Sens prospects Karlsson, Daugavins get drafted into KHL

As reported on On The Forecheck, the Kontinental Hockey League recently held their first annual entry draft. And wouldn't you know, they went all over the place with their draftess, selecting--among others--players who have played in the NHL (Michael Repik, 27 overall; Jiri Tlusty, 43 overall), players who are expected to be drafted high in this year's NHL draft (Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, 19 overall; Victor Hedman, 83 overall), and--of course--a few prospects the Senators have already drafted.

The Sens' double-picks were Erik Karlsson, who was selected 32 overall by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (after being selected in the first round, 15 overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft), and Kaspars Daugavins, who was chosen 35 overall by Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (after being selected in the third round, 91 overall, in the 2006 NHL draft).

Interesting? Certainly. This seems like a contingency plan for the KHL in the event any of these players fail to reach contract terms with the NHL squad that has drafted them. It's a different story with Russian prospects, many of whom are likely beginning to view the KHL as a realistic (even improved) alternative to the NHL. But for elite prospects from outside of Russia, particularly those already playing in North America, already signed with NHL teams as Karlsson is, or drafted years ago as Daugavins was, it's a little strange that KHL teams decided to draft them.

Another chapter in the very interesting KHL-NHL rivalry.