Repik Drafted (What?)

The KHL held its inaugural draft today, and Florida Panthers' prospect Michal Repik was selected in the second round, twenty-seventh overall by Sibir.

That shouldn't be any cause for alarm, however, as Repik has expressed an abundance of interest and desire to play in the NHL. He's almost there now, and the penalties for contract jumpers are going to be much harsher now that the IIHF has written new rules to prevent future Radulov situations.

Really, the KHL's draft is one that the Russians hope can keep their talented young players home. While the NHL drafts 18 year olds, the KHL has a minimum age of 17 - which means Taylor Hall, the prospect many think can go first overall in 2010 in the NHL, was eligible. And of course, he was drafted by a KHL club.

So too was Victor Hedman.

There will always be players that can be wooed by money, or want to pass on junior hockey or the AHL or college - and there are players that will always want to play closer to home - so the draft might cost the NHL some players, but that it keeps many away, or keeps the next Ovechkin or Malkin out of the NHL is quite a longshot. At least in the immediate future.

But as far as the selection of Repik goes, I don't imagine there's anything to worry about. His draft rights will remain with Sibir until he is 28 years old, or his rights are traded or released. For the time being, however, Repik looks to be a leading candidate to be promoted from the AHL to the NHL this coming season.