CHL Import Draft: Signing Euros?

[jslmsca]

Has anyone successfully drafted and signed Europeans as a CHL team? I've gone through four seasons and can never seem to sign them. They either aren't interested in playing in the WHL or aren't interested in playing in Canada.

I've made sure to draft players who are 17 or 18, do not have lucrative contracts, are still with their junior leagues, and whose scouting report indicates that they are not loyal to their teams. Despite all that, I still can't sign Euros. It's not just Russians but any European.

Has anyone playing in the CHL had success?

[Pwal]

I've had the same problem, asked the same question, and didn't get any answer. I haven't played my QMJHL game in a while, but I remember I was able to sign a few Euro players. However, I don't know how I did it. I think it was a matter of timing. There was a very short window of opportunity, and that's when I grabbed them.

Sorry, I can't really be of more help.

[jslmsca]

Thanks, Pwal. You must be right about timing. I was trying in July and August. Maybe the offer needs to coincide with something in the schedule of the domestic league they're playing in? Not sure.

[jslmsca]

I've given up. I've done my due diligence in reading scouting reports, picking only players who adapt to new surroundings, are not loyal to their current team, who do not have anything more than a $1,000 contract with a junior team. Despite that, I get informed they're not interested.

The game simply doesn't provide enough information as to who is interested in advance. It's too frustrating so I've resorted to cheating and editing any Euro I've drafted to make them sign with me.

[Alessandro]

But are those players FAs or under contract?

[algon3]

I was successful a couple of times over 5 years. In both cases timing was key. The players I managed to sign had just been relegated from their home club to an U18 club and were upset so they signed with my OHL when I offered a week later. I think it is more about luck than anything.

P.S. In both cases, the players turned out to be absolute studs on my roster for the next 3 years.

[jslmsca]

Originally Posted by Alessandro

But are those players FAs or under contract?

They were signed to $1,000/yr junior contracts. From what I can recall, virtually all of the players in the CHL Import Draft are already under some sort of contract.

The reason I limited my selection to those with $1,000/yr contracts is because as a WHL team, the most I can offer is $3,000/yr so those players are the only ones where I can outbid their current team.