The Canadian Hockey League’s Import Draft is two days away, but the London Knights have already kickstarted it.

Just two days prior to the Import Draft, the Knights dealt Reid McNeill, their first round Import Draft pick, Mississauga’s 2nd round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Draft and their own 3rd in 2013 to the Barrie Colts in exchange for the first overall selection in Wednesday’s selection process.

It is expected Dale Hunter will pick Russian sensation Mikhail Grigorenko, slotted fifth in Future Considerations’ ranking for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

With 14 assists and 18 points in seven games, Grigorenko was second to only teammate Nikita Kucherov in points at the World Under-18 Championship in Germany this spring. As a 16-year-old, Grigorenko recorded 13 goals and 30 points in 38 games with CSKA of the MHL.

The six-foot-two, 185-pound Grigorenko is a natural playmaker possessing impressive vision and great offensive awareness that compliment his quick, soft hands.

Grigorenko is expected to challenge countryman Nail Yakupov and his teammate Alex Galchenyuk, as well as defensemen Nick Ebert and Ryan Murray for the first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Aaron Vickers is the managing editor of Future Considerations and can be found on Twitter. For all the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed, on YouTube and on Facebook!