EHM The Blue Line

The CHL Import Draft is taking place right now.

The London Knights traded a package of players and picks to the Barrie Colts to get the #1 overall pick.

Live Results: http://www.leaguestat.com/chl/memcup/en ... aft_id=107

1. London Knights - LD Olli Määttä (2012 NHL Draft)
2. Quebec Remparts - C/RW Mikhail Grigorenko (2012 NHL Draft)
3. Calgary Hitmen - C Victor Rask (Carolina Hurricanes)
4. Peterborough Petes - RD Peter Ceresnak (New York Rangers)
5. Victoriaville Tigre - LD Petr Sidlik (2012 NHL Draft)
6. Swift Current Broncos - G Steffan Sober (Washington)
7. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - LD Yegor Malenkikh (2012 NHL Draft)
8. Gatineau Olympiques - RW Tomas Hyka (2012 NHL Draft)
9. Regina Pats - LW Dominik Volek (2012 NHL Draft)
10. Brampton Battalion - C Patrik Machac (2012 NHL Draft)
11. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies - RW Zven Andrighetto (2012 NHL Draft)
12. Lethbridge Hurricanes - LD Albin Blomqvist (2012 NHL Draft)
13. Belleville Bulls - F Danill Zharkov (2012 NHL Draft)
14. Chicoutimi Sagueneens - C Lucas Sedlak (Columbus Blue Jackets)
15. Prince Albert Raiders
16. Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
17. Shawinigan Cataractes
18. Edmonton Oil Kings
19. Sudbury Wolves
20. Quebec Remparts
21. Everett Silvertips
22. Kitchener Rangers
23. Val-d'Or Foreurs
24....

Määttä and Grigorenko will probably be Top 10 picks in next year's NHL draft with Grigorenko a possible guy at #1. There have been interviews with him in the past stating his allegiance with Russian Hockey and his home club of CSKA. If Quebec could get him over to the states, it will either raise Grigorenko's stock to the consensus #1 or drop him out of the Top Ten depending on how well he adjusts to the North American game. Remember this interview is from 2010, when he was 15.

What was the hardest thing for you in the little ice surfaces?
Grigorenko: "On the North American rinks there is less room, there is little time to think and you have to decide very quickly what to do. This is the main difference, I didn't notice other ones."

Do you have a hockey dream?
Grigorenko: "Sure I have. I would really like to be called to the Russian national team. And win the Olympics and the World Championships. (smiles)"

And what about your near perspectives? Don't you dream about the NHL?
Grigorenko: "I haven't really thought about the NHL yet. My main thought for now is to get into a MHL team and then to the KHL. I'm thinking about this only."

He has been a highly touted player since he was 12 years old. At age 11, playing on a team with 13 year olds, Mikhail scored 115 goals and 215 points in 55 games. His scoring totals from when he was the age 11-15, 160 games, 270 goals and 488 points, 3.05 PPG. This kid is an offensive dynamo. He recently scored 18 points in just 7 games at the Under 18 World Juniors. He is better than a 1.5 PPG player in international play and put up almost a PPG at 16 years old in the MHL (21 years and under).

No question, Grigorenko has all the talent to be a top player in the Q and most likely in the NHL.

the ISS has Grigorenko as the favorite for the top pick in the 2012 NHL draft: http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/4 ... ahead.html

Emil Sylvegård signed with Drummondville Voltigeurs
Albin Blomqvist signed with Lethbridge Hurricanes
Sebastian Dyk signed with Moncton Wildcats
Johan Mattsson signed with Sudbury Wolves

It looks like Gabriel Landeskog getting drafted 2nd overall in this year's draft has convinced more and more Swedes to come over to the CHL as Ludvig Rensfeldt and Nick Sorensen are rumored to be headed to NA.