The Blades have chosen a 17-year-old defenseman and 19-year-old winger in today’s CHL Import Draft.
They took 6-foot-3 inch, 178 pound Swedish right rearguard Emil Malysjev 23rd overall and 19-year-old right winger Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen from Norway in the second round, 83rd overall. He is listed at 6-feet, 192 pounds.
Blades General manager Colin Priestner said Malysjev is already high on the radar screens of many NHL scouts for next year’s draft and felt he has the potential to develop into a top shut down defenseman in the WHL. Priestner added Malysjev played for the championship team in the top Swedish Junior league last season as a 16-year-old.
Priestner said the selection of Roykas-Marthinson came with expectation that the Norwegian who was the top scorer in Sweden’s best Junior league last season will be able to step in an make an immediate offensive impact with the Blades. The 2017 draftee of the Washington Capitals had 23 goals in 23 games last season.
The P-A Raider’s lone choice was lanky 17-year-old right winger Aliaksai Protas from Belarus. He stands 6-foot-3-and a half inches tall and weighs in at 178 pounds.