Below is a team-by-team rundown of who each team has available to use for overagers next season, and what I think they might do. Corrections and comments are welcome!
UPDATE: I've corrected a few things that have been pointed out to me since the original posting - Caleb Belter is with Everett after being released by Prince George. Cody Thiel was picked up by Portland. Colin Smith has signed an NHL contract.
UPDATE #2: Swift Current's Brent Benson has retired. Updated the Broncos' capsule to reflect that.
UPDATE #3: Seattle traded Connor Sanvido to Swift Current, while Victoria waived Tim Traber and had him claimed by Vancouver. Updated those teams with these moves.
Brandon:
Last year's 19 year olds: Corbin Boes (G), Rene Hunter (D), Marek Kalus (F), Jens Meilleur (F), Chad Robinson (F), Jason Swyripa (F)
Likely playing pro: Kalus (Europe)
Traded/Released/Retired: Boes was traded to Lethbridge. Swyripa has chosen to start his university career and will forego his overage season.
My thoughts: to be honest, I don't think the Wheat Kings have a lot of quality choices here. They have three candidates but really none of them have established themselves as top-six forwards or top-four defencemen like you'd want your overagers to be. Really, nothing will surprise me with any moves they might make here.
Calgary:
Last year's 19 year olds: Brady Brassart (F), Peter Kosterman (D), Colten Mayor (F), Victor Rask (F), Jaynen Rissling (D), Alex Roach (D), Jesse Zgraggen (D)
Likely playing pro: Rask (Carolina/NHL), Roach (Los Angeles/NHL)
Other notes: Rissling is a 2012 7th round pick of the Washington Capitals and could sign and turn pro.
My thoughts: Brassart and Rissling are easy picks for the Hitmen. I think Zgraggen takes the 3rd spot. Mayor and Kosterman could be relatively cheap options for teams looking to add depth-calibre overagers. If Rissling does turn pro then I think they keep Kosterman in his place.
Edmonton:
Last year's 19 year olds: Laurent Brossoit (G), Cody Corbett (D), Travis Ewanyk (F), Martin Gernat (D), Stephane Legault (F), Keegan Lowe (D), David Musil (D), Michael St. Croix (F)
Acquired this offseason: Riley Kieser (F) picked up in a trade with Vancouver
Likely playing pro: Brossoit (Calgary/NHL), Ewanyk (Edmonton/NHL), Gernat (Edmonton/NHL), Lowe (Carolina/NHL), Musil (Edmonton/NHL), St. Croix (NY Rangers/NHL)
My thoughts: Once you remove the six pro-bound players, you're only left with defenceman Cody Corbett and forwards Riley Kieser and Stephane Legault. Corbett/Legault is a very good duo and the defensive-minded Kieser takes the third spot, at least as long as none of the pro-signed players get sent back to junior. Food for thought though: if 19 year old Griffin Reinhart sticks in the NHL (and I think he will) then they will really need another veteran defenceman IMO. Could bump Kieser out in that case.
Everett:
Last year's 19 year olds: Manraj Hayer (F), Ryan Murray (D), Reid Petryk (F), Josh Winquist (F)
Acquired this offseason: Caleb Belter (F) was claimed on waivers from Prince George. Matthew Pufahl (D) picked up in a trade with Saskatoon.
Likely playing pro: Murray (Columbus/NHL)
My thoughts: The Tips paid a good price ('95 d-man Ayrton Nikkel) for Pufahl so he's here to stay. That means they can only keep two of the four forwards (Belter/Hayer/Petryk/Winquist) and apart from Belter that's actually a pretty tough choice to make IMO. I have no idea why they picked up Belter when Prince George released him earlier this summer - he is not in the same group with their other three forward choices. All three of Hayer/Petryk/Winquist will probably have jobs somewhere in the WHL when all is said and done but as for which one will be on the outs here....hmmm. Gonna say Winquist is safe and Petryk beats out Hayer, I like that Petryk is a bigger body who has been pretty durable in his career.
Kamloops:
Last year's 19 year olds: Cole Cheveldave (G), Joel Edmundson (D), Sam Grist (D), Tyler Hansen (D), Marek Hrbas (D), Joe Kornelsen (F), JC Lipon (F), Colin Smith (F)
Likely playing pro: Edmundson (St. Louis/NHL), Hrbas (Europe), Smith (Colorado/NHL)
Traded/Released/Retired: Cheveldave was traded to Prince Albert. And I'm not sure if he has retired from hockey, but Hansen announced he will forego his overage season in order to do missionary work for his church.
Other notes: JC Lipon is a 2013 3rd round pick of the Winnipeg Jets, and could move on to the pros next year if he signs a contract before the season starts.
My thoughts: Right now Grist is the only sure-thing for the Blazers because I don't think there's any chance Joe Kornelsen is on the team as an overager. So that means the other two spots come down to whether Lipon and/or Smith depart for the AHL or not. Lipon I think will be back for sure. Smith I am less sure about. If he's not, then the Blazers will be buyers when it comes to filling his spot.
Last year's 19 year olds: Myles Bell (F), Jordon Cooke (G), Zach Franko (F), MacKenzie Johnston (D), Colton Sissons (F)
Likely playing pro: Sissons (Nashville/NHL)
Other notes: Myles Bell is a 2013 6th round pick of the New Jersey Devils. He could sign and play pro next year although he has not signed as of now.
My thoughts: Four pretty good choices here in Bell, Cooke, Franko, and Johnston. I think Johnston is the odd man out but only because the Rockets have a pretty good defence corps even without him, so moving Johnston makes some sense. One other thing to think about though is that 18 year old backup goalie Jackson Whistle had ridiculous numbers (1.96 GAA, .931 SV%) in 21 games as a backup last year. If he continues to post those kind of numbers in camp and early in the season, it could bring Jordon Cooke into the conversation as somebody who could be moved, depending on the market out there for overage goalies.
Last year's 19 year olds: Jagger Dirk (D), Zach McPhee (F), Tanner Muth (D)
My thoughts: They only have three guys to choose from but I don't think McPhee is going to be one of the final three. There will be another forward brought in. Dirk and Muth are a couple decent veteran defencemen which is an area of need for the Ice so I do see them keeping two overage defencemen.
Last year's 19 year olds: Josh Derko (F), Spencer Galbraith (D), Brady Ramsay (F), Michael Sofillas (F)
Acquired this offseason: Corbin Boes (G) acquired in a trade with Brandon
My thoughts: Boes is obviously The Guy in net for the Hurricanes. Ramsay is one of their top returning scorers so he has a spot too. And they gave up Jay Merkley to get Derko so I kinda think Derko is sticking around too, so that makes Sofillas the odd man out up front. Lethbridge has a fairly inexperienced blueline this year though so an experienced defenceman might be a nice addition although it would cost you Ramsay or Derko.....which is where Galbraith comes in. Galbraith quit the Hurricanes in mid-season last year for unspecified personal reasons, but he remains on their protected list so they could still bring him in as an overager if he's interested. Or, you know, just go with the inexperienced defence and let Boes deal with the 35-40 shots per game.
Last year's 19 year olds: Dylan Bredo (F), Jacob Doty (F), Zach Hodder (D), Boston Leier (F), Curtis Valk (F)
Traded/Released/Retired: Garrett Haar (D) was traded to Portland after being a Tiger for about 10 minutes after leaving NCAA.
My thoughts: Valk and Leier are, IMO, locks to be on the team. The third spot is tougher to call. Hodder is a decent veteran option on defence. Bredo scored 40 points last year. And Doty brings toughness as well as looking at times like he could help with the gloves on too. I think they go with Bredo as the 3rd guy....or maybe trade Bredo for a better overage defenceman than Hodder. Somebody out there will be interested in giving Doty a spot.
Last year's 19 year olds: Sam Fioretti (F), Reid Jackson (D), Jordan Wyton (F)
Acquired this offseason: Todd Fiddler (F) was picked up in a trade with Spokane.
My thoughts: they traded for Fiddler, so he's safe. Fioretti is their top returning scorer, so ditto. Reid Jackson suffered a severe concussion last fall that cost him almost all of last season. If he is ready to return, he could have the third spot. If not, I think they're buyers on the market. Wyton I don't see as a likely overage candidate....he actually signed with Brooks of the AJHL earlier this summer so it's quite likely he doesn't see himself as one either.
Last year's 19 year olds: Joey Baker (F), Ty Rattie (F), Tyler Wotherspoon (D)
Likely playing pro: Rattie (St. Louis/NHL), Wotherspoon (Calgary/NHL)
Traded/Released/Retired: Joey Baker will not return for his overage season, choosing instead to pursue his education
Acquired this offseason: Garrett Haar (D) acquired from Medicine Hat, Shane McColgan (F) from Saskatoon, Cody Thiel (D) claimed on waivers from Red Deer
My thoughts: They only have three guys right now, Thiel, McColgan and Haar, although I don't see Thiel as a likely guy to be here in the end - especially now that they have also added Haar. So if they don't keep Thiel then they can (and likely will) add one more and I think that may be another defenceman (even without Thiel) as the blueline is a potential weakness on this team. If Seth Jones doesn't return, they have only two defencemen (Pouliot and Hanson) who have spent a full year on a WHL roster. Haar is a good addition but it's still a blueline light on proven WHLers. Their forward group is stacked, so it's defencemen they need IMO....if they like their defence now though then maybe the 3rd overage spot could be a veteran goaltender to pair with Brendan Burke if none of their goalie prospects make the grade.
Last year's 19 year olds: Dylan Busenius (D), Austin Daae (F), Jonas Knutsen (F), Mark McNeill (F), Evan Morden (D), Harrison Ruopp (D)
Likely playing pro: Knutsen (Europe), McNeill (Chicago/NHL), Ruopp (Pittsburgh/NHL)
Traded/Released/Retired: Austin Daae was released
Acquired this offseason: traded for Cole Cheveldave (G) from Kamloops
My thoughts: Busenius, Cheveldave, and Morden are the only three candidates here so I guess they have the spots by default. Or they might decide they don't need two overage defencemen and could swap one of them (Morden?) out to add a top-six forward. The Raiders showed with the Cheveldave trade that they're going for it this year so adding a top overage forward could be in the cards.
Last year's 19 year olds: Caleb Belter (F), Mac Engel (G), Colin Jacobs (F), Daulton Siwak (F), Klarc Wilson (F)
Likely playing pro: Jacobs (Buffalo/NHL)
Traded/Released/Retired: Caleb Belter (F) was released
Other notes: Siwak quit the Cougars at the 2013 trade deadline to play Jr A. I've included him here on the off chance he wants to return to the WHL (and assuming the Cougars have any interest in having him back).
My thoughts: Could this be a "none of the above" situation? I think Klarc Wilson will have a spot for sure. Ordinarily I would think Engel does too, but the Cougars may want to make Brett Zarowny the #1 goalie and have Ty Edmonds (or somebody else) back him up, and that combined with likely demand for some overage goalies (see other teams on this list) may make Engel trade bait. The Cougars could be in position to bring in 2 new overage faces to address weaknesses....and really, this team has no shortage of those. Their defence is frightfully young and inexperienced, for starters.
Last year's 19 year olds: Patrik Bartosak (G), Rhyse Dieno (F), Tyson Ness (F), Cody Thiel (D)
Acquired this offseason: Lukas Sutter (F) was acquired in a trade with Saskatoon
Traded/Released/Retired: Cody Thiel (D) was released
Other notes: Sutter is a 2012 2nd round pick of the Winnipeg Jets. The possibility exists that he could sign a contract with them and move on to the pro ranks instead of returning to the WHL.
My thoughts: The Rebels have been told by the L.A. Kings that Bartosak will definitely return as an overager, which is a huge boost for them. The other two names in their overage trio also seem fairly obvious: Dieno and Sutter. If Sutter does stick in the pros, then Ness would be the next guy I think. If Sutter does play as an overager then Ness will probably have a home somewhere else in the WHL. The Rebels blueline is a little light on experience if Matt Dumba sticks in the NHL, but I don't see them using an overage spot there if it would cost them one of Bartosak, Dieno, or Sutter.
Last year's 19 year olds: Luke Fenske (D), Trent Ouellette (F), Dyson Stevenson (F), Emil Sylvegard (F)
Traded/Released/Retired: Emil Sylvegard was released
My thoughts: With Sylvegard out of the picture, there's only three names left on the Pats list of choices. So the question becomes whether those are their three guys or whether there's better options out there than some of the guys on the list. Stevenson is a keeper IMO; I don't think the other guys are terrible but Fenske and Ouellette probably have upgrades out there if the Pats want to pursue those.
Last year's 19 year olds: Jessey Astles (F), Erik Benoit (F), Nathan Burns (F), Graeme Craig (D), Darren Dietz (D), Andrey Makarov (G), Shane McColgan (F), Matthew Pufahl (D), Kyle Schmidt (D), Duncan Siemens (D), Matej Stransky (F), Lukas Sutter (F), Dalton Thrower (D), Collin Valcourt (F)
Likely playing pro: Dietz (Montreal/NHL), Makarov (Buffalo/NHL), Siemens (Colorado/NHL), Stransky (Dallas/NHL)
Traded/Released/Retired: Astles was traded to Tri-City, McColgan was traded to Portland. Pufahl was traded to Everett. Schmidt was released. Sutter was traded to Red Deer. Thrower was traded to Vancouver.
My thoughts: the Blades have done a good job IMO of whittling their overage numbers down after ending last season with fourteen 19 year olds. Four of them will be playing pro, one has been released and five have been traded, leaving the Blades with a very manageable four options for their three spots: Benoit, Burns, Craig, and Valcourt. As the only defenceman in the group, Craig is a definite, given the horrible state of the Blades defence without him. Of the three forwards I would think Burns and Valcourt are the keepers which means Benoit will be traded but you never know, Burns or Valcourt could be the one traded too depending on what the offering prices are for everyone.
Last year's 19 year olds: Mitch Elliot (F), Jesse Forsberg (D), Connor Sanvido (F), Seth Swenson (F)
Traded/Released/Retired: Connor Sanvido was traded to Swift Current
My thoughts: Only three guys left so right now they get the three spots. The only wrench in these neat little plans I've laid out for the Birds is that they don't have a goaltender. And by that I mean they don't have a goaltender. They have three goalies on their roster but those three have a combined 2021 minutes of WHL action - about 34 games worth. Do they have anyone who can be a night-in, night-out starter? If not, they might need to investigate overage goaltenders. Again. If they do, I think Elliot is the odd man out since a forward who averages 7 points per 72 games is not your typical overager.
Last year's 19 year olds: Mike Aviani (F), Alessio Bertaggia (F), Todd Fiddler (F), Mitch Holmberg (F), Tanner Mort (D), Eric Williams (G)
Likely playing pro: Bertaggia (Europe)
Traded/Released/Retired: Todd Fiddler was traded to Moose Jaw. Tanner Mort has elected to go to school rather than play as an overager.
My thoughts: Aviani and Holmberg are easy "Yes" votes here. The third option, whether they keep Williams as an overage would depend on the team's level of confidence in '95 Garret Hughson taking over the starters role. Personally I think they will go with a Williams/Hughson tandem again, which means Williams is the 3rd overager.
Last year's 19 year olds: Brent Benson (F), Graham Black (F), Daniel Dale (F), Eetu Laurikainen (G), Adam Lowry (F), Richard Nedomlel (D), Reece Scarlett (D)
Likely playing pro: Lowry (Winnipeg/NHL), Nedomlel (Detroit/NHL), Scarlett (New Jersey/NHL)
Traded/Released/Retired: Brent Benson has retired due to concussion issues
Acquired this offseason: Connor Sanvido (F) was acquired from Seattle.
Other notes: Graham Black is an unsigned 2012 5th round pick of the New Jersey Devils. He could potentially sign with them before the season and play pro next year rather than in the WHL as an overager.
My thoughts: The Broncos seem set on using Laurikainen as their #1 goalie against next year, so his spot is safe. So is Black's, assuming Black doesn't turn pro, which I don't expect he will. That leaves the newly-acquired Sanvido and Dale for the last spot. Daniel Dale is a good 3rd/4th line sparkplug type player but I don't see him as your usual overage material, which is why the acquisition of Sanvido is not surprising.
Last year's 19 year olds: Tyson Dallman (F), Luke Lee-Knight (G), Mitch Topping (D), Philip Tot (F), Lukas Walter (F), Zach Yuen (D)
Traded/Released/Retired: Luke Lee-Knight and Lukas Walter were released
Acquired this offseason: Jessey Astles (F) was acquired from Saskatoon in a trade
My thoughts: Yuen and Topping are a couple very good picks on defence, so those two guys are for-sure picks for the team IMO. Dallman is not going to be on the team, I don't think....not top-six forward type. Phil Tot would have that job except that Tot missed almost all of last year with a concussion so who knows if he is ready to come back and play or not. Astles is an interesting situation, they traded for him even though as a 3rd/4th line guy throughout his career, he is definitely not your typical overager. I think Tot has the 3rd spot if he's healthy though.
Vancouver:
Last year's 19 year olds: Cain Franson (F), Riley Kieser (F), Marek Tvrdon (F)
Likely playing pro: Tvrdon (Detroit/NHL)
Traded/Released/Retired: Riley Kieser (F) was traded to Edmonton
Acquired this offseason: Dalton Thrower (D) was acquired in a trade with Saskatoon. Tim Traber (F) was a waiver claim from Victoria.
Other notes: Thrower is a 2012 2nd round pick of the Montreal Canadiens. He could sign with the Habs and play pro next year.
My thoughts: Franson is a lock for a spot. Thrower is a lock if he's back. So is Tvrdon, on the off-chance that the Red Wings think he could use more time in the WHL after managing to play only 90 games over 3 seasons in the WHL due to injuries. Traber is a curious pickup since 12 career goals in 229 career games is not what you figure your usual overager to be....but they probably wouldn't have claimed him if they didn't have some plan to use him. So as it stands, Franson and Traber are the only sure overagers here, so there could be (if Thrower isn't back of course) one new overage face being added to the Giants.
Victoria:
Last year's 19 year olds: Mitch Deacon (F), Jordan Fransoo (D), Logan Nelson (F), Tim Traber (F), Ben Walker (F)
Traded/Released/Retired: Mitch Deacon and Tim Traber were released.
Other notes: Logan Nelson was picked by the Buffalo Sabres in the 5th round of the 2012 NHL draft. They don't have to sign him until next spring but he could potentially sign this summer and play pro next year instead.
My thoughts: Fransoo, Nelson, and Walker are the only three guys left so it seems safe to say the three spots are theirs to lose right now.
Other notes: Logan Nelson was picked by the Buffalo Sabres in the 5th round of the 2012 NHL draft. They don't have to sign him until next spring but he could potentially sign this summer and play pro next year instead.
My thoughts: Fransoo, Nelson, and Walker are the only three guys left so it seems safe to say the three spots are theirs to lose right now.
11 comments:
According to multiple reports on twitter, it sounds like defenseman Spencer Galbraith will be coming back to camp for the Lethbridge Hurricanes this season. He had left early last season for unknown reasons, and will make a strong case to be an overage dman for the young defensive core of the Canes.
Galbraith's rights and he played in the AJHL last year after leaving the Canes so he won't be "rusty", if that's a thing.
Not sure why I left him off the Canes list of potential overagers when I put a guy like Siwak on the Cougars' list. I need to be more consistent, eh? :)
Any chance Alex Forsberg could be joining his brother in Seattle? Seattle has a lot of D they could trade? Does PG need 95' D. Problem is then they don't have much left to trade for a goalie.
Always like this blog post each year, thanks for the hard work Alan.
Colin Smith has signed with Colorado but that doesn't mean he'll be playing pro. Likely, but not definitely gone. He talked about it when I had him on the show a couple of weeks ago.
Apparently my first comment (above) about the Lethbridge situation had its first line cut off?? What I said in the cut-off part was that I know Lethbridge still owns Galbraith's rights.
As for Forsberg to Seattle, your guess is as good as mine. Prince George wants a fair return for a kid who was the #1 overall bantam pick three years ago. Are they overvaluing him, considering his actual performance in 1.5 years in the WHL isn't all that spectacular? Probably. But I think something will get done with somebody by this fall. It benefits nobody for this to drag out any longer.
And Guy, thanks for the tip on Smith. I will update the post to reflect that.
Benson was out most of last year due to concussion. I would be surprised if he was able to play this year. Could be an early retiree, sadly.
Interesting comments, but I find teams that trade 20 yr olds i.e. the Brandon Wheat Kings trade 20 yr olds they can get something for not necessarily the ones they want to keep, unless they do it at seasons end like the Blades did
Out of curiosity where did you find your information on Belter and Thiel? I don't recall hearing anything about either player being claimed on waivers.
I got the Belter and Thiel info from somebody who I know has access to the protected lists.
But you're right, neither of those player transactions was ever announced by either team. But that's also not really surprising since it amounts to a player being released by one team and then added by another, and those PPL transactions are rarely publicized.
Jordan Wytonsigned with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL the other day.
Tanner Mort is not returning to Spokane. Going to school
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