Continental Hockey Association

The 2018 Draft was finished off in August with some very interesting results. The entire draft is posted in the draft section of the website, but here is quick run down of the first ten picks of the first round.

With the first pick of the draft, the Nelson Maple Leafs had a no brainer pick and toop Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin should immediately fortify the Leafs blueline and provide solid offense and defense for many years to come. Dahlin is one of the most celebrated prospects to come along in some time. He dominated at such an early age , 17, at the World Junior championships. Dahlin has drawn comparisons at the same age to Erik Karlsson.

With the second pick in the draft, the Apple Valley Argonauts selected Russian scoring winger Andrei Svechnikov. Svechnikov’s skating and puck skills are excellent and should provide Apple Valley with quality offense for many years to come. Svechnikov has 40 goals in 44 games for Barrie of the OHL. His NHL comparison is Ilya Kovalchuk. Apple Valley has a dynamic forwards with lots of offensive ability.

With the third selection in the CHA Draft, the Montreal Canadiens selected Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Like the NHL Montreal Canadiens , the CHA team also wanted a big center and most likely a player who is on the actual NHL club. Many scouting sources had Kotkamiemi rated lower but he was a big riser in many NHL draft lists as the season drew to an end. ISS actually had him rated 16th. Their comparison on the NHL level is Boone Jenner. Kotkaniemi is 6’2 and had 29 points in 57 games playing in the Finnish Elite league with Assat.

The Lake Huron Whitecaps made their first selection in the CHA draft and were probably delighted to see Filip Zadina there for the taking. Zadina had 44 goals in 57 games in the Quebec League with Halifax. The 6’0 right winger has scored wherever he has gone and should provide the Whitecaps with great goal scoring off the wing. His NHL comparison is to Alex Radulov. Zadina’s hockey sense is what really shines in his play.

With the next pick in the draft , the Cremora Titans went off the grid a bit and surprised a few people. The Titans ofted for instant offense and they got it in Florida Panthers star winger Evgeni Dadonov. No wondering whether this pick will pan out down the road, the Titans know they will have an instant goal scorer and point producer in their lineup for next year. Dadonov has been a key member of the Florida Panthers top line and a quality offensive player at the age of the 30.

The Penticton Ogopogos were pleasantly surprised to see Brady Tkachuk available to them at number 6. He went third overall in the NHL draft and slide three spots in the CHA draft. The son of a former NHL’er will give Penticton a big 6’4 frame and provide a balance set of offense and aggressiveness. His compete and hockey sense is excellent and provides a nice balance of finesse and physical play. Tkachuk had 26 points in 34 games at Boston University this past year. He plays very similar to his brother in Calgary Matthew Tkachuk

With the 7th selection in the CHA Draft, the Parry Sound Blue Jays went for scoring American Oliver Wahlstrom. The kid is a pure goal scorer and should give some quality offense to the Blue Jays in the next few years. He reminds some people of the Vancouver Canucks Brock Boeser. Boeser is not the world’s greatest skater but gets open, moves his feet and has a great release to go with his hard, accurate shot. Wahlstrom should provide the same.

With the eighth selection in the CHA draft the Everett Silvertips took Quinn Hughes. The dynamic Hughes impressed many people with this fine play against men at the World Championships for the United States. Not big in stature, Hughes has terrific skating and puck handling skill. The Vancouver Canucks thought enough of him to take him sixth in the NHL draft. Everett picks up a quality puck moving dmen that many people see as an offensive dynamo down the road.

With the ninth selection in the CHA Draft, the Warriors selected Alex Kerfoot. Kerfoot, like Dadonov earlier in the draft, provides the Warriors with a great young prospect that will help them offensively right now. No guessing about what he might or might not turn into, Kerfoot is a good offensive player for the Colorado Avalanche and gives the Warriors a player they can use right now.

With the tenth selection in the draft, the Port Norris Demons picked up Russian forward Vitali Kravtsov. Kravtsov was another player who rose up through the ranks as the draft drew closer to D-Day. He is a big kid at 6’2 who is a strong skater and has very good puck skill and hockey sense. Many people feel he will be a good second line NHL center and that type of quality will help the Demons down the road. The young 17 year old, had 7 points in 35 games for Chelyabinsk of the KHL.

You can find the rest of the first round at the 2018 draft page .

Nelson sends a couple young vets to the coast for a couple prospects who are hopefully a big part of the future in the Kootenays. Colin White has the pedigree to be a captain in the not too distant future and Ek joins brother Ollie in the Leaf system and should step right into the roster if he has a good enough training camp. Craig Smith is a goal scorer who is coming off a rough season but should bounce back if used more to his strengths than he may have been last year. Khudobin is a dynamite back up goalie that can parachute in and steal games when he is on and Everett was looking for help in the crease.

Craig Smith and Khudobin

for

Erikson Ek & Colin White

Ken to confirm, thanks for the deal. Also thanks to those that inquired about Smith. If there are others on the list or my roster that interest you let me know.