Success has its price and the Windsor Spitfires will pay.

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Success has its price and the Windsor Spitfires will pay.

After finishing last in the Western Conference and winning the OHL Draft lottery a year ago, the Spitfires also ended up with the third overall pick in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. 

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That landed the club Ilya Protas, who could go down as the greatest import selection in franchise history after finishing second in OHL scoring with 50 goals and 124 points in 61 games and earning the league’s William Hanley Trophy winner as most sportsmanlike player.

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A year later, after the club’s third West Division title in four years, the Spitfires are now slated to select 53rd overall in the first round of Wednesday’s import draft. Unless, he can capture lightning in a bottle, there will be no Protas waiting for Spitfires’ general manager Bill Bowler to take at that selection.

“We will look at the best available player,” Bowler said.

What is the CHL Import Draft

A yearly draft for OHL, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams to select players from outside Canada and the United States.

The draft was first held in 1992 and each year the order of selection rotates from league to league based on yearly performance. Last year, the QMJHL had the top pick, the WHL second and the OHL was third, which saw Windsor take Protas. The picks rotate between the three leagues until all 61 CHL franchises select

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This year, the WHL has the top pick, the OHL is second and QMJHL third for the draft, which begins at 11 a.m.

Any changes to the draft?

For the first time since 2013, clubs were allowed to trade picks in the draft.

Bowler attempted to make a move up from pick No. 53, but the price for such a move proved too costly.

“You’re always exploring what the cost would be to move up, but we’re content picking where we are,” Bowler said.

The Brantford Bulldogs moved up to the No. 2 pick in a trade with Peterborough for a second and two third-round picks in the OHL Draft.

The Flint Firebirds also moved up to the No. 5 pick in a deal with the Guelph Storm for a second-round pick in the OHL Draft, two picks in the third round and a sixth-round pick.

Bowler said even if he had made a move up, there is no guarantee the player he might want would still be there.

“There’s no guarantee your guy is there,” Bowler said.

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Other changes to the draft?

For the second year in a row, players from Russia and Belarus will be eligible for selection. The CHL had banned players from those countries in 2022 due to the war on Ukraine.

As well, with the new competition for players brought on by changes in the NCAA, the import draft will see teams able to select three plays instead of the usual two.

“I’ll make three selections,” Bowler said. “I don’t know if three will come. You just never know.

“This will be an interesting draft, just because of the rules, and a lot will depend on who’s sitting there. It could be a player we hope helps us immediately, but also we have time to wait for a good player (to come in the future).”

Windsor also picks in the second round at No. 114 and in the third round at No. 175. Those picks could come earlier as clubs opt to pass on making selections in those rounds.

Can Windsor find help in the draft?

While it’s unlikely the Spitfires will find a superstar at No. 53, the club has found players that can contribute to the team later in the draft.

Defenceman Josef Eichler was the 52nd pick in the 2023 import draft and played 127 regular-season games in two seasons. Defenceman Daniil Sobolev was the 40th pick in 2020 and played three seasons in the league.

“We’ll see who is sitting there,” Bowler said.

jpparker@postmedia.com

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