The Red Deer Rebels will select 44th overall in the 2024 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft on Wednesday.
With the selection, they'll look to replace forward Frantisek Formanek who will not return to Red Deer in September for his 20-year-old season in the WHL.
Instead, he signed with a professional club team in Czechia with the Dynamo Pardubice.
Associate general manager Shaun Sutter said they won't take a goaltender at 44th overall but will take the best player available. The good news for Rebels fans is they've had recent success picking in that area of the CHL Import Draft taking forward Samuel Drancak 54th overall in 2023.
"If you look at all the picks in that area throughout the years there's a low percentage of getting a good player and a guy who will come. At the same time, we've had some success in that area of the draft," he said.
"You don't really know. You plan for A to Z and then you go from there. In my time running the import draft for our team, this is probably the most uncertainty in terms of knowing what other teams are doing."
To add to that uncertainty, it's also challenging to get a good look at some of the players. Without being able to head overseas the general managers in the CHL are only left with game tape. Depending on the league and the level they're playing at, there are opportunities available to watch them online but in some countries, there are situations where there is no way to watch them other than their agent sending a highlight reel.
"That creates some doubt versus familiarity with other players that have more video on them so you just feel a little more comfortable," he added.
This year there will be a different look to the CHL Draft. For the first time in two years, Russian and Belarusian players will be allowed to be selected. Two years ago the league banned them after the Russian government invaded Ukraine.
It would be assumed that this would create more variety for major junior teams but Sutter explained that's not the case.
"With the way the contracts work in Russia for the kids most if not all of them can only come over when they're 16 coming 17. Otherwise, they're signed with their KHL teams and can't get out of their contracts," he said.
There could also be potential questions on immigration. With the war still going on, the Canadian government could choose not to grant visas to Russian players.
"It will be interesting how many Russian players are taken in the draft and what leagues they're headed to."
That's among the many questions the Rebels will have to determine when deciding who to take on Wednesday. They also want to make sure they're selecting a player who has a desire to not only play in the Western Hockey League but in Red Deer and is good enough to play at that level.
That's especially important because whoever they choose will be on the roster at the beginning of the season. The Canadian Hockey League allows each team to roster two import players and the Rebels will return forward Samuel Drancak from Czechia.
"There are a lot of players who want to come but you question whether they're good enough to play. That plays in your mind both ways because some guys come over and are way better here and some are way better in Europe," Sutter added.
"It's still kind of a gamble however you slice it unless you've got a high pick and you're getting a guy who's gone early in the NHL Draft."
When it comes to the departure of Formanek, Sutter explained it's quite normal for European players to not return to junior hockey for their final year. After three seasons in Red Deer, he'll now be getting paid to play professionally in his home country.
If he did return he would take up two roster spots since the CHL only allows each team three spots for 20-year-old players and two for import players. He would just happen to be both for this upcoming season.
The CHL Import Draft begins at 9 a.m. Mountain time and is not broadcast live. However, those interested can follow along on the draft board on the CHL website.