2025 WHL Draft

[wheatiefan]

Really, if the Wheaties wanted to trade up to grab Nicol, they could probably move their 2 1sts to Red Deer and get Nicol at 7th - that is probably an overpay for Nicol so they will need to be sure that it will pay. He might be there at 12 anyway, and my assessment is that anything from 6 through 40 has about the same likelihood of panning out so 12 and 15 would be hard to give up. A little patience and the Wheat Kings might land both Nicol and Mateychuk.

Your assessment is spot on. Not sure you give up 12 and 15 to RD to get 7. Overpay to me for a player who is very good but probably does not move the needle enough to give up both first round picks. If the WK want Nichols and I am sure they probably do I think the team waits to see what shakes down as the draft proceeds. Interesting thought about moving McQueen to Kelowna. That might be the way to go and use the assets to build around Jacobson not next year but the one after. Certainly interesting times ahead for the team depending on what direction they decide to move.

 

[whldraft]

Your assessment is spot on. Not sure you give up 12 and 15 to RD to get 7. Overpay to me for a player who is very good but probably does not move the needle enough to give up both first round picks. If the WK want Nichols and I am sure they probably do I think the team waits to see what shakes down as the draft proceeds. Interesting thought about moving McQueen to Kelowna. That might be the way to go and use the assets to build around Jacobson not next year but the one after. Certainly interesting times ahead for the team depending on what direction they decide to move.

If it is a 2 year build, you have Surkan coming in - find another to finish off a line with Jacobson for 2026/27 and you might have the most dangerous line in the league.

 

[whldraft]

Interesting to see what happens in Kelowna with their picks as more teams bow out of the playoffs. Players rumoured to be in play to head for a Memorial Cup run.
Jesse Sanche
Carter Bear
Tarin Smith
Johnny Hicks
Sawyer Mynio
Carson Wetsch
Joshua Ravensbergen
Terik Parascak
Lynden Lakovic
Clarke Caswell

Who else is out there that can help Kelowna win today? They really need a goalie.

 

[2Mototik2]

Interesting to see what happens in Kelowna with their picks as more teams bow out of the playoffs. Players rumoured to be in play to head for a Memorial Cup run.
Jesse Sanche
Carter Bear
Tarin Smith
Johnny Hicks
Sawyer Mynio
Carson Wetsch
Joshua Ravensbergen
Terik Parascak
Lynden Lakovic
Clarke Caswell

Who else is out there that can help Kelowna win today? They really need a goalie.

Is Mynio not going pro next year? He'll be 20 and he's signed by the Canucks.

 

[SpeedyCerviche]

Interesting to see what happens in Kelowna with their picks as more teams bow out of the playoffs. Players rumoured to be in play to head for a Memorial Cup run.
Jesse Sanche
Carter Bear
Tarin Smith
Johnny Hicks
Sawyer Mynio
Carson Wetsch
Joshua Ravensbergen
Terik Parascak
Lynden Lakovic
Clarke Caswell

Who else is out there that can help Kelowna win today? They really need a goalie.

Sneaky good pickup would be Mistlebacher as an OA

 

[hockeykid87]

I don't think Everett is going to want to ship off players like Bear and Smith while they're still very much championship contenders. There are also rumors of Tarin Smith heading to the NCAA next season.

Kelowna is almost certainly going to sign Harrison Boetigger, the goalie they got from Lethbridge in the Caden Price trade. He's a late 07, but one of the best goalies in the US. He's probably the starter next season.

 

[whldraft]

I don't think Everett is going to want to ship off players like Bear and Smith while they're still very much championship contenders. There are also rumors of Tarin Smith heading to the NCAA next season.

Kelowna is almost certainly going to sign Harrison Boetigger, the goalie they got from Lethbridge in the Caden Price trade. He's a late 07, but one of the best goalies in the US. He's probably the starter next season.

I agree that Boetigger is a probable signing, likely after the U18s are completed. Are you going into the the host year with him as your only guy? Maybe. Would be a big risk to take him being unproven, though I agree that there aren't many others that could go. Heard a while back that Wutzke might delay turning pro if he had the chance to make a run as well.

On the comments about Everett - they don't want to part with these guys but they could potentially land a very high end prospect.

 

[whldraft]

Is Mynio not going pro next year? He'll be 20 and he's signed by the Canucks.

All bets are off if you can go for a Memorial Cup. Canucks might prefer that he get that experience.

 

[wheatiefan]

Anyone out there want to try another mock draft of the first round of the Prospects draft.? By what reading I have done is that this years draft is very strong for at least the first two rounds.

 

[hockeykid87]

Anyone out there want to try another mock draft of the first round of the Prospects draft.? By what reading I have done is that this years draft is very strong for at least the first two rounds.

We all know who's going first. After that? Who knows. Liam Pue's name has been out there a ton, but what is the level of competition he's playing at? Does the JPHL compare at all to the CSSHL?

Cruz Jim is a name to watch. Louis-Oscar Holowaychuk as well.

Purely guessing on my part, I'm thinking 2,3 and 4 go like this: Edmonton goes Jim at 2, Kelowna trades #3 (likely to MJ for Lynden Lakovic, IMO) and MJ takes Holowaychuk. Penticton takes Pue at 4.

 

[wheatiefan]

We all know who's going first. After that? Who knows. Liam Pue's name has been out there a ton, but what is the level of competition he's playing at? Does the JPHL compare at all to the CSSHL?

Cruz Jim is a name to watch. Louis-Oscar Holowaychuk as well.

Purely guessing on my part, I'm thinking 2,3 and 4 go like this: Edmonton goes Jim at 2, Kelowna trades #3 (likely to MJ for Lynden Lakovic, IMO) and MJ takes Holowaychuk. Penticton takes Pue at 4.

Keep going you were on a roll

 

[Bocephus]

I watched Cruz Jim yesterday that the Alberta Cup in RD. He was was awarded the Player of the Game for his Gold squad and it wasn't unexpected. He looked WHL ready IMO. Smooth, calm, and cerebral in all elements of the game. Fun fact, the opposing #5 was also named Cruz.
I will be taking in a number of these games this weekend. I am rather amused at the number of scouts there and how they all wear the same black jackets. Is it a scout starter pack they are given?
Who should I be paying attention to? Oliverio? Filewich?

 

[hockeykid87]

I watched Cruz Jim yesterday that the Alberta Cup in RD. He was was awarded the Player of the Game for his Gold squad and it wasn't unexpected. He looked WHL ready IMO. Smooth, calm, and cerebral in all elements of the game. Fun fact, the opposing #5 was also named Cruz.
I will be taking in a number of these games this weekend. I am rather amused at the number of scouts there and how they all wear the same black jackets. Is it a scout starter pack they are given?
Who should I be paying attention to? Oliverio? Filewich?

Teams generally all work with the same distributors for apparel, so it's not surprising they all look alike.

 

[wheatiefan]

I watched Cruz Jim yesterday that the Alberta Cup in RD. He was was awarded the Player of the Game for his Gold squad and it wasn't unexpected. He looked WHL ready IMO. Smooth, calm, and cerebral in all elements of the game. Fun fact, the opposing #5 was also named Cruz.
I will be taking in a number of these games this weekend. I am rather amused at the number of scouts there and how they all wear the same black jackets. Is it a scout starter pack they are given?
Who should I be paying attention to? Oliverio? Filewich?

Keep us informed on who think may be first rounders . The Alberta Cup is a huge reference for the teams scouts. Thanks in advance.

 

[Bocephus]

Keep us informed on who think may be first rounders . The Alberta Cup is a huge reference for the teams scouts. Thanks in advance.

Can do although I am just a fan and not a scout.
It's pretty fascinating to think that these players are all good and could make the NHL but in reality... The Alberta Cup was in Lethbridge in 2011 and I watched it there thinking the same thing. The Hurricanes drafted Reid Duke that year.
How many players from that 2011 class do you think have played in the NHL by now? I was blown away by the number.
Brayden Point
Jake DeBrusk
John Quenneville
Adin Hill
Justin Kirkland, AKA Costco
that's it, 5
5 out of about 120 players
So, when the proud parents think their special boy is some kind of hockey prodigy...just smile

 

[wheatiefan]

Can do although I am just a fan and not a scout.
It's pretty fascinating to think that these players are all good and could make the NHL but in reality... The Alberta Cup was in Lethbridge in 2011 and I watched it there thinking the same thing. The Hurricanes drafted Reid Duke that year.
How many players from that 2011 class do you think have played in the NHL by now? I was blown away by the number.
Brayden Point
Jake DeBrusk
John Quenneville
Adin Hill
Justin Kirkland, AKA Costco
that's it, 5
5 out of about 120 players
So, when the proud parents think their special boy is some kind of hockey prodigy...just smile

Very good point. Shows that so few players in major junior actually make it to the NHL. Even players with very good junior careers have a tough time making it.

 

[2Mototik2]

Very good point. Shows that so few players in major junior actually make it to the NHL. Even players with very good junior careers have a tough time making it.

I think there's also a sweet spot area where if a player has a very good junior career, it's because they might not be good enough to make the NHL and they could put up the numbers because of longevity, if that makes sense.

Like Connor Bedard for example. He's only 298th all-time in league scoring, but that's because he was good enough to be in the NHL at 18. There are plenty of players above him who didn't do much, if anything, in the NHL but they played longer in the WHL because they weren't able to make the NHL.

Along those lines with this NCAA ruling, I think we might see league and individual team records stand for longer than ever before because those "very good junior career" players can leave for the NCAA early instead of playing through their overage year. An example there is Oliver Tulk, who ended this season as the fourth all-time Hitmen scorer and would definitely had a shot at getting to #2 in his overage season, but instead he's leaving early for Wisconsin.