Yesterday, the 2024 CHL import draft saw the Val D'Or Foreurs selecting Matvei Gridin (Calgary, 28th overall in 2024) with the first overall pick. If the rumours of Gridin joining Val d'Or are true, they should count themselves lucky. It's not all import picks who choose to join teams despite their rights being drafted.
The first CHL import draft took place in 1992. The Gatineau Olympiques made the first QMJHL selection ever with the third overall pick when they selected goalie Jaroslav Miklenda (Ottawa, 146th overall, 1992). The Czech goalie is an example of a player who didn't join the league after being drafted. He finds himself in an overwhelming majority.
However, there have still been some familiar faces who took the QMJHL and later the NHL by storm.
The first and only former QMJHL import draft pick turned first overall NHL draft pick is Nico Hischier.
The Halifax Mooseheads selected the Swiss centre with the sixth-overall pick in the 2016 import draft. Hischier stood out in his only QMJHL season, finishing with 38 goals and 86 points in 57 games. He already has seven NHL seasons under his belt at the age of 25.
The Mooseheads have a history of attracting quality QMJHL players via the import draft. In addition to Hischier, Timo Meier (San Jose, 9th overall in 2015), Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg, 9th overall in 2014) and Jakub Voracek (Columbus, 7th overall in 2007) were all high draft picks in the NHL who had an impact in the QMJHL.
The player who arrived via import draft and leads the QMJHL in all-time scoring didn't play for the Mooseheads, however.
With the 13th overall pick in the 2015 import draft, the Olympiques selected Vitali Abramov (Columbus, 65th overall in 2016). Abramov played for the Olympiques and the Victoriaville Tigres, amassing 129 goals and 301 points in 185 career games.
Finally, the QMJHL has also seen successful goalies make their way via import draft. Ondrej Pavelec (Atlanta, 41st overall in 2005) had a .929 save percentage in 2005-06 while playing for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. This is the highest single-season save percentage in the history of QMJHL import draft goalies.