This was a while back (and about a month overdue), but I'm going to post it now. Here is another KHL feature: the Draft.
Overview:
First Round
Just to beat the NHL, they've decided to draft players as young as 17. The funny thing about this is that the first ever draft pick, Mikhail Pashnin (selected by CSKA Moscow), is 20 years old. Another funny thing, two of the first ten picks were not used, which somewhat devalues the reason for the draft. A couple notable picks include three Russians who play over here in North American, headed by the Quebec Remparts Mikhail Stefanovich, who was drafted second overall by Dynamo Minsk.
Canadians Picked
There was only two Canadians picked. The most notable one would be Taylor Hall, who was selected in the fourth round. I doubt that Ak Bars Kazan will sign him, but just knowing that the early 1st overall favourite for next years NHL draft could be playing in the KHL for years before the NHL has a shot at bringing him back is kinda scary. Zach Kassian was the only other, taken in the third round by Dynamo Moscow.
Unnecessary Picks
Most of these picks come from drafting players that are with other teams in the KHL, but they apparently offer some kind of compensation for player lost. Victor Hedman, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and (possibly) Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson could be considered under here since they were first round picks in the NHL draft (side note: Paajarvi-Svensson is the first player to be drafted in the first round of both drafts).
Dumb Picks
There aren’t really any dumb picks (unless you count Alexandre Daigle. Zing!) but some teams found a way to pick them. I know that drafts are for getting a player’s exclusive negotiation rights, but when you pick ones that are playing in the AHL and under an NHL contract, your just wasting a pick.
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