Bruce Hamilton went on record saying if they win the lottery and pick first, they will keep the pick. Maddox Schultz is eligible to play 34 games in the WHL this season as he was playing U18 as an underager. The Rockets could keep him in Kelowna all season and only play him during home games. Then he'd be available for all playoff and Mem Cup games as well.
He also just so happens to be from Kelowna, which I think is a nice added layer, acquiring a local star for a Memorial Cup appearance.
Would be a win-win for both sides, if it happens. MJ gets a lottery pick to help expedite their rebuild, and Kelowna gets a top-line forward for their Mem Cup run.
Schultz cannot be full time on the roster, so would need to be registered with Rink Kelowna U18 Prep and play part time with them. Interviews have sounded like they intend on him being home for that portion of the year. He would not be able to join the team in the playoffs until his U18 team is done.
The new rules with the WHL draft stipulate that if a player is drafted out of a U18 league and not a U15 league, they are eligible to play 34 games the following season as a 15-year-old. I don't believe he would have to spend any time with Rink Academy in Kelowna in that case. He could be with the Rockets all year. Him spending another season in U18 does him no good.
They will all be on a U18 team. 100%. Unless one goes to the BCHL for a year. But they are playing U18 for part of the year. It isn't meant to be full time in the league. Agents and families are well aware of this.
Brandon will not be in on this. They are building to support Jacobson. Unless they really want Nicol that badly.
You are right about building around Jacobson but would Nichol not help that unless you think they will trade to beef up lineup around Jacobson for next 2 years.
Does a 15/16 year old make that much of a difference leading up to Jacobson's draft?
Probably not but he will be able to play up to 34 games, he’s a good size and a local kid so it’s a win-win situation for the team I would think. Not sure what direction the team is taking but they may want to take advantage of McQueen’s last year. Certainly the team can go in one of many directions depending on the what the brain trust has in mind going forward .
I agree that they will want to get Nicol. But you are going to give up one or more top players to Kelowna to get that #3 pick. It goes against the idea of loading up to support McQueen and Jacobson.
Brandon is only going to get one more season of McQueen. If they're not going for it next year, and I kinda doubt they are, they will build around Jacobson. His dad is gonna do everything in his power to make that team a wagon for his kid.
You know for sure or are you just throwing spaghetti up against the wall hoping it sticks. You are privy to inside info on the WK plans. Good for you.
It doesn't take insider information to know that A) Roger McQueen is not playing in the WHL as a 20-year-old in 2026-27 and B) Their owner is going to do everything he possibly can to ensure his son has a great chance to win a championship. You can bet that when Jaxon is 19, or 20 if he doesn't have a pro contract, Brandon is going all in.
McQueen being a late birthday means that his post draft life in the WHL is very short. He will be 19 in October. If Brandon will not take a run next year, he may be a top candidate to leave for NCAA in the fall. If he is leaving, maybe they would trade for that pick from Kelowna.
Now that we have the locked in order of picks, barring the inevitable trade of Kelowna's pick. Some of these picks have already been locked in by advisors, others are obvious based on relationships as well as draft history/bias of teams. I gave Wheaties Fan his Manitoba boys.
