The Guelph Storm went with a big blueliner with its lone selection in today's CHL Import Draft.
Guelph chose Russian blueliner Daniil Skvortsov 27th overall in the draft, a 17-year-old, six-foot-four, 198-pound left shot defenceman who played in the top Russian junior league last season.
Guelph passed on its second selection in the draft, with Swedish winger Daniel Alriksson back to fill the team's other import slot next season.
"We think he's a great fit for us. He has three years of eligibility remaining (Skvortsov is eligible for the 2025 NHL draft) and he's a left-shot defencemen and we're a bit thin on that side," said Storm general manager George Burnett.
Skvortsov had one assist in 25 games last season.
Guelph currently has six signed defencemen, with only rookie Grant Spada and overager Tommy Budnick being left shots.
Burnett said Skvortsov, who is represented by Newport Sports Management, is eager to come play in the OHL and the team has been assured by his representatives there are no roadblocks contractually-speaking.
"We've also been told his English is a little better than we first thought," said Burnett, who has seen lots of video of Skvortsov and was waiting to speak to him for the first time on Wednesday afternoon.
Burnett also added that Skvortsov was the captain of his last two national age-level teams.
"He plays the game with some physicality and moves the puck well for a big player," Burnett said. "We're trying to build around our core group of 17 year olds and 16 year olds and we think he fits right in."
Val d'Or Foreurs of the QMJHL selected Russian winter Matvei Gridin with the first overall pick in the draft. Gridin was chosen in the first round of the NHL draft by the Calgary Flames after playing last season in the USHL. He was initially committed to the University of Michigan.
