Spirit draft 17-year old Russian Talent in CHL draft
The newest member of the Saginaw Spirit, Russian forward Vadim Khlopotov
/ courtesy of The Saginaw News
SAGINAW -- The Saginaw Spirit participated in the 2011CHL Import Draft Wednesday, selecting Russian native Vadim Khlopotov with the 43rd overall pick in the selection. He is eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Khlopotov is a 94-born center who played with the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv 94 squad and the Russian U17 National Team last season, serving as team captain with the Lokomotiv.
According to reports he is a smart, creative playmaker with excellent hockey instincts and natural leadership skills. He has a good solid shot and decent skill on the puck with unique one-on-one abilities. He tallied nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 16 games with the Lokomotiv in 2010-2011.
He earned a gold medal at the 2011 Tenth European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in the Czech Republic and a gold medal at the 2011 Four Nations 1994 U17 tournament in Russia.
Khlopotov will join Czech Republic native Tadeas Galansky as Saginaw’s two import players heading into the 2011-2012 season; each CHL team is allowed a maximum of two import players on their roster in a given season.
Tuesday, the Spirit traded forward Ivan Telegin to Barrie, in exchange for three draft picks over the next two seasons.
Telegin had 46 goals in two seasons in Saginaw.
