you trust a lot,” said Fox. “You’ve really got to do your homework. Between me and Willie (Desjardins, head coach and general manager), we’ve been on the phone constantly for the past few weeks. But we’re happy with what we have and we have a number of plans and a number of scenarios we’ve gone over. I think we’re going to have a lot of success with the guy we take.” Medicine Hat has a strong history of drafting standout players in recent years, from Czech goaltender Marek Langhamer to Swedish forward John Dahlstrom and Latvian blueliner Kristains Rubins. While the Tigers parted ways with overage Swedish defenceman Linus Nassen this off-season, 18-year-old Danish netminder Mads Søgaard – recently drafted to the Ottawa Senators 37th overall – is slated to return to the club next season. There is always some risk when it comes to the import draft, as the Tigers found out when taking Russian winger Vasili Podkolzin with their second pick last year. Podkolzin – who was drafted 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks at last week’s NHL draft – did not report to compete with the Tigers last season, instead signing a three-year deal with the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg. However, given the Tigers had Nassen returning as an overager, Fox says the decision was well worth the gamble. “We took a big swing last year with that guy,” said Fox. “Obviously Linus brought a lot to this team, so we knew drafting that second guy we would absolutely have to hit a home run for him to take the spot of Mads or Linus last year.” The import draft kicks off at 9 a.m. 13-12
