Eleven players with Champions Hockey League experience were taken in the 2020 Entry Draft, including four in the first round. Additionally, there were two players chosen who haven't played in the CHL yet but have the potential to this season.
As anticipated, Tim Stützle of Adler Mannheim was the first European-based player selected, third overall to the Ottawa Senators. Stützle was a top-line winger for Mannheim last season, helping the team reach the CHL Round of 32 with five points in eight games. Die Adler are slated to return to the CHL in 2020/21.
Immediately after Stützle, Lucas Raymond of the Frölunda Indians was taken with the fourth pick by the Detroit Red Wings. Raymond has played 10 CHL games over the past two seasons and already has two CHL titles under his belt. He’s back with Frölunda this season and could be seen again in the CHL.
Three picks later, Djurgården Stockholm’s Alexander Holtz went to the New Jersey Devils. Holtz had three points in 10 CHL games last season as his team advanced to the Round of 16.
Those were the only first-round selections who competed in the 2019/20 CHL season, but at No. 12 came Finn Anton Lundell, who played three CHL games for IFK Helsinki as a 16-year-old in 2018/19. Additionally, German Lukas Reichel was chosen 17th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks. Reichel hasn’t played in the CHL yet, but his Eisbären Berlin club has qualified for the competition this season.
So far, we have:
3. Tim Stützle, F, Adler Mannheim (Ottawa Senators)
4. Lucas Raymond, F, Frölunda Indians (Detroit Red Wings)
7. Alexander Holtz, F, Djurgården Stockholm (New Jersey Devils)
12. Anton Lundell, F, IFK Helsinki (Florida Panthers)
17. Lukas Reichel, F, Eisbären Berlin (Chicago Blackhawks)
34. John-Jason Peterka, F, Red Bull Munich (Buffalo Sabres)
35. Helge Grans, D, Malmö Redhawks (Los Angeles Kings)
41. Noel Gunler, F, Luleå Hockey (Carolina Hurricanes)
64. Topi Niemelä, D, Kärpät Oulu (Toronto Maple Leafs)
66. Kasper Simontaival, D, Tappara Tampere (Los Angeles Kings)
160. Albin Sundsvik, F, Skellefteå AIK (Anaheim Ducks)
161. Benjamin Baumgartner, F, HC Davos (New Jersey Devils)
176. Samuel Johansson, D, Rögle Ängelholm (Columbus Blue Jackets)