NHL preseason is just 20 days away, but the WHL season kicks off even sooner the day prior. One of the NHL’s largest feeder leagues is getting a new market this season – Central Washington’s Wenatchee Wild, who were relocated from Winnipeg earlier this summer. It has the largest United States presence of all three of the major Canadian junior leagues and churned out last year’s first overall pick – Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats (now of the Chicago Blackhawks). Nine teams do not have any drafted prospects projected to suit up in the WHL next year: the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, and Tampa Bay Lightning. If you’re a fan of one of the other 23 NHL teams, keep reading to find out where your team’s future players are skating next season if you’re looking to catch some WHL action.
Anaheim Ducks
F Connor Hvidston (Swift Current Broncos) – 2022 fifth round, 139th overall
F Nico Myatovic (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 second round, 33rd overall
D Vojtech Port (Edmonton Oil Kings) – 2023 sixth round, 161st overall
F Yegor Sidorov (Saskatoon Blades) – 2023 third round, 85th overall
Arizona Coyotes
F Conor Geekie (Wenatchee Wild) – 2022 first round, 11th overall
D Terrell Goldsmith (Prince Albert Raiders) – 2023 fourth round, 102nd overall
D Justin Kipkie (Victoria Royals) – 2023 fifth round, 160th overall
Boston Bruins
G Reid Dyck (Swift Current Broncos) – 2022 sixth round, 183rd overall
Buffalo Sabres
F Zach Benson (Wenatchee Wild) – 2023 first round, 13th overall
D Mats Lindgren (Red Deer Rebels) – 2022 fourth round, 106th overall
G Scott Ratzlaff (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 fifth round, 141st overall
F Matthew Savoie (Wenatchee Wild) – 2022 first round, 9th overall
Calgary Flames
F Parker Bell (Tri-City Americans) – 2022 fifth round, 155th overall
F Samuel Honzek (Vancouver Giants) – 2023 first round, 16th overall
F Jaden Lipinski (Vancouver Giants) – 2023 fourth round, 112th overall
Chicago Blackhawks
D Kevin Korchinski (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2022 first round, 7th overall
Colorado Avalanche
D Jeremy Hanzel (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 sixth round, 187th overall
Columbus Blue Jackets
D Denton Mateychuk (Moose Jaw Warriors) – 2022 first round, 12th overall
F Martin Rysavy (Moose Jaw Warriors) – 2021 seventh round, 197th overall
Detroit Red Wings
F Nate Danielson (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 2023 first round, 9th overall
F Emmitt Finnie (Kamloops Blazers) – 2023 seventh round, 201st overall
Florida Panthers
D Marek Alscher (Portland Winterhawks) – 2022 third round, 93rd overall
F Josh Davies (Portland Winterhawks) – 2022 sixth round, 186th overall
F Gracyn Sawchyn (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 second round, 63rd overall
Los Angeles Kings
F Koehn Ziemmer (Prince George Cougars) – 2023 third round, 78th overall
Minnesota Wild
F Riley Heidt (Prince George Cougars) – 2023 second round, 64th overall
D Kalem Parker (Victoria Royals) – 2023 sixth round, 181st overall
Nashville Predators
F Kalan Lind (Red Deer Rebels) – 2023 second round, 46th overall
D Tanner Molendyk (Saskatoon Blades) – 2023 first round, 24th overall
F Austin Roest (Everett Silvertips) – 2023 sixth round, 175th overall
D Graham Sward (Wenatchee Wild) – 2022 fifth round, 146th overall
New Jersey Devils
F Josh Filmon (Swift Current Broncos) – 2022 sixth round, 166th overall
Philadelphia Flyers
G Carson Bjarnason (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 2023 second round, 51st overall
D Carter Sotheran (Portland Winterhawks) – 2023 fifth round, 135th overall
Pittsburgh Penguins
D Owen Pickering (Swift Current Broncos) – 2022 first round, 21st overall
F Brayden Yager (Moose Jaw Warriors) – 2023 first round, 14th overall
San Jose Sharks
G Mason Beaupit (Wenatchee Wild) – 2022 fourth round, 108th overall
D Luca Cagnoni (Portland Winterhawks) – 2023 fourth round, 123rd overall
Seattle Kraken
D Lukas Dragicevic (Tri-City Americans) – 2023 second round, 57th overall
F Jagger Firkus (Moose Jaw Warriors) – 2022 second round, 35th overall
D Kaden Hammell (Everett Silvertips) – 2023 fifth round, 148th overall
D Caden Price (Kelowna Rockets) – 2023 third round, 84th overall
Toronto Maple Leafs
D Noah Chadwick (Lethbridge Hurricanes) – 2023 sixth round, 185th overall
F Brandon Lisowsky (Saskatoon Blades) – 2022 seventh round, 218th overall
F Fraser Minten (Kamloops Blazers) – 2022 second round, 38th overall
Vancouver Canucks
D Sawyer Mynio (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 third round, 89th overall
G Ty Young (Prince George Cougars) – 2022 fifth round, 144th overall
Vegas Golden Knights
F Jordan Gustafson (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2022 third round, 79th overall
F Ben Hemmerling (Everett Silvertips) – 2022 sixth round, 177th overall
Washington Capitals
F Andrew Cristall (Kelowna Rockets) – 2023 second round, 40th overall
F Brett Hyland (Brandon Wheat Kings) – 2023 seventh round, 200th overall
F Alexander Suzdalev (Regina Pats) – 2022 third round, 70th overall
Winnipeg Jets
F Connor Levis (Kamloops Blazers) – 2023 seventh round, 210th overall
G Thomas Milic (Seattle Thunderbirds) – 2023 fifth round, 151st overall
AWESOME info!!! Love seeing stuff about other leagues. Keep it up Josh.
OK, @Josh, the previous comments weren’t you being a homer for you, were they? You can tell me, I won’t tell anybody. :)
I think you’re wrong about Suzdalev, in the Capitals organization. He’s ticketed for Hershey. He’s 20, and can play in the AHL, and has signed a pro contract. I already have him penciled in as 2nd line LW on the Bears. Good article Josh, but you’re wrong on Suzy.
Unless they want him to do do an overage season, but I don’t see the point. He won’t have Bedard anymore, and I think he’d learn more at the AHL level. WHL doesn’t really really make sense, on a learning curve.
@Josh Erickson
I see that Suzdalev won’t be 20 until March, but since he was drafted out of the SHL, he should be eligible for Hershey. And I think he’ll be there.
Russian Machine Never Breaks has a full break down of where Suzy will play:
“According to Regina Leader Post instead of returning to the Pats for another season, Suzdalev will be turning pro. That likely means the Hershey Bears are adding yet another offensive weapon to a firepower-filled roster.”
link to russianmachineneverbreaks.com
Considering their geographic location the Canucks lack of serious WHL prospects talent is shamefully abysmal
You’d have thought they’d have taken Honzek of the Vancouver Giants, instead of Tom Willander, but everyone loves those righty defensemen