With Tim Pigulski talking about the upcoming CHL Import Draft today, we decided to take a look at import picks that the Seattle Thunderbirds have had at pick #40 or higher. This should be in the area of the TBirds first round pick this year. We won’t go beyond their WHL stats in this analysis.

(Number of pick shown to left of player)

2012
#60 Roberts Lipsbergs (LW/C) Latvia
132GP 63G 47A 61PIM -10 Playoffs: 16GP 5G 10A 4PIM +6

2008
#42 Stefan Warg (D) Sweden
107GP 1G 29A 133PIM -8 Playoffs: 5GP 2PIM
Prince Albert Raiders: 27GP 7A 42PIM -7
WHL total: 134GP 1G 36A 175PIM -15 Playoffs: 5GP 2PIM

#66 Ondrej Palat (LW) Czech Republic
Odd situation here. Seattle took him in 2008 draft and then traded his rights to Chilliwack Bruins for rights to Oscar Moller. Palat ended up with neither and was re-drafted in 2009 at #10 overall by the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL.

2007
#46 Riku Helenius (G) Finland
41GP 2.42GAA .915SV% 3SHO Playoffs: 9GP 2.70GAA .911SV%

2006
#73 Jan Eberle (LW) Czech Republic
123GP 25G 34A 79PIM +17 Playoffs: 23GP 3G 8A 20PIM +2

2003
#47 Denis Tolpeko (LW) Russia
126GP 26G 34A 111PIM +13 Playoffs: 12GP 1G 10PIM -4
Regina Pats: 53GP 20G 31A 48PIM +3 Playoffs: 6GP 4A 16PIM +1
WHL total: 179GP 46G 65A 177PIM +16 Playoffs: 18GP 1G 4A 26PIM -3

2002
#61 Adam Drgon (D) Slovakia
Never came to Seattle

2001
#46 Stanislav Avksentiev (D) Russia
Never came to Seattle

1998
#58 Zdenek Blatny (LW/C) Czech Republic
51GP 22G 20A 37PIM +15 Playoffs: 11GP 4G 24PIM -1
Kootenay Ice: 119GP 80G 87A 239PIM +53 Playoffs: 32GP 18G 27A 70PIM +19
(Won WHL Championship in 1999)
WHL total: 170GP 102G 107A 276PIM +68 Playoffs: 43GP 22G 27A 94PIM +18