KAMLOOPS — For the first time since 2003 the Blazers have gone to Russia for an import draft pick.
That year they took defenseman Roman Teslyuk.
With their only pick in todays import draft, the Blazers returned to Russia for a big forward.
The Blazers took 6-5, 214 pound 17-year old forward Roman Makarov with the 38th overall pick.
Makorov scored 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 28 games between Russia’s U-17 and U-18 leagues in the 2020-21 season.
“He’s a big power forward, he covers the ice well.” says Blazers Director of Player Personnel Robbie Sandland. “He has a good offensive skill set to his game — he’s a player we identified early in this process.” 3:45 “I think he really compliments our young corps that we have in Kamloops.”
Sandland wasn’t able to see Makarov play in person, but scouted him extensively on video and through the eyes of a network of European NHL scouts.
Makorov, if he comes to North America, will join defenseman Viktor Persson as the Blazers two imports next season.
Persson was their import draft last year, also drafted into the NHL by the Canucks, but didn’t play here because of COVID.
He’s one player who will fill two spots —- as an overage of which teams are allowed three, and an import quota of two.
It’s an unconventional combination that a lot of teams shy away from — and perhaps more of a risk in this case since he hasn’t yet played in North America.
“We have evaluated him as a player and kept a close eye on him over the season, looked at the strengths of his game and I think his game is really going to take off on a smaller sheet of ice and the way he can move.” says Sandland He has a physical component to his game. Sure there’s a risk in everything, but we are very confident that he is going to be a big player for us on our back end.”
Matt Bardsley worked the draft with Robbie Sandland today —- a bitter sweet day for Bardsley, his last as the Blazers General Manager, as he re-locates his family back to their home in Portland.
Today the Blazers are in much better shape than they were when Bardsley arrived three years ago.
Bardsley leaves confident that the team will be in good hands moving forward.
“It takes a whole group to have success.” says Bardsley. “I think in our three years we have been able to implement everything — from the type of players we want, how we want to play — everyone that is in the organization — everyone has done a really good job so I feel really good about that. It doesn’t happen overnight, it takes some time, but I thought in the three years we showed really good progress as a team, our players have shown great development — that makes it tough to leave, but again I am happy with how I’m leaving the team.”
