June 30, 2020 will mark another “Import”ant” Step for the Wildcats
The 2020 CHL Import Draft is critical for the rebuilding Moncton Wildcats.
A lot can happen on draft day especially when it comes to the import draft.
There are always some surprises, but most all of the deals are “signed, sealed and delivered.”
Player agents broker most of the deals or agreements between CHL franchises with perhaps some input from the NHL team that has the European players rights.
The Moncton Wildcats have a long history of selecting very impactful imports, but this year’s Euro Draft and the years to follow will be very important for the Cats if they want to hit the fast forward button on their rebuild.
One could only speculate the Cats selecting older imports to ensure a more veteran presence in their lineup for this season.
It could be a one and done adventure for the Wildcats and their new imports this season.
Many Euro’s use one year in the QMJHL and CHL as a spring board into the professional ranks here in North America.
With all the uncertainty surrounding the start of the season and the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s imperative that the Wildcats make two solid picks next week
Clearly the Wildcats are in need an offensive spark.
Top six scoring forwards are definitely a hot commodity at any level, but to say the Wildcats need scoring is a crippling understatement.
If the Wildcats could draft a “Manuel Wiederer” type player this season that would no doubt be a homerun for the organization.
Wiederer was a very responsible two way player that chipped in big time offensively when needed.
The Wildcats could also target a European defender has well, but that’s unlikely given the Wildcats young depth on the backend.
Thibeau and his staff could choose to select an import defencemen to provide one more year of development for some of their defensive prospects coming up.
Dan Lacroix’s return behind the bench is a game changer for Cats on several levels, especially this close to the import draft.
There’s a real sense that the Wildcats are looking to solidify their lineup and insulate some of their young talent with high quality 18 yr old free agents.
Drafting two older imports would be a fantastic way to bolster their lineup.
Thibeau and his staff have done a tremendous job drafting and developing over the past few years.
You can guarantee that trend will continue.
The big question for the Moncton Wildcats and the upcoming CHL Import Draft remains around the goaltending position.
Could the Cats be targeting a high profile netminder?
The Wildcats depth between the pipes is solid, but still not ready to make the jump just yet.
The Cats could make a substantial splash by selecting a star Euro netminder in next weeks draft which would certainly bode well for the future of the organization.
It remains to be seen what direction the Wildcats will take, nevertheless, the CHL Import Draft will be a significant component to the organizations quest for success.
FDS Podcast Network 