Could We See Another Kucherov or Svechnikov Now That the CHL is Allowing Russians Back in the Import Draft?

After a two-year exclusion, the CHL announced on April 5 that Russian and Belarusian players will be eligible for the 2024 Import Draft on July 3.

The CHL said they’ll be able to play as long as they are granted the necessary visa they need to enter and play in North America. That said, the Canada-Russia series the CHL used to host between all-star teams from the OHL, QMJHL and WHL and Russian selects is permanently cancelled.

The players from Russia and Belarus were excluded from the draft in 2022 and 2023 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Val-d’Or Foreurs of the QMJHL have the No. 1 selection, so it will be interesting to see if they or any team selects a player from one of those two countries. 

Here is a look back at some Russian players who have developed in the CHL:

Nikita Kucherov, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

The Hart Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion is once again leading the NHL scoring race these days. And you can trace that success to having come over to North America from Maykop, Russia, as a 19-year-old.

Kucherov was a second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011. A year later, he left the KHL after being drafted 43rd overall by the Quebec Remparts. Kucherov was traded shortly after to Rouyn-Noranda and finished the year with 29 goals and 63 points in 33 games — providing a glimpse of the offensive talent we see in the NHL today.

Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts (OHL)

The native of Barnaul, Russia, was the top pick in the CHL’s 2017 Import Draft. And he didn’t disappoint.

Svechnikov, whose older brother also played two seasons in the QMJHL, scored 40 goals and 72 points in 44 games for the Colts in  2017-18, earning him the rookie of the year award. He then went on to become the No. 2 overall pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, where he’s on pace for his fifth 20-goal season in six years.

Ivan Barbashev, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Like Svechnikov, Barbashev was also a top pick in the CHL Import Draft, this time in 2012. But unlike Svechnkov, who spent only one year in the OHL, Barbashev developed for three years with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats.

During that time, the Moscow native was named to the all-rookie team and put up a combined 225 points in 173 games, which led to him getting selected in the second round by the St. Louis Blues in 2014. 

Since then, he’s won Stanley Cups with the Blues in 2019 and the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023.

Nikita Zadorov, London Knights (OHL)

The 6-foot-6 defenseman was picked ninth overall in the CHL’s 2012 Import Draft and quickly established himself as a towering presence on London’s blueline. 

In two seasons with the Knights, Zadorov combined for 17 goals and showed off his physicality in the OHL. The Buffalo Sabres selected the Moscow native 16th overall in 2013. Since then, he’s played 11 seasons in the NHL with five different teams.

Zadorov’s latest stop has been in Vancouver, where he recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick (a goal, an assist and a fight) against the Colorado Avalanche in March.

Vladislav Namestnikov, London Knights (OHL)

Drafted 20th overall by the Knights in 2010, Namestnikov scored 30 goals and 68 points in 68 games as a rookie. Those numbers helped him get picked 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011, though the native of Zhukovsky, Russia, would spend another season in London before making his NHL debut.

Since then, Namestnikov has played in more than 700 NHL games with seven different teams.

Dmitry Kulikov, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Kulikov was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2008 Import Draft and immediately earned a reputation as a dependable two-way defenseman. As a rookie with the Voltigeurs, the native of Lipetsk, Russia, picked up 50 assists in 57 games, earning him the QMJHL’s rookie of the year honors. 

That was enough for Florida to select Kulikov with the 14th overall pick in 2009. Since then, he’s bounced around the league but is back with the Panthers this season. He’s closing in on 1,000 career games and currently ranks second on the team in hits, with 142.

Ivan Provorov, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Provorov was born in Yaroslavl, Russia, but moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., as a 13-year-old in hopes of playing in the NHL.

It proved to be the right decision. 

After spending time in the USHL, Provorov was selected 25th overall in the CHL’s 2014 Import Draft. Provorov then led all WHL rookies in scoring with 61 points in 60 games. One season later, he led the team to the WHL championship and was named the top defenseman in the WHL and the CHL.

Drafted seventh overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015, Provorov hasn’t put up jaw-dropping offensive numbers in the NHL. But the 27-year-old, who is now playing in Columbus, is one of the team’s top shot-blockers.

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