Replenishing the offence
Islanders grab German scorer Nikita Alexandrov in Wednesday’s CHL import draft
The pick is in… and it’s Nikita Alexandrov.
He’s the one Jim Hulton, Charlottetown Islanders head coach and general manager, wanted in Wednesday’s Canadian Hockey League import draft because Hulton liked what he saw in the 17-year-old German forward.
“Offence. He had big offensive totals here last year, almost two points per game,” said Hulton. “We’re excited because we could have him for three years and with (Finnish defenceman) Saku (Vesterenin) coming back we can build some continuity.”
Alexandrov had 61 points in 36 games for his Iserlohn EC Jr. squad, and skated the odd practice with his club’s pro team.
Charlottetown picked the five-foot, 11-inch, 163-pound Alexandrov 50th overall Wednesday to help lighten the scoring burden with Czech Republic native Filip Chlapik turning pro this fall.
Hulton said Isles associate coach and assistant general manager Guy Girouard, who played in Germany from 19942000, did the legwork, rousted his German contacts and found Alexandrov often in the conversation.
“His name kept coming back to us,” said Hulton, adding Iserlohn’s Finnish head coach was impressed with way Alexandrov adjusted to the size and speed of pro level competition when he practiced with the pro squad.
But as is sometimes typical of overseas players, there was some trepidation as to whether Alexandrov would report if drafted. However, by Wednesday morning the German’s
agent said all was a go and Alexandrov would be in camp in August.
“We have full clearance that he’s going to report,” said Hulton.
The Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League picked Russian Andrei Svechnikov first overall, followed by the Moncton Wildcats selecting Russian Alexander Khovanov with the second pick.
Picks three through four went to the OHL’s Kootenay Ice (Switzerland’s Gilian Kohler) and Guelph Storm (Russia’s Alexei Toropchenko), respectively. The Sherbooke Phoenix passed at fifth overall, but the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants grabbed Slovakian
Milos Roman with the sixth overall pick.
Hulton won’t place Alexandrov in the lineup just yet, but he’s not worried about his smallish size when competing against Quebec Major Junior Hockey League defenders this season.
“I think we just have to look at P.O. Joseph (drafted 23rd overall in this month’s NHL draft) as an example not to judge a book by its cover,” said Hulton. “(Where he plays) will be determined, but I like to think somewhere in the top six optimally, but he’ll decide that.”
Because the Isles have two Euros now on the roster, it passed on its second round pick (110th overall).