The Erie Otters used the first overall pick in Wednesday’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft to select Martin Misiak, a forward from Slovakia.
Erie had never before held the first pick in the 31-year history of the import draft, which allows clubs from the CHL’s three leagues to select players from outside of their normal geographical boundaries. Misiak was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks a week earlier in the second round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
More: Which Otters players were selected to participate in an NHL development camp?
What to know about the pick
Misiak will be no stranger to Erie.
A close friend of Otters winger Ondrej Molnar, Misiak has already seen the team play at Erie Insurance Arena multiple times, Otters general manager Dave Brown said. Erie took Molnar, a Slovakian, fifth overall in last year’s import draft before selecting defenseman Artyom Kulakov 82nd.
Misiak spent this spring in nearby Youngstown, Ohio, where he helped the Mahoning Valley Phantoms of the United States Hockey League during their playoff push. The 6-foot 2-inch, 198-pound winger played 27 regular-season games and nine postseason games for Mahoning Valley, totaling eight goals and 19 assists.
The former U18 World Junior Championship gold medalist was noted by EliteProspects and Dobber Prospects for the “high energy” he brings to the ice.
“(Misiak) is best described as a complete player who combines his size with energy and tenacity to make his opponents uncomfortable,” Brown said in a news release Wednesday. “His big shot and quick release make him a handful for goalies and is someone who we feel will make an immediate impact.”
More: Ryan O’Reilly among former Erie Otters to sign big-money deals during NHL free agency
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Otters pick Slovak forward Misiak in import draft