CHL Import Draft Breakdown: Ivan Ryabkin, Adam Benák, and Olivers Mūrnieks among top names selected

The CHL Import Draft is unlike any other. It’s not a draft that roughly runs in order of the best players, but rather one based on the likelihood of reporting, handshake agreements, and more. 

This intrigue around the draft was at an all-time high this year, with the CHL allowing three imports instead of two and allowing teams to trade picks, both for the first time. 

There were also many top 2026 NHL Draft prospects picked, like potential first-rounders Olivers Mūrnieks and Šimon Katolický, as well as many other top names like Yegor Shilov, Oscar Hemming, and Samu Alalauri. There were also some notable NHL-drafted talents, like Ivan Ryabkin, Adam Benák, Eric Nilson, Tinus Luc Koblar, Theo Stockselius, and Matouš Jan Kucharčík. 

Here are our favourite picks, most interesting storylines, and who to watch out for, with the caveat that nothing in this draft is set in stone.