The Windsor Spitfires once again find themselves in a waiting game after selecting Russian forward Bogdan Yakushevsky with the 46th overall pick in the first round of Tuesday's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. General manager Bill Bowler expressed optimism about the 17-year-old's potential, but acknowledged uncertainty over when—or if—he will join the club.
Yakushevsky's Reaction and Next Steps
According to his agent, Vlad Spektor, Yakushevsky was surprised by the selection. “He and I and his family are going to have to sit down and decide what the next steps are (for his hockey future),” Spektor said. The forward currently plays in Russia's CSKA Moskova system.
A Look at Yakushevsky's Season
Yakushevsky, a 2009-born left-handed shot who can play either wing, started last season with CSKA Moskova's under-17 team, recording 21 goals and 45 points in 27 games. He then moved up to the under-18 team, where he tallied 12 goals and 27 points in 12 games. He finished the season playing under-20 hockey with Krasnaya Armiya Moskova, posting three goals and six points in 24 games.
“As far as him as a player, he’s extremely competitive, hardworking, an excellent player,” Spektor said. “He’s a good skater and is able to play in all situations. He’s very skilled as well and just an all-around player. He can play any style and any type of game. He’s always a competitive kid that can help a team win.”
Bowler's Assessment and Team Needs
Bowler, looking to restock after player graduations and the loss of former first-round picks Jack Nesbitt and Ethan Belchetz to the NCAA, targeted Yakushevsky to add offensive spark. “He’s a kid that we’ve watched a lot of video on,” Bowler said. “We wanted a forward and we think he was a guy that could step in, even though he’s a (2009-born player).”
Bowler believes Yakushevsky's game translates well to North America. “He’s a tenacious 200-foot player and we think he can contribute in every aspect of the hockey game,” Bowler said. “Physically and defensively, we think he fits, but we would need him to produce offensively and think he’ll be a high NHL Draft pick next year.”
CHL Import Draft Trends and Context
Tuesday's draft marked the first time 16-year-old players were eligible, but Yakushevsky's 2009-born group led with 46 players among the 114 selected. Players from 13 countries were drafted, with Russians leading at 32 selections. This was the third year the CHL has allowed Russian and Belarusian players back after a two-year ban due to the war in Ukraine.
“He’s an eligible player and a teenager that has a chance to come to Canada to play hockey and we welcome it,” Bowler said.
Yakushevsky was the Spitfires' only selection in the three-round draft. The club's other two import spots are filled by Slovakian forward Michal Svrcek—a first-round pick last year who committed only last month—and Kazakhstan forward Beks Makysh, a second-round pick in 2025.
