Skip to content

Battalion take German and Rangers Draft pick in CHL Import Draft

Max Kislinger is the newest North Bay Battalion forward taken in the CHL Import Draft. PHOTO COURTESY ELITEPROSPECTS.

Max Kislinger is the newest North Bay Battalion forward taken in the CHL Import Draft.  PHOTO COURTESY ELITEPROSPECTS.COM

The North Bay Battalion, picking in the 48th spot (43rd overall) snatched a big forward from Germany with their first round pick in the CHL Import Draft that his taking place today online.

Max Kislinger is listed at 6'2" and 200 pounds and plays the left wing. Last season he played for Salzburg U18 team in Austria where he racked up 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points in 27 games.

There is a Canadian connection with the young forward though. Max moved to Canada because of the connections his father had. Kingslinger's father played professional hockey with former NHLer Doug Gibson who currently resides in Peterborough and is an NHL scout. Young Kislinger went on to play one season in Peterborough in 2013-14 where he finished with 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 36 games with the Peterborough Petes Minor Midget AAA team.

At the end of the day, the Battalion organization got what they wanted and that was a young prospect along with a older and more developed player.  Coach Stan Butler noted how much young Kingslinger has grown, but he knows you lose sight of his age.

“He's going to develop as we move forward,” said coach Butler about the 17 year old winger.

“I think he would've been a fairly high pick if he was a non import. And I thought he'd be a guy who would fit good into our program.”

The 1998 birth year forward also played for Team Germany at the Mac's Midget Tournament in Calgary last Christmas.
Kislinger also played one season in Peterborough in 2013-14 where he finished with 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points in 36 games with the Peterborough Petes Minor Midget AAA team.

As expected, the Battalion added an older forward with their second pick which was in the 108th spot overall, but much earlier due to so many CHL teams passing on their second pick.

The Troops added 1996 birth year forward Robin Kovacs from Sweden. Kovacs, was taken in the 3rd round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers.

Right now Kovacs is leaning on going back to Sweden, but the risk was worth it for coach Stan Butler.

“If we get him, thats the key word, it's a home run.” said Butler about the talented winger.

“But if we would've said he was coming right from day one, we wouldn't have seen him. He would've been a top 10 pick, but we've got all summer to work on him.”

Coach Butler noted that he's been in a similar situation before.  Back in 2008 New York Rangers third round pick Evgeny Gravchev was also uncertain where he'd play after he was selected 40th overall by the Battalion. Gravchev was eventually convinced over the summer to take his talents to North America, and he racked up 40 goals and 40 assists for the Battalion that season.

Kovacs is a 6'0", 172 pound forward who can play the left and right side, put up some good junior numbers in the top junior league in Sweden where he accumulated 10 points in 9 games with AIK U-20.

More importantly, the 8th ranked European Skater by NHL Central Scouting for the '15 NHL Entry Draft, played up with the AIK professional team where he had 17 goals and 11 assists for 28 points in 52 games.

Here's Kovac's scouting report courtesy eliteprospects.com:

"A speedy winger that likes to agitate opponents and then strike quickly. Possesses great stickhandling ability and creativity, and is potent on the power play and penalty kill, as he recognizes scoring chances and is quick to act. Loves to play a puck-possession game and can pick his spot like no other when ripping his shots. All-in-all, an all-around winger that players hate to play against due to his skill level and the effectiveness of his agitation."

Kovacs was also drafted in the 5th round by CSKA Moskva in the 2015 KHL Draft.

 


Reader Feedback

Tommy Wong

About the Author: Tommy Wong

Tommy has lived in North Bay for more than 2 years now, but was born in China and lived there half his life. He's passionate about sports and can be found reporting at a majority of the junior hockey games in North Bay and Powassan.
Read more