I suspect that it could be true for, let's say, Top 10 picks. Later on I guess those are players that have negotiated a spot on the team already before the draft.
A couple of years ago there was this Latvian kid called Ričards BērziņÅ¡ - there is no way he could have been scouted as a worthy player, yet Owen Sound drafted him. He played one single game and was let go..
Clearly, his agent had promised the team that he will cross the pond, with Owen Sound not even being sure what they are picking. (I think he played at the U18 WC, so there was some credibility to him..)