Having found unexpected success by drafting a Swiss forward in the 2009 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, the Portland Winterhawks went the same direction in 2010.
Sven Bartschi, described as a skilled left winger, was picked by the Winterhawks on Tuesday with the seventh overall pick in the annual draft of European players.
A year ago, the Winterhawks picked Nino Niederreiter with the No. 2 selection in the draft, which involves the teams from the three Canadian major junior hockey leagues. Niederreiter was the No. 5 pick in last week’s National Hockey League draft.
Bartschi, 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, wants to come to the WHL, Portland general manager and coach Mike Johnston said. He turns 18 in October and is eligible for next year’s NHL draft.
“He’s not overly big, but he’s skilled and really fast,” Johnston said. “I think he’ll do well in our league. And I think he’ll come over and fit our style of play.”
Bartschi is committed to be a Winterhawk next season, Johnston said. Part of the research in preparing for the import draft is finding players who are committed to playing in North America.
Bartschi played for the Swiss under-18 national team in both 2009 and 2010. Niederreiter played on the 2009 Swiss under-18 team and has the same agent as Bartschi.
That connection played into the selection, Johnston said. If Niederreiter returns to Portland next season as expected, his presence should help Bartschi with playing so far from home at the age of 18.
Portland has a strong group of forwards born in 1992, including Ryan Johansen, who was drafted No. 4 overall by Columbus in the NHL draft. Eight Winterhawks were drafted by NHL teams last week, and others have been invited to NHL training camps.
Johnston said he targeted a forward in the import draft to add depth in case any of his current forwards sign professional contracts.
The Winterhawks did not have a second pick in the import draft with Niederreiter already on the roster. Portland acquired the seventh pick in the draft from the Lethbridge Hurricanes as part of the trade last season that brought Luca Sbisa to Portland.
The Winterhawks sent Daniel Johnston, Jacob Berglund and their own first-round import draft pick to the Hurricanes in the deal.
