Tipped Off
09-18-2008, 01:41 PM
from heraldnet.com
Silvertips' Soetaert pushing to reform import draft
Some teams have a greater advantage
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT -- The Everett Silvertips have done pretty well for themselves in the Canadian Hockey League import draft.
Over the years, Everett has drafted six players in the import draft, which disperses European players throughout the CHL's three member leagues. All six played for the Tips the season after they were drafted.
And the players Everett drafted have been impact players. Ivan Baranka was a second-round NHL draft pick when the Tips selected him, Ondrej Fiala became a second-round NHL selection after playing a season in Everett. Karel Hromas was a fourth-round NHL pick when he was drafted by Everett.
So, it might come as a surprise to learn the identity of the individual looking to even the playing field in the import draft.
Everett general manager Doug Soetaert is pushing to reform the import draft, hoping to make the draft fair for all teams involved.
With the WHL season getting underway tonight, Soetaert took a moment to reflect on the one aspect of player procurement he doesn't consider fair.
"I'm a firm believer that there's got to be a different way of doing this so nobody's stung or hurt by a player not coming," said Soetaert, who's pushed to get the subject on the agenda for the WHL's general managers meeting in October. "I think it has to be reviewed."
The import draft has long been considered an agents draft, since a player's agent has just as much influence over where a player lands as the team selecting. For the most part teams have to come to an agreement with the player's agent before selecting, or risk wasting the pick.
Also, there's no guarantee drafting a player means the player is going to show up. If a player doesn't want to play for the team that drafted him, he can choose to remain in Europe, and the drafting team is out of luck. Portland is in this situation as Russian winger Maxim Trunev, whom the Winter Hawks selected third overall, appears set to remain home.
Therefore, teams with greater resources, that play in higher-profile markets or have better connections to European-based scouts, have an immense advantage over those that don't.
The result is that every year the best players are spread all across the draft board rather than being concentrated at the top. A good example from recent years came in 2004 when Vancouver ended up with two of that year's first-round NHL draft picks in defenseman Andrej Meszaros and goaltender Marek Schwarz, despite picking 16th and 40th. Schwarz ended up going 23 places higher in the NHL draft than he did in the import draft.
It's these types of inequalities Soetaert wants to stamp out. And he's not alone. During the summer the Ontario Hockey League explored the possibility of opting out of the import draft altogether before deciding to seek a CHL-wide resolution. Indeed, it's unlikely any of the CHL's three leagues would take individual action that would find them at a disadvantage at the Memorial Cup.
Soetaert would like to see two things happen. First, he wants players to opt into the draft by a set date before it takes place. As it stands now, any junior-aged player from Europe is eligible to be drafted, even if he's never heard of the CHL. This would give the teams a set list from which to choose, and also affirm the players' commitment to playing in the CHL.
Second, players who opt in have to have their releases from their European teams. Under the current rules the European team that owns a player's rights can block a move to the CHL. The Spokane Chiefs are currently facing this prospect with center Ondrej Roman, a key component on their Memorial Cup-winning team, stuck in his native Czech Republic. A signed release would prevent that obstacle.
"It's fair for everybody then," Soetaert said. "The best player should go No. 1 instead of No. 20. I think it should be fair for all teams. I know everybody has their little deals with agents, and I think we have to work with the agents in making it a responsible draft for everybody, so there's no surprises. That way when you draft a player, you know he's going to come."
Soetaert's aims aren't completely altruistic. Everett was burned this offseason when Russian center Vitaly Karamnov and Slovakian left wing Lukas Vartovnik both decided to remain in their home countries rather than return for the 2008-09 season. The Tips, believing they already had their two European roster slots filled, traded their first-round pick in the import draft to Regina for Regina's first rounder in 2009. It wasn't until after the draft that Karamnov and Vartovnik revealed their intentions, leaving the Tips short two players.
In Soetaert's ideal import-draft scenario, this issue would be taken care of, too.
"Even for the players who are returning, they would have to have their releases by the opt-in date so you know they're returning," Soetaert said. "There's no promises he's going to come, he signs his International Ice Hockey Federation card, and then the team doesn't release him.
"All-in all the leagues have to discuss it," Soetaert concluded about the draft. "We're not going to resolve it right now, but we need to find a fair and proper way to do it."
Silvertips' Soetaert pushing to reform import draft
Some teams have a greater advantage
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT -- The Everett Silvertips have done pretty well for themselves in the Canadian Hockey League import draft.
Over the years, Everett has drafted six players in the import draft, which disperses European players throughout the CHL's three member leagues. All six played for the Tips the season after they were drafted.
And the players Everett drafted have been impact players. Ivan Baranka was a second-round NHL draft pick when the Tips selected him, Ondrej Fiala became a second-round NHL selection after playing a season in Everett. Karel Hromas was a fourth-round NHL pick when he was drafted by Everett.
So, it might come as a surprise to learn the identity of the individual looking to even the playing field in the import draft.
Everett general manager Doug Soetaert is pushing to reform the import draft, hoping to make the draft fair for all teams involved.
With the WHL season getting underway tonight, Soetaert took a moment to reflect on the one aspect of player procurement he doesn't consider fair.
"I'm a firm believer that there's got to be a different way of doing this so nobody's stung or hurt by a player not coming," said Soetaert, who's pushed to get the subject on the agenda for the WHL's general managers meeting in October. "I think it has to be reviewed."
The import draft has long been considered an agents draft, since a player's agent has just as much influence over where a player lands as the team selecting. For the most part teams have to come to an agreement with the player's agent before selecting, or risk wasting the pick.
Also, there's no guarantee drafting a player means the player is going to show up. If a player doesn't want to play for the team that drafted him, he can choose to remain in Europe, and the drafting team is out of luck. Portland is in this situation as Russian winger Maxim Trunev, whom the Winter Hawks selected third overall, appears set to remain home.
Therefore, teams with greater resources, that play in higher-profile markets or have better connections to European-based scouts, have an immense advantage over those that don't.
The result is that every year the best players are spread all across the draft board rather than being concentrated at the top. A good example from recent years came in 2004 when Vancouver ended up with two of that year's first-round NHL draft picks in defenseman Andrej Meszaros and goaltender Marek Schwarz, despite picking 16th and 40th. Schwarz ended up going 23 places higher in the NHL draft than he did in the import draft.
It's these types of inequalities Soetaert wants to stamp out. And he's not alone. During the summer the Ontario Hockey League explored the possibility of opting out of the import draft altogether before deciding to seek a CHL-wide resolution. Indeed, it's unlikely any of the CHL's three leagues would take individual action that would find them at a disadvantage at the Memorial Cup.
Soetaert would like to see two things happen. First, he wants players to opt into the draft by a set date before it takes place. As it stands now, any junior-aged player from Europe is eligible to be drafted, even if he's never heard of the CHL. This would give the teams a set list from which to choose, and also affirm the players' commitment to playing in the CHL.
Second, players who opt in have to have their releases from their European teams. Under the current rules the European team that owns a player's rights can block a move to the CHL. The Spokane Chiefs are currently facing this prospect with center Ondrej Roman, a key component on their Memorial Cup-winning team, stuck in his native Czech Republic. A signed release would prevent that obstacle.
"It's fair for everybody then," Soetaert said. "The best player should go No. 1 instead of No. 20. I think it should be fair for all teams. I know everybody has their little deals with agents, and I think we have to work with the agents in making it a responsible draft for everybody, so there's no surprises. That way when you draft a player, you know he's going to come."
Soetaert's aims aren't completely altruistic. Everett was burned this offseason when Russian center Vitaly Karamnov and Slovakian left wing Lukas Vartovnik both decided to remain in their home countries rather than return for the 2008-09 season. The Tips, believing they already had their two European roster slots filled, traded their first-round pick in the import draft to Regina for Regina's first rounder in 2009. It wasn't until after the draft that Karamnov and Vartovnik revealed their intentions, leaving the Tips short two players.
In Soetaert's ideal import-draft scenario, this issue would be taken care of, too.
"Even for the players who are returning, they would have to have their releases by the opt-in date so you know they're returning," Soetaert said. "There's no promises he's going to come, he signs his International Ice Hockey Federation card, and then the team doesn't release him.
"All-in all the leagues have to discuss it," Soetaert concluded about the draft. "We're not going to resolve it right now, but we need to find a fair and proper way to do it."