Import draft wrap-up

Published 3:10 pm Wednesday, June 29, 2011

First, a refresher on Everett’s two picks from today’s CHL import draft:

21st overall
Vladimir Dolnik
Winger
Slovakia
18 years old
6-foot-2
187 pounds

51st overall
Dominik Bittner
Defenseman
Germany
19 years old
6-foot
185 pounds

The Tips traded an eighth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft to Kootenay in exchange for the pick that netted Bittner. That’s a pretty cheap price, but it does mean the Tips have dealt away third-, fifth-, sixth- and eighth-round picks in next year’s bantam draft.

Here’s the skinny on the two players from Tips general manager Doug Soetaert. Dolnik is a big-bodied forward who’s a hard worker. Soetaert described him as having a North American-style of game, and said that was exactly what he was looking for. Bittner is an experienced defenseman — he played in a pro league last season — who’s described as a good puck mover. He’s also a right-handed shot, so the Tips are hoping he can partner Ryan Murray at the blue line on the power play. Soetaert wanted an older D-man, and he pulled the trigger on the trade when he started hearing Bittner’s name floated around. Soetaert believes both should be able to contribute next season.

Now, the big question with European players is always whether they’ll report. Well, Soetaert said he was assured by both players’ agents, both before and after the draft, that they’d be coming.

To me, Bittner may be the more-important acquisition, at least for the upcoming season. The Tips had quality on the blue line, but were lacking in both depth and experience. Getting a 19-year-old defenseman who’s played at the World Junior Hockey Championships and who played against men last season helps fill what I saw as a pretty big hole.

The addition of Dolnik, a 1993-born forward, means the Tips will have a ton of 93s and 94s fighting for roster spots up front next season.