I think better the Devil you know (no pun intended) with imports.
With a proven EIHL player you know what your getting and he knows the league.
With a newbie it’s a bit of a gambol, look at the Rupert brothers that Steelers signed. Yeah, you might unearth a gem - but it’s only a might!
The flip side of that, is that every single player is new to the league at some point & no 2 teams are the same.
Look at Crowder at Fife - he's a different player.
Aarssen at SHeffield last year - a different player to the one that played for Braehead.
Leigh Salters...(we won't go there)
You don't necessarily know what you're getting, other than someone you are GOING to overpay as you have no choice.
Devils had agreed terms with John Armstrong when he left Zagreb, but Sheffield swooped in and offered him (rumoured to be) DOUBLE what we had, how much truth is in that i don't know, but it's well known that they offered him after us.
I always prefer players to come in through proper reference checks and other leagues, rather than "he looked good against us"
Faryna (a point a game at Dundee) and Salters are case in question.
Where it's a role guy, or someone down the lines a little where you know for sure what you're getting; i don't mind so much, but shelling out big bucks on top scorers from other teams isn't always wise. (sometimes it is, i'm not disputing).
Also fresh blood to the league is always something to get excited about, rather than recycled players