The B.C. division now....
Kelowna Rockets:
Projected Losses:
Colin Joe (D-88): 68-1-12-13-24 (traded to Saskatoon)
Milan Kytnar (F-89): 62-9-13-22-66 (traded to Saskatoon)
Brady Leavold (F-87): 67-27-42-69-138 (graduated overager)
Myles MacRae (F-88): 64-10-11-21-24 (released)
James McEwan (F-87): 37-2-4-6-93 (graduated overager)
Kris Westblom (G-87): 43-25-14-3-2.86-0.890 (graduated overager)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Cody Almond (F-89): 69-22-34-56-114
Jamie Benn (F-89): 51-33-32-65-68
Evan Bloodoff (F-90): 69-15-12-27-69
Lucas Bloodoff (F-89): 70-21-16-37-92
Dylan Hood (F-90): 63-10-8-18-50
Colin Long (F-89): 72-31-69-100-41
Brandon McMillan (F-90): 71-15-26-41-56
Jesse Paradis (F-91): 40-1-9-10-10
Kyle St. Denis (F-90): 64-16-24-40-26
Kyle Verdino (F-91): 32-0-2-2-25
Defence:
Tyson Barrie (D-91): 64-9-34-43-32
Collin Bowman (D-91): 67-2-7-9-45
Tysen Dowzak (D-88): 68-0-13-13-91
Riley McIntosh (D-90): 39-1-1-2-16
Tyler Myers (D-90): 65-6-13-19-97
Luke Schenn (D-89): 57-7-21-28-100
Goaltenders:
Torrie Jung (G-89): 33-13-12-5-2.80-0.891
Projected Rookies:
Aaron Borejko (D-91)
Adam Brown (G-91)
Mitchell Callahan (F-91)
Brock Genyk (F-91)
Curt Gogol (D-91): 1-0-0-0-0
Jonas Lopushinsky (F-91)
Spencer Main (F-92)
Lukas Matejka (F-91) (new import)
Stepan Novotny (F-90) (new import)
Prognosis: Hard not to like the looks of this team. They might have the best defence in the entire WHL and the offence is not too shoddy either. Up front they start with scoring title runner-up Colin Long; Almond, Benn, both Bloodoffs, McMillan, St Denis....all these guys should be 15-20+ goals at least. Word is that new import Stepan Novotny could be a big-time impact player too. The Rockets should definitely be up there with the top offences in the league. And the news is even better on the blueline, where they have two NHL first round picks (Myers & Schenn) anchoring the team, along with two more guys (Bowman & Barrie) who are going to get serious NHL consideration this year as well. McIntosh and Dowzak aren't chopped liver either, making this group probably the league's best, #1 to #6. If the team has a weak spot, it might be in net where Torrie Jung is now the starter and his numbers last season were a little on the average side. But he's a capable goalie and with the team in front of him, it'll still be fine if he has a few shaky moments. This team is solidly set up to take a run at another WHL title this year.
Prediction: First in the B.C. division and #1 or #2 in the conference.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vancouver Giants:
Projected Losses:
Mario Bliznak (F-87): 67-19-32-51-36 (graduated overager)
Chris Cloud (F-88): 65-8-11-19-105 (overage numbers - projected)
Mitch Czibere (F-89): 67-6-15-21-53 (traded to Regina)
Garet Hunt (F-87): 62-7-11-18-239 (graduated overager)
R.J. LaRochelle (D-87): 22-0-4-4-40 (graduated overager)
Spencer Machacek (F-88): 70-33-45-78-69 (turning pro)
Justin Palazzo (D-89): 30-1-3-4-56 (released)
Michal Repik (F-88): 51-27-34-61-62 (turning pro)
Stefan Schneider (D-89): 36-0-4-4-36 (traded to Vancouver)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Adam Basford (F-89): 4-0-0-0-0
Lance Bouma (F-90): 71-12-23-35-93
Craig Cunningham (F-90): 67-11-14-25-72
James Henry (F-91): 46-7-8-15-67
Evander Kane (F-91): 65-24-17-41-66
Todd Kennedy (F-90): 30-2-3-5-41 (stats with Regina)
Garry Nunn (F-89): 35-8-21-29-4
Casey Pierro-Zabotel (F-88): 49-19-29-48-8
Mike Piluso (F-90): 48-8-8-16-27
James Wright (F-90): 60-13-23-36-21
Defence:
Mike Berube (D-88): 72-5-13-18-95
Jonathon Blum (D-89): 64-18-45-63-44
Curtis Kulchar (D-90): 50-0-3-3-22 (stats with Regina)
Neil Manning (D-91): 34-1-7-8-11
Brent Regner (D-89): 72-8-39-47-45
Craig Schira (D-88): 63-8-22-30-58
Goaltenders:
Kraymer Barnstable (G-90): 14-6-4-0-2.45-0.886
Tyson Sexsmith (G-89): 62-43-11-8-1.89-0.911
Projected Rookies:
J.T. Barnett (F-92)
Mikhail Fisenko (F-90) (new import)
Brendan Gallagher (F-92)
Mikael Jung (F-92)
Andrej Kudrna (F-91) (new import)
Bronson Maschmeyer (D-91)
Mitch Spooner (D-92): 3-0-1-1-0
Jamie Tucker (G-91)
Simon Witt (D-92)
Prognosis: Not quite in Kelowna's league but a very well-rounded team here that should stay near the top of the standings as well. They have a fairly young and inexperienced group up front with only three players aged 19 or older - and none of those three has more than a half-season in the league - but there's some scoring here. Bouma, Kane, Nunn, Pierro-Zabotel, and Wright should be good for 60-65+ points each this year, and they have some good new rookies and new Euros to help add some depth. The blueline is good with Jon Blum anchoring a top three with Regner and Schira; Berube, Kulchar, and Manning are a very good #4-#6 group (in fact, nobody in the league has a blueline with more games of experience than Vancouver's) and there's a couple kids who are going to push for ice time too. And in net there's one of the best in the league in Sexsmith. The backup spot is still undecided but Sexsmith is going to play 55 games anyway so no worries there.
Prediction: 2nd in the B.C. division, 3rd or 4th in the conference.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamloops Blazers:
Projected Losses:
Brady Calla (F-88): 52-10-20-30-52 (turning pro)
Spencer Fraipont (D-88): 30-0-1-1-22 (released)
Mike Gauthier (D-87): 58-2-7-9-146 (graduated overager)
Sasha Golin (F-88): 71-5-11-16-100 (released)
Darcy Huisman (D-89): 63-2-9-11-55 (retired)
Juuso Puustinen (F-88): 60-27-26-53-26 (turning pro)
Ivan Rohac (F-88): 58-17-34-51-28 (turning pro)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Jimmy Bubnick (F-91): 64-9-18-27-24
Kenton Dulle (F-88): 62-21-16-37-47
Mark Hall (F-90): 67-5-7-12-68
Devon Kalinski (F-90): 30-3-3-6-30
Alex Rodgers (F-89): 68-16-29-45-46
Tyler Shattock (F-90): 48-9-14-23-45
C.J. Stretch (F-89): 65-11-17-28-65
Scott Wasden (F-88): 45-10-16-26-43
Shayne Wiebe (F-90): 66-9-8-17-59
Matt Wray (F-89): 43-3-1-4-147
Defence:
Giffen Nyren (D-89): 69-7-15-22-58 (stats with Moose Jaw)
Nick Ross (D-89): 31-5-14-19-55
Jordan Rowley (D-90): 66-5-18-23-68
Mark Schneider (D-90): 34-1-1-2-12
Kurt Torbohm (D-90): 35-0-1-1-39
Goaltenders:
Justin Leclerc (G-89): 54-20-29-3-3.29-0.895
James Priestner (G-91): 24-6-12-1-3.41-0.873
Projected Rookies:
Dalibor Bortnak (F-91) (new import)
Cole Grbavac (F-91)
Jon Groenheyde (G-91): 1-1-0-0-2.00-0.943
Ryan Hanes (F-92)
Uriah Machuga (F-92)
Brendan Ranford (F-92): 3-0-0-0-0
Linden Saip (D-91): 6-0-1-1-0
Michal Siska (D-90) (new import)
Brandon Underwood (D-92)
Prognosis: time to start taking care of business again in Kamloops after a couple pretty bad seasons. The Blazers are definitely a big cut below the Rockets and Giants but they could be a .500 team. Probably the biggest question is whether they have enough scoring; they really need veteran guys like Dulle, Shattock, Stretch, and Wasden to take a step up from their 25-30 point numbers of seasons past and become 60-70 point men instead. Big things are expected from Jimmy Bubnick in his draft season as well, and Alex Rodgers will have to continue to improve on his totals from last year. The defence is a similarily average group, some top end talent in Nick Ross who needs to play like a top end talent more consistently this year to help his NHL ambitions. Rowley and Nyren are a couple more good vets who add some offence and puck moving from the back end too. Some depth is a concern but the team thinks new import Michal Siska can step right in and contribute. In net, Justin Leclerc is back as the #1 and really needs to move himself into the upper half of starting goalies around the league this year or else possibly lose his job to one of the two younger guys pushing him.
Prediction: 3rd in the division, 6th/7th in the conference.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prince George Cougars:
Projected Losses:
Real Cyr (G-87): 50-13-31-3-4.17-0.888 (graduated overager)
Greg Gardner (F-87): 72-24-29-53-52 (graduated overager)
Colin Haas (F-89): 65-3-5-8-37 (traded to Seattle)
Jan Kupec (F-90): 32-3-2-5-24 (released)
Patrik Magnusson (D-88): 70-8-11-19-102 (released)
Brad Riege (F-89): 26-4-5-9-34 (retired)
Kalvin Sagert (D-87): 72-4-15-19-88 (graduated overager)
Tommy Tartaglione (G-88): 22-6-12-0-3.59-0.894 (overage numbers - projected)
Garrett Thiessen (D-89): 69-0-4-4-178 (traded to Prince Albert)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Jordie Deagle (F-89): 67-8-12-20-108
Dale Hunt (F-90): 48-9-12-21-35
Ryan Kowalski (F-91): 61-1-4-5-33
Colby Kulhanek (F-89): 64-14-14-28-43 (stats with Chilliwack & Red Deer)
Justin Maylan (F-91): 31-6-8-14-14
Alex Poulter (F-89): 72-16-21-37-35
Parker Stanfield (F-90): 67-14-9-23-56
Corey Tyrell (F-90): 70-5-4-9-12
Dana Tyrell (F-89): 68-25-40-65-47
Marcus Watson (F-89): 60-6-10-16-34
Defence:
Trevor Bauer (D-90): 22-0-0-0-20
Art Bidlevskii (D-91): 62-1-7-8-73
Cameron Cepek (D-88): 58-7-18-25-119 (stats with Edmonton)
Matt Cumming (D-91): 39-0-2-2-43
Cody Hobbs (D-89): 31-2-2-4-26
Dallas Jackson (D-89): 59-5-14-19-41 (stats with Regina and Red Deer)
Goaltenders:
Kevin Armstrong (G-88): 33-20-5-4-2.17-0.915 (stats with Spokane)
Ian Curtis (G-90): 8-1-4-1-4.94-0.858
Projected Rookies:
Nick Buonassisi (F-92): 4-1-0-1-0
Brett Connolly (F-92): 4-0-0-0-0
Greg Fraser (F-92)
Tyler Halliday (F-89)
Brian Matte (F-88)
Bruin McDonald (D-92): 6-0-0-0-6
Cody Rainaldi (F-89)
Colin Scherger (D-89)
Marek Viedensky (F-90) (new import)
Prognosis: surprisingly, the Cougars are looking at being one of the oldest teams in the league this year, with thirteen players aged 19 or 20 on this 27 player roster above. The bad news is that some of those older players are a little unproven and/or underwhelming. The team is chock-full of average and below average older players and I have to hope they are going to divest themselves of some of them and play the younger players because that's the only way this team is going to improve going forward. Up front they have one big star, Dana Tyrell, and a couple others like Deagle and Hunt who really need to step up offensively and really live up to their first round bantam pick status this year. Getting Poulter, Stanfield, Kulhanek, etc to double last year's production would help too. Not getting new import Jerome Flaake hurts. Some good younger players coming up here too, like Maylan, Fraser, Connolly, etc. I hope they get to play. The defence....well, apart from Cameron Cepek it's a pretty inexperienced group. The top two are probably Cepek and Dallas Jackson, who were surplus on Edmonton and Regina. Good potential in Bidlevskii and Cumming but overall a pretty average group I think. The bright spot on the team is in net, where veteran Kevin Armstrong should give the team every-night stability and leadership there.
Prediction: 4th in the division, 8th to 10th in the conference.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chilliwack Bruins:
Projected Losses:
Brandon Campos (F-87): 67-25-46-71-52 (graduated overager)
Dylan Chapman (D-87): 59-2-4-6-92 (graduated overager)
Matt Esposito (G-89): 48-18-23-5-3.19-0.891 (awaiting trade)
Nick Holden (D-87): 70-22-38-60-54 (graduated overager)
Evan Pighin (F-88): 53-22-26-48-41 (to Jr A)
Michael Proudley (F-89): 52-6-10-16-40 (released)
Mark Santorelli (F-88): 72-27-74-101-40 (turning pro)
Cody Smuk (F-89): 60-4-10-14-71 (traded to Lethbridge)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Partik Bhungal (F-88): 43-1-2-3-71
Liam Darragh (F-90): 60-2-6-8-87
Ryan Howse (F-91): 54-10-7-17-12
Randy McNaught (F-90): 30-3-1-4-53
Matt Meropoulis (F-89): 43-1-9-10-60
Brayden Metz (F-90): 48-4-6-10-18
Oscar Moller (F-89): 63-39-43-82-42
Jadon Potter (F-89): 70-11-17-28-14
David Robinson (F-90): 71-7-8-15-117
Defence:
Jesse Craige (D-89): 52-9-22-31-39 (stats with Lethbridge)
Jeff Einhorn (D-90): 67-2-3-5-18
Scott Ramsay (D-91): 30-0-0-0-46
Matt Strong (D-90): 30-0-4-4-63
Chris Van Duynhoven (D-89): 41-1-4-5-59
Goaltenders:
Mark Friesen (G-90): 31-10-12-4-3.17-0.901
Projected Rookies:
Carter Berg (D-92): 1-0-0-0-0
James Bettauer (D-91): 1-0-0-0-0
Tanner Exner (F-91)
Lucas Gore (G-90): 1-0-0-0-5.19-0.667
Ryan Hankin (F-91): 3-0-0-0-0
Brandon Manning (D-90): 6-0-0-0-8
Scott McDonald (F-91)
Kevin Sundher (F-92): 6-0-1-1-2
Blair Wentworth (F-92): 1-0-0-0-0
Alexander Wiklund (F-90) (new import)
Prognosis: from the 2nd oldest team in the league to the 2nd youngest. After two years in the league, it looks like the youth movement might be starting in Chilliwack with only six players older than 18 on this roster. Up front there is very little proven scoring beyond Oscar Moller, and one has to wonder who's going to get Moller the puck this year now that Mark Santorelli is gone. Time for Howse, Metz, Potter, etc to step up to the plate here. Big things are also expected from rookies Sundher, McDonald, and Wiklund, but they are still rookies so expectations should be kept modest there. The defence is not too bad although a little heavy on the average players. Craige should provide some offence there and I know they expect more from Ramsay, Manning, etc. Goaltending is a bit of another question mark, with Mark Friesen needing to establish himself yet as a night-in, night-out starting goalie. He'll be pushed by an 18 year old rookie, Lucas Gore.
Prediction: I can't see this being a playoff team. 5th in the division, 9th/10th in the conference.
No comments:
Post a Comment