Central division now.....
Lethbridge Hurricanes:
Projected Losses:
Adam Chorneyko (F-88): 70-8-23-31-52 (overage numbers - projected)
Jesse Craige (D-89): 52-9-22-31-39 (traded to Chilliwack)
Nicholas Hotson (F-87): 44-13-23-36-4 (graduated overager)
Paul MacDonald (D-88): 30-0-5-5-18 (overage numbers - projected)
Michael Maniago (G-88): 46-25-14-5-2.5-0.896 (left WHL for university)
Jeff May (D-87): 29-3-21-24-19 (graduated overager)
Mike Wuchterl (F-87): 63-13-10-23-105 (graduated overager)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Carter Ashton (F-91): 40-5-4-9-21
Carter Bancks (F-89): 70-15-30-45-56
Zach Boychuk (F-89): 61-33-39-72-80
Cam Braes (F-91): 71-11-8-19-37
Mitch Fadden (F-88): 72-34-55-89-72
Dan Iwanski (F-90): 71-10-9-19-25
Dwight King (F-89): 72-34-35-69-56
Craig Orfino (F-90): 65-1-9-10-26
Colton Sceviour (F-89): 52-31-23-54-36
Cody Smuk (F-89): 60-4-10-14-71 (stats with Chilliwack)
Defence:
Lucas Alexiuk (D-89): 40-0-9-9-25
Luca Sbisa (D-90): 62-6-27-33-63
Mitch Versteeg (D-88): 56-3-5-8-138
Ben Wright (D-88): 69-4-34-38-105
Brennan Yadlowski (D-91): 50-0-3-3-54
Goaltenders:
Juha Metsola (G-89): 30-20-7-1-1.98-0.916
Projected Rookies:
Brandon Anderson (G-92)
Brandon Brossoit (F-92)
Cody Castro (D-92)
Derek Ryckman (D-92)
Austin Fyten (F-91): 6-0-0-0-0
Ryon Moser (F-92)
Mark Reners (F-92)
Cam Stevens (D-89): 5-0-1-1-8
Brock Sutherland (D-91): 5-0-0-0-2
Michael Tadjdeh (G-91)
Alex Theriau (D-92): 4-0-0-0-2
Prognosis: Lots to like about the defending conference champs, as they return 193 goals from last year's output (which puts them tops in the league) and have tons of veteran scoring available to them. (Trivia: the Canes have 429 career WHL goals on their roster, which is over 100 goals more than the next-best team!). Fadden, Boychuk, King, Sceviour, Bancks, these are all probably 60+ point guys minimum. Add in up-and-comers like Ashton, Braes, and Iwanski and there's lots of scoring depth here even if Fadden DOESN'T come back to the WHL. I'm assuming he does but if he doesn't, hey, replace him with Chorneyko. Games between Lethbridge and Brandon are going to give goal judges tendinitis in their thumbs. The blueline is a little shakier for the Canes, with only Ben Wright and Luca Sbisa being proven top-four guys there. There's potential from Yadlowski but for the rest, so far vets Alexiuk, Stevens, and Versteeg probably aren't more than 5th/6th guys in this league. So the Canes might need to beef up the blueline before the playoffs. Even earlier than that if they don't get Wright back from his NHL tryout (!!!). In net the Canes have a solid #1 goalie in Metsola, although some questions about his consistency remain unanswered from last year's performance. But I don't think a bad goal or an off night here and there is a big issue to worry about when you have the kind of goal production ability that the Canes will.
Prediction: Definitely #1 in the Central, probably by 10 points or more. Battle Brandon for #1 in the conference.
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Medicine Hat Tigers:
Projected Losses:
Mikael Ahlen (F-88): 34-8-3-11-20 (released)
Jordan Bendfeld (D-88): 72-6-19-25-160 (turning pro)
Shayne Brown (D-89): 55-3-7-10-89 (traded to Everett)
Yashar Farmanara (F-87): 64-21-20-41-78 (graduated overager)
Thomas Frazee (F-90): 43-3-4-7-25 (traded to Moose Jaw)
Jordan Hickmott (F-90): 55-7-4-11-24 (traded to Prince Albert)
Jerrid Sauer (D-87): 68-8-11-19-46 (graduated overager)
Daine Todd (F-87): 70-25-40-65-22 (graduated overager)
Tomas Vosvrda (G-89): 36-14-11-3-2.87-0.899 (released)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Brennan Bosch (F-88): 72-22-48-70-48
Bretton Cameron (F-89): 59-11-19-30-75
Travis Dunstall (F-89): 37-10-14-24-45
Tyler Ennis (F-89): 70-43-48-91-42
Colton Grant (F-89): 67-12-16-28-48
Wacey Hamilton (F-90): 63-13-19-32-95
Tristan King (F-90): 69-9-16-25-39 (stats with Portland)
Sean Ringrose (F-88): 68-10-24-34-38
John Stampohar (F-90): 42-3-1-4-52
Linden Vey (F-91): 48-8-9-17-21
Defence:
Cody Carlson (D-91): 49-2-14-16-34
Jace Coyle (D-90): 52-1-8-9-23 (stats with Spokane)
Mark Isherwood (D-89): 71-7-28-35-109
Tyler Kieffer (D-89): 27-0-3-3-27 (stats with Everett)
Matthew Konan (D-91): 42-0-4-4-21
Patrick Kozyra (D-89): 53-1-7-8-32
Goaltenders:
Ryan Holfeld (G-89): 48-28-11-4-2.47-0.902
Projected Rookies:
Scott Brkich (D-90)
Tyler Bunz (G-92): 1-1-0-0-3.00-0.885
Thomas Carr (D-90)
Joey Frazer (F-90)
Taylor Gal (F-90): 2-0-0-0-0
Josh Koper (F-90): 7-0-1-1-4
Tomas Kundratek (D-89) (new import)
Zdenek Okal (F-90) (new import)
Prognosis: A decently well-rounded team here, not as offensively talented as Lethbridge but probably equal on the blueline and in net. The Tigers have a pretty good first line with Ennis (who should score 50 goals this year) and Bosch, and some decent scoring depth from guys like Ringrose, King, Hamilton, Dunstall, etc. There's two pretty good scoring lines there and some decent depth through the 3rd line. On defence, there's a collection of above to above average defencemen here but no big stars....yet, anyway. New import Kundratek should be a very good addition here and could become the #1 d-man in short order, and the Tigers will be looking for bigger contributions from guys like Carlson, Konan, and Coyle than what they had to do last year for their teams. Not a dazzling group but they should be OK. And in net, Ryan Holfeld has the #1 job all to himself and will be looking to add more consistency to a 07-08 season which saw him post decent numbers, albeit a bit streaky. He'll be pushed by #1 bantam pick Tyler Bunz.
Prediction: Not in Lethbridge's league but should be 2nd in the division and 3rd or 4th in the conference.
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Calgary Hitmen:
Projected Losses:
Karl Alzner (D-88): 60-7-29-36-15 (turning pro)
T.J. Galiardi (F-88): 72-18-52-70-77 (turning pro)
Ryan Gillen (D-87): 54-2-6-8-107 (graduated overager)
Carson McMillan (F-88): 72-16-26-42-87 (overage numbers - projected)
Dan Mercer (D-87): 40-2-12-14-46 (graduated overager)
Brock Nixon (F-87): 29-17-15-32-14 (graduated overager)
Alex Plante (D-89): 36-1-1-2-28 (awaiting trade)
Dan Spence (G-88): 48-29-12-4-2.19-0.907 (overage numbers - projected)
Ryan White (F-88): 68-28-44-72-98 (turning pro)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Kyle Bortis (F-88): 68-37-35-72-30
Ian Duval (F-88): 71-22-28-50-42
Ryan Fox (F-90): 46-1-7-8-16
Bostjan Golicic (F-89): 57-12-18-30-24
Brandon Kozun (F-90): 69-19-34-53-46
Brendan Rowinski (F-90): 63-8-12-20-52
Chase Schaber (F-91): 49-3-1-4-30
Ian Schultz (F-90): 67-15-15-30-128
Brett Sonne (F-89): 29-8-12-20-12
Defence:
Matt Mackenzie (D-91): 39-2-6-8-8
Paul Postma (D-89): 66-14-28-42-30
Keith Seabrook (D-88): 59-4-13-17-47
Michael Stone (D-90): 71-10-25-35-28
Goaltenders:
Martin Jones (G-90): 27-18-8-1-2.12-0.911
Projected Rookies:
David Aime (G-89): 6-0-2-0-6.40-0.783 (stats with Red Deer)
Cody Beach (F-92)
Erik Bonsor (D-91)
Tyler Fiddler (F-90): 2-1-2-3-0
Jessi Hilton (F-91)
Jason MacDonald (F-89)
Austin Madaisky (D-92)
Scott Maetche (D-89)
Mackenzie Royer (F-92)
Michael Snider (G-91)
Cody Sylvester (F-92)
Edgars Ulescenko (F-90) (new import)
Prognosis: Some question marks here but should be a .500 team or thereabouts. The forward ranks are quite solid despite the loss of Galiardi, Nixon, White, etc. Bortis, Duval/McMillan, Sonne, Kozun, Schultz, and Golicic should all score 20+ goals, with a good supporting cast in Rowinski, Fiddler, Schaber, etc. They aren't going to compete with the Lethbridges and Brandons of the East in the scoring department but the Hitmen should be in the next group below that offence-wise. It's the blueline that is a big concern here, with only four returnees. Postma and Stone are a good first two but the Hitmen really need Seabrook to improve on his 07-08 showing and for Matt Mackenzie to take a big step forward as a 17 year old in order to have even an average top four d-men. The #5 - #7 guys have a total of 65 career games in the WHL, all by Maetche - who wasn't good enough to play for Chilliwack last year. Perhaps trading one of the overage forwards and/or Alex Plante will acquire someone to shore up the defence but for now this is a big question mark for the Hitmen. In net they will probably feature Martin Jones as the new #1; Jones put up pretty good numbers last year as the backup and even started some playoff games, and should be a capable #1. His backup will likely be either journeyman vet David Aime or rookie Michael Snider; in either case, Jones is going to be expected to carry the bulk of the load this year.
Prediction: 3rd in the Central, 4th-6th in the conference.
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Kootenay Ice:
Projected Losses:
Steve DaSilva (F-87): 68-40-50-90-47 (graduated overager)
Josh Gionfriddo (F-89): 29-2-1-3-29 (to Jr A)
Chad Greenan (D-87): 69-9-33-42-80 (graduated overager)
Arnaud Jacquemet (F-88): 65-27-26-53-22 (turning pro)
Paul Kurceba (D-87): 66-4-23-27-135 (graduated overager)
Kris Lazaruk (G-88): 51-26-17-4-2.9-0.91 (overage numbers - projected)
Ben Maxwell (F-88): 31-9-18-27-26 (turning pro)
Jiri Ryzuk (D-90): 45-0-0-0-21 (released)
Zach Sim (D-88): 30-1-7-8-37 (overage numbers - projected)
Jordan Wilkins (D-90): 30-1-0-1-32 (released)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Joe Antilla (F-91): 56-2-1-3-35
Andrew Bailey (F-88): 72-28-37-65-87
Steele Boomer (F-90): 62-11-19-30-32
Kris Foucault (F-90): 33-0-3-3-12
Matt Fraser (F-90): 63-9-11-20-48
Kevin King (F-90): 63-8-13-21-61
Tylan Stephens (F-89): 66-9-21-30-64
Michael Stickland (F-89): 71-22-28-50-60
Dustin Sylvester (F-89): 70-35-33-68-38
Defence:
Ian Barteaux (D-88): 71-1-14-15-134
Eric Frere (D-88): 30-3-2-5-35
Brayden McNabb (D-91): 65-2-9-11-63
John Negrin (D-89): 71-1-41-42-68
Goaltenders:
Thomas Heemskerk (G-90): 27-15-4-3-2.65-0.906
Projected Rookies:
Jordan Bauer (F-91)
Michael Cassivi (F-91)
Drew Czerwonka (F-92): 2-0-0-0-0
Ales Frieb (F-89) (new import)
Jesse Ismond (F-91)
Joey Leach (D-92)
Nathan Lieuwen (G-91): 3-1-1-1-3.27-0.91
Cason Machacek (D-91)
Dominik Pacovsky (F-90) (new import)
Max Reinhart (F-92)
Hayden Rintoul (D-91)
Tyler Vanscourt (D-92)
Prognosis: it's shaping up to be a young team for the Ice this year, with 12 players aged 16 or 17 on the roster right now. That kind of youth means depth is usually an issue at most positions, and that's the case here for the Ice this year. Up front they have Bailey, Sylvester, and Stickland, and will be expecting bigger things from Boomer, Stephens, and King, but it drops off after that. There's some promising guys there but little that is proven. Same on defence, where the four returnees - Negrin, McNabb, Barteaux, and Frere - are a decent bunch but after that the Ice, like the Hitmen, are going to be using unproven rookies in the #5 - #7 slots. If blueline stud Negrin sticks in the NHL (the Flames have made noises about that), the Ice could be in some big blueline trouble. The good news is that they are so deep in net, they might have three #1-calibre goalies there. So good is the potential of sophomore Heemskerk and rookie Lieuwen that I'm picking incumbent #1 Kris Lazaruk as the odd man out in the Ice overage carousel; they need Bailey's offence and Barteaux/Frere's veteran presence on defence more than they need Lazaruk in net when you consider they still have Heemskerk and Lieuwen ready to take over from Lazaruk. I see Lazaruk being dealt for help on defence or more scoring.
Prediction: the Ice are going to take a drop this year. 4th in the Central, 6th to 8th in the conference.
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Red Deer Rebels:
Projected Losses:
Spencer Edwards (F-90): 30-3-1-4-21 (traded to Seattle)
Mike Krgovich (F-90): 63-4-3-7-54 (traded to Seattle)
Colby Kulhanek (F-89): 24-3-3-6-17 (traded to Prince George)
Mark Louis (D-87): 62-5-14-19-78 (graduated overager)
Brett Miller (F-91): 26-1-1-2-5 (released)
Troy Ofukany (F-87): 30-10-17-27-29 (graduated overager)
James Reimer (G-88): 30-8-15-4-2.73-0.916 (turning pro)
Mike Scarborough (D-90): 59-1-4-5-42 (traded to Regina)
Juraj Valach (D-89): 30-4-8-12-38 (released)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Willie Coetzee (F-90): 23-2-0-2-14
Cody Esposito (F-89): 39-0-2-2-93
Landon Ferraro (F-91): 54-13-11-24-65
Cody Gross (F-89): 32-4-5-9-10
Cass Mappin (F-90): 64-5-12-17-89
Tyler Penny (F-89): 69-1-6-7-16
Tomas Polak (F-90): 45-5-5-10-27
Carter Smith (F-88): 43-7-8-15-55
Brandon Sutter (F-89): 59-26-23-49-38
Brennen Wray (F-88): 71-7-19-26-98
Defence:
Colin Archer (D-90): 48-1-3-4-44
Luke Egener (D-88): 64-2-7-9-80
Joel Kot (D-90): 20-3-7-10-10
Cullen Morin (D-89): 58-1-19-20-92
Justin Weller (D-91): 49-0-3-3-40
Goaltenders:
Morgan Clark (G-90): 47-10-30-3-3.70-0.884
Projected Rookies:
Josh Cowen (F-91)
Brett Ferguson (F-90)
Adam Kambeitz (F-92)
Tommi Kivisto (D-91) (new import)
Darcy Kuemper (G-90)
Steve Oursov (F-91): 3-0-0-0-0 (stats with Seattle)
Alex Petrovic (D-92): 10-1-0-1-2
Connor Redmond (F-92): 3-0-2-2-2
Kevin Woodyatt (D-92)
Prognosis: so much youth and inexperience, again. Seems like the Rebels have been rebuilding for three years now and this is probably going to be another one of those years. The forward corps has one player (Sutter) who has ever topped 30 points in a season, and I'd say there is a better than 50/50 chance that he sticks in the NHL this year and doesn't come back. With or without Sutter, much bigger roles are going to be expected of Ferraro, Wray, Mappin, Gross, Polak, etc, as well as immediate contributions from rookies like Connor Redmond. Any way you look at it, scoring is going to be a concern and losing Sutter would make things pretty dire offensively, I think. The defence is one of the greenest in the league, with only 450 total WHL games between the five "veteran" players and half of that belongs to Luke Egener. New import Tommi Kivisto is supposed to be looking pretty good, and I know they like rookie Alex Petrovic as well, but on the whole I think I'd have a hard time saying the Rebels' defence ranked higher than the bottom third of the league. In net they have Morgan Clark returning to be the #1, but he lost three times as many games as he won last year and his numbers weren't impressive. He might be pushed for his starters job by 18 year old rookie Darcy Kuemper, who has looked very good in preseason.
Prediction: too many weaknesses and question marks, again. 5th in the Central, 10th-12th in the conference.
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Edmonton Oil Kings:
Projected Losses:
Alex Archibald (G-87): 56-16-24-9-2.91-0.915 (graduated overager)
Cameron Cepek (D-88): 58-7-18-25-119 (traded to Prince George)
Robin Figren (F-88): 35-18-13-31-46 (turning pro)
Karey Pieper (F-87): 67-6-7-13-73 (graduated overager)
Brennan Sonne (F-87): 28-4-3-7-87 (graduated overager)
Matthew Swaby (D-87): 70-1-12-13-75 (graduated overager)
J-P Szaszkiewicz (F-88): 65-5-10-15-67 (left WHL for university)
Projected Returnees:
Forwards:
Braeden Adamyk (F-90): 66-4-6-10-39
Brett Breitkreuz (F-89): 70-15-19-34-105
Clayton Cumiskey (F-90): 70-9-13-22-24
Brenden Dowd (F-88): 70-16-23-39-67
Brent Henke (F-90): 63-2-6-8-24
Jeff Lee (F-88): 47-7-12-19-55
Craig McCallum (F-89): 68-15-24-39-24
Shayne Neigum (F-90): 62-5-9-14-87
Brent Raedeke (F-90): 72-15-16-31-62
Tomas Vincour (F-90): 65-16-23-39-36
Defence:
Tyler Hlookoff (D-90): 53-2-6-8-20
Brandon Lockerby (D-88): 36-7-7-14-8
Drew Nichol (D-89): 67-0-3-3-127
Adrian Van de Mosselaer (D-90): 53-1-3-4-39
Goaltenders:
Dalyn Flette (G-90): 28-6-15-2-3.50-0.890
Projected Rookies:
Michael Burns (F-91): 6-0-3-3-0
T.J. Foster (F-92)
Kieran Friesen (D-92)
Cam Lanigan (G-92)
Logan Proulx (F-91): 14-0-2-2-6
Jesse Pearson (D-91)
Mark Pysyk (D-92): 14-1-2-3-8
Rhett Rachinski (F-91): 2-0-0-0-0
Robin Soudek (F-91) (new import)
Colton Stephenson (F-92): 1-0-0-0-0
Henrik Tervonen (D-91): 6-0-0-0-0
Prognosis: the Oil Kings might give Red Deer a run for their money in the division. For sure they should have more offence than the Rebels, although that might not be saying much. Breitkreuz, Dowd, McCallum, Raedeke, Vincour....maybe only one of those guys would play on the top line on many other teams in the league, but combined it's a decent top six for the Oil Kings. It'll be scoring by committee but if all those guys could get 20-25 goals or 45-60 points, they should have enough scoring to win some games. Depth is an issue but that's to be expected from the first couple years for an expansion team. The real problems for Edmonton start after you get past the forwards. They have the least-experienced blueline in the league by a mile (281 games combined) and even with the huge things expected from rookie Mark Pysyk, the Oil Kings' ability to defend their own end has to be a big question mark. They might not have a veteran guy there who would be in the top four on most other teams. And in net is maybe an equally big question, where the #1 is Dalyn Flette - who has not been particularily impressive in his two seasons in the league so far - and backed up by a 16 year old rookie. The Oil Kings are really going to need Flette and some of the defencemen to step up their play this year if the team is going to be competitive.
Prediction: 6th in the Central, 11th/12th in the conference. Shouldn't be too far off from Red Deer though. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they were ahead of the Rebels when all is said and done either.
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