2009 unsigned draft picks

The June 1 deadline for NHL teams to sign their 2009 draft picks is fast approaching, so here's a quick look at all the WHLers (and former WHLers) who were selected in that draft and their current signing status:

First round:
#4, Atlanta: Evander Kane (Vancouver Giants) - signed
#5, Los Angeles: Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon Blades) - signed
#8, Dallas: Scott Glennie (Brandon Wheat Kings) - signed
#9, Ottawa: Jared Cowen (Spokane Chiefs) - signed
#29, Tampa Bay: Carter Ashton (Tri-City Americans) - signed

Second round:
#32, Detroit: Landon Ferraro (Everett Silvertips) - signed
#43, San Jose: William Wrenn (Portland Winter Hawks) - not signed
#48, St. Louis: Brett Ponich (Portland Winter Hawks) - signed
#49, Colorado: Stefan Elliott (Saskatoon Blades) - signed

Third round:

#64, Colorado: Tyson Barrie (Kelowna Rockets) - signed
#66, Buffalo: Brayden McNabb (Kootenay Ice) - signed
#67, Florida: Josh Birkholz (Everett Silvertips) - not signed
#73, New Jersey: Alexander Urbom (Brandon Wheat Kings) - signed
#74, Calgary: Ryan Howse (Chilliwack Bruins) - signed
#81, Philadelphia: Adam Morrison (Saskatoon Blades) - not signed
#82, Edmonton: Cameron Abney (Edmonton Oil Kings) - signed
#83, Vancouver: Kevin Connauton (Vancouver Giants) - signed
#85, Washington: Cody Eakin (Kootenay Ice) - signed
#86, Boston: Ryan Button (Seattle Thunderbirds) - signed

Fourth round:

#96, Los Angeles: Linden Vey (Medicine Hat Tigers) - signed
#101, Edmonton: Toni Rajala (Brandon Wheat Kings) - signed
#103, Minnesota: Kris Foucault (Calgary Hitmen) - signed
#105, Phoenix: Justin Weller (Red Deer Rebels) - not signed
#108, St. Louis: Tyler Shattock (Calgary Hitmen) - signed
#119, Chicago: Byron Froese (Red Deer Rebels) - not signed

Fifth round:

#127, NY Rangers: Roman Horak (Chilliwack Bruins) - signed
#129, Dallas: Tomas Vincour (Vancouver Giants) - signed
#141, Calgary: Spencer Bennett (Vancouver Giants) - not signed

Sixth round:

#155, Atlanta: Jimmy Bubnick (Calgary Hitmen) - not signed
#157, Phoenix: Evan Bloodoff (Kelowna Rockets) - not signed
#161, Minnesota: Darcy Kuemper (Red Deer Rebels) - signed
#175, Washington: Garrett Mitchell (Regina Pats) - signed
#178, Carolina: Rasmus Rissanen (Everett Silvertips) - signed
#179, Los Angeles: Brandon Kozun (Calgary Hitmen) - signed
#180, Detroit: Mitchell Callahan (Kelowna Rockets) - signed

Seventh round:

#185, Atlanta: Levko Koper (Spokane Chiefs) - not signed
#189, San Jose: Marek Viedensky (Saskatoon Blades) - signed
#201, Calgary: Gaelan Patterson (Saskatoon Blades) - signed
#208, Carolina: Tommi Kivisto (Red Deer Rebels) - not signed

 * if I've missed any signings here, corrections (especially with link to source!) are definitely welcome

In the cases of Wrenn and Birkholz, since they played NCAA hockey their drafting teams will own their rights until June 1, 2013 - the end of what would have been their senior season in college. So this year's June 1 deadline doesn't apply to them. If they don't sign, it's likely they'd be back in the WHL as overagers next year.

All other unsigned players on this list though will be re-entered into the 2011 NHL draft if they are not signed by June 1.

Weller, Froese, Bennett and Koper, their NHL teams probably are interested in getting deals done but not at any cost. For Morrison, Bubnick, Bloodoff, and Kivisto, I wouldn't be surprised to see them not get signed. Possible they do, just not surprising to me if they don't.

Bennett, Koper, and Bloodoff have graduated from the WHL and won't be back regardless of what happens to them signing-wise. Kivisto hasn't been in the WHL in two years and isn't going to be back as an overage import next year either.

For Weller, Froese, Morrison, and Bubnick, whether they (A) sign by June 1, (B) are re-drafted and sign with their 2011 drafting team, or (C) go undrafted and sign as free agents after the draft will determine whether they return to the WHL as overagers next year or whether they move on to the pros.