2025 WHL Offseason Thread

[hockeykid87]

Figured we should have a thread for general offseason news before next season begins. How about another head coach opening? According to Steve Ewen, Manny Vieveros is moving on from the Giants. So we currently have the following teams with head coach openings:

Kelowna, Vancouver, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Swift Current.

 

[2Mototik2]

Seemingly a bit of an odd move, Lethbridge just added because they traded a 2028 fourth round pick for 05 d-man Matteo Fabrizi and a 2026 seventh. Don't know why they are trading away more high-ish picks but I guess they just wanted a veteran presence on defence because the Hurricanes release says Fabrizi will be the only OA on defence, meaning Chadwick and Price are both gone with Port also signing a Euro deal recently. They are also currently sitting on six potential OAs, all forwards, by my count in Smith, Wilson, Johnson, Gizowski, Braillard and Wormald, none of whom currently have pro deals nor have committed to the NCAA (to my knowledge in both cases), who will apparently have to be culled down to two with Fabrizi.

Also, a super interesting article yesterday about Adam Foote's time coaching the Rockets, re: him being named head coach of the Canucks, where Bruce Hamilton basically takes all the blame for the shortcomings and player issues during Foote's tenure. Hamilton also touches a bit on their plans for this year.

 

[hockeykid87]

Seemingly a bit of an odd move, Lethbridge just added because they traded a 2028 fourth round pick for 05 d-man Matteo Fabrizi and a 2026 seventh. Don't know why they are trading away more high-ish picks but I guess they just wanted a veteran presence on defence because the Hurricanes release says Fabrizi will be the only OA on defence, meaning Chadwick and Price are both gone with Port also signing a Euro deal recently. They are also currently sitting on six potential OAs, all forwards, by my count in Smith, Wilson, Johnson, Gizowski, Braillard and Wormald, none of whom currently have pro deals nor have committed to the NCAA (to my knowledge in both cases), who will apparently have to be culled down to two with Fabrizi.

Also, a super interesting article yesterday about Adam Foote's time coaching the Rockets, re: him being named head coach of the Canucks, where Bruce Hamilton basically takes all the blame for the shortcomings and player issues during Foote's tenure. Hamilton also touches a bit on their plans for this year.

I assure you Anthony Wilson will not be a 20 year old for the Hurricanes this year. With them trading for Fabrizi he is obviously one of their three. My guess on the other two would be Smith and Wormald. I think when they acquired Smith, Peter Anholt even made a comment about how he would be an important player for the next two seasons.

Hurricanes likely aren't going to be very good this year. Fabrizi can just soak up minutes and throw the body around. Wouldn't be surprised in the least if they also traded Wormald and Smith, either in the summer or during the season, because they would be upgrades on a lot of other team's 20s.

 

[SpeedyCerviche]

Price is set for Wormald by SC. If Leth doesn't get a similar package, has to be a huge let down.
As mentioned, they are going to be down 4 D from this past years roster. They need players to "slot in" and not be playing too much or always in rough matchups. Good move, for a good price IMO.

 

[Bocephus]

As of now I think the Canes D is

Fabrizi 20
Doyle 18
Adair 18
Tipler 19
Soper 16
Nathan Maloney 19
Pichette 17

Am I missing any?

It shouldn’t be the achilles heal of the team.

 

[2Mototik2]

Those are all valid reasonings and I understand them but it still got a reaction from me when I saw it because Lethbridge traded away another one of their very few top-half draft picks.

 

[2Mototik2]

I'm not of the believe that every single CHL player is going to leave for the NCAA in their 19 year old or OA year, but we'll also have to see what comes of rosters when next season's training camps roll around and how many "good" OA's there are. So if a team like Lethbridge wants an OA body in a specific role, I guess it's better to go out early and get that player if you know they don't plan on leaving (or no NCAA team wants them).

 

[2Mototik2]

Kelowna trades for Mazden Leslie despite Leslie having verbally committing to Bowling Green and also wanting to play pro this year. They'll have to be in his ear soon if they aren't already.

 

[macbowes]

The Royals have signed two defensemen out of the NAHL so far. Timofei Runtso, who's a 6'2" RD born in 2007, as well as Henry Peterson, a 6'3" RD born in 2007. With Verhoeff, that's already 3 RD right there, and that's not including 2009 prospect Herfst, or potential returnees, such as Seth Fryer.

I think our GM is amazing, so I assume these are good moves. The Royals will be one of the top contenders in the league next year.

 

[hockeykid87]

Unsurprisingly, the Raiders officially name Ryan MacDonald as their head coach. Still a few to be announced, although it seems Edmonton has found their guy from Muskegon.