Broncos Pick 36th Overall in Today's CHL Import Draft

The CHL Import draft is underway today and I have to admit it sort of snuck up on me. The Broncos will pick 36th overall in the first round. The Broncos will draft only one player with Czech import Jan Dalecky set to return for his 18 year-old season.

I did talk to Broncos Head Coach / General Manager Dean Chynoweth this week about what type of player they will be going after. With a defenseman being a logical choice, he wasn't ruling out taking a forward with the pick.

Chynoweth has always lamented the fact the Import Draft's format really puts the WHL's "B" markets at a disadvantage to the likes of bigger centers like Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton.

I'll get his comments on the pick later today.

FILATOV GOES #1

The Sudbury Wolves used the first overall pick in today's CHL Import Draft to select Russian left winger Nikita Filatov from CSKA Moscow.

Filatov was the top ranked European skater for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and was selected sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets last Friday in Ottawa.

The Canadian Hockey League holds its annual Import Draft today beginning at 9:00 a.m. with the first overall selection by the OHL's Sudbury Wolves.

The Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL select second followed by the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL.

You can follow the selections live as they happen online here.

Each team in the CHL is permitted to carry two European Import players during the season. The draft order is rotated through each of the three leagues in the CHL with each team selecting in inverse order of their final regular season standings from 2007-08.

Jon