Might the Rebels take Backlund in the CHL Import Draft?

[Reggie Dunlop]

"It's getting harder and harder to get the really high profile import players to play in our league," Red Deer General Manager Brent Sutter told the Red Deer Advocate. "These kids are being paid good money now to stay over there and play, so it's getting tougher and tougher to get top-end kids to come over here."

Sutter had the good fortune of having two very high impact forwards on last year's team. He was able to convince Martin Hanzal, who refused to play for Regina, to play for the Rebels and he led the league in points per game with 85 points in 60 games. The Rebels also added Russian Kirill Starkov, who finished with (34-37-71) last season. Sutter, whose brother is the General Manager of the Calgary Flames, has been able to tap his NHL sources on occasion to increase his batting average in the CHL draft in the past.

Be kinda neat if he could.

[CMPunk]

Doubtful, Backlund said he'd like to spend another year overseas working on his skills

[Reggie Dunlop]

http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/

More info here... Just click on "Sports" when you get to the link.

[Canada 02]

how about Per Jonsson? Sutter mentioned he would be coming over, I assume, for the summer rookie camp

[Canada 02]

CHL Import Draft Tracker

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/events/pop.php?id=225

[Canada 02]

Kelowna Rockets just took Mikael Backlund

[Reggie Dunlop]

Interesting.

How long do CHL teams hold player rights for European imports?

EDIT: Nevermind. JP Barry says Backlund can play next season.

[icarus]

The Windsor Spitfires took the Michal Jordan of hockey (with all due respect to Vincent Lecavalier)!