Opting to select just once at the 2021 CHL Import Draft, the Kamloops Blazers grabbed a Russian forward.
With the 38th overall pick, the Blazers selected Roman Makarov, a 6-foot-5 214-pound forward from Engels, Russia.
Makarov split his time between two teams in 2020-21. He played 11 games with CSKA Moskva U17 and had seven points (4G, 3A). He also played 17 games with CSKA Moskva U18 team where he had 25 points (11G, 14A).
Not only does Blazer Director of Player Personnel Robbie Sandland like his upside. But Sandland also is confident that the 17-year-old Makarov will fit in with an already strong group of 17-year-olds on the Blazers 2020-21 roster.
“Learning the culture, language, and all that will be a tough adjustment”, Sandland told Jon Keen on Radio NL in Kamloops. “But we’re confident in the homework we’ve done he is going to fit in well, he is going to compliment our group. He brings some size as a power forward and does have skills to connect plays much like our younger core pieces.”
As far as getting Makarov playing, Sandland is confident that the Blazers’ vision, plan, and reputation will be convincing enough.
“We truly believe in our program. We believe in the people we have in place, our staff, and our players. We think this is a destination that players want to be a part of … When you look at players wanting to be pros and want to take that next step in their game, we are a very good option.”
Makarov is eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Blazers passed on their 89th selection. They are expecting 20-year-old Viktor Persson to be their second of the CHL maximum two imports teams can have this year. Persson is a seventh-round Vancouver Canucks draft pick from the 2020 NHL Draft.
