Hanging out in the WHL (Personal thoughts and highlights)
Just want to remind everyone about my talk on Zacha from last week as he is now finally scoring! It helps when he gets competent wingers and you put Zajac where he should be (i.e. Line 3):
https://dobberprospects.com/prospect-ramblings-zacha-and-the-surprises-november-15-2018/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Also I am TOTALLY going to post team EF Style (see below). Also if you have not been following his tweets, then ….you are likely losing all your hockey pools ha!
{source}<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>It is <a href=”https://twitter.com/scotiabank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@scotiabank</a> Wednesday Night Hockey in 5 minutes on <a href=”https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Sportsnet</a>. Here is the breakdown: TOR/CLINA on <a href=”https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Sportsnet</a>; NWJY/MON on <a href=”https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Sportsnet</a> 1; OTT/MIN on <a href=”https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Sportsnet</a> 360. Later: WIN/CAL on <a href=”https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Sportsnet</a> and VCR/AHM on <a href=”https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Sportsnet</a> 1.</p>— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1065385277173059584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>November 21, 2018</a></blockquote>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>HNIC begins in 7 minutes on <a href=”https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Sportsnet</a> and <a href=”https://twitter.com/CBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@CBC</a>. Tonight it is MEAL/VAVER & PIT/OTT, followed by EDM/CAL</p>— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1063935366602752000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>November 17, 2018</a></blockquote>{/source}
Okay, onward and upward!
Trey Fix-Wolansky (CLBS 2018, round 7, 204th overall) – Pulling a Dmitry Zavgorodniy in the west, the seventh round selection has exploded on to the scene even more for the Edmonton Oil Kings after being drafted late in 2018 because of #Size. It amazes me how a kid who puts up 89 points in 71 games in 2017-2018 does not get noticed by the two teams that could watch him daily. It reminds me watching the 2003 draft being like “Calgary, select Getzlaf! Right in your backyard! Iginla needs a centre” aaand they didn’t. These two players are not comparable but that moment got me in to this whole “scouting” thing because I wanted to be better. Ok, I am going off on a tangent haha. TFW is awesome but will not be up right away, expect him to take an Abramov-style route to the AHL at least.
Brett Leason (Undrafted in 2018, he should be drafted in a later round of 2019) – Leason had 33 points in 66 games split between the Tri-City Americans to start and finishing with Prince Albert Raiders. This season he is sitting second with points in the entire WHL with 47 points in 22 games, 22 points again of the next Raider. At 6-4 he will either be drafted in 2019 or be signed after the draft.
Joachim Blichfeld (SAJS 2016, round 7, 210th overall) – This player has always kind of peaked my interest but I never felt like a ton was there. Perhaps just an average player that may make the NHL. However, in his third WHL season Blichfeld has placed himself third in scoring in the entire WHL, of course a lot of that could be tied to Cody Glass, but he has fared well on his own. Watch him with intense curiosity!
I don’t need to tell you about Cody Glass
Ty Smith (NJRS 2018, round 1, 17th overall) – Smith is leading the WHL in scoring for defensemen with 31 points in 20 games, five points ahead of the next defenseman (mentioned below) and is second on Spokane in points. With how close he looked to making the Devils in training camp this kid looks like he can make the team for 2019-2020 AND make an impact.
Alexander Alexeyev (WSGN 2018, round 1, 31st overall) – It is amazing what a health season can do for a player. Alexeyev has 26 points in 21 games for Red Deer and looks like he may have slid much too far in the 2018 draft. The Capitals have plenty of depth on the back end so do not expect him any time soon but if he progresses more he will be pushing prospects ahead of him down the depth chart.
Kirby Dach (2019 draft eligible) – Dach has improved mightily in his second WHL season, currently sitting fifth in scoring with 39 points in 24 games (14 ahead of the next closest Saskatoon Blade). He could be a top 10 pick in the 2019 draft, I would peg him more in the 4-10 range as he is 6-4 and ~200 lbs … so #YouCan’tTeachSize say NHL GMs who let players like Johnny Hockey fall to round four.
Dylan Cozens (2019 draft eligible) – Another likely top 10 pick who also has #Size, but 15 points less than 2019 counterpart Dach (sitting at 24) making it slightly-possible that he could slip to the 10-20 range. Lethbridge is not one of the best WHL teams but they are also not one of the worst. Three of the Hurricanes are tied with 24 points and are all needed for the team to win.
Stelio Mattheos (CRNA, 2017, round 3, 73rd overall) – I keep talking about Mattheos as I believe the Hurricanes made a great pick in 2017. The Brandon Wheat Kings’ captain is leading the team in points by 11 and sitting eighth in points with 34. Just watch him he will impress, I usually get impressed in my viewings.
Thanks for read. Short and sweet this week!
Complain to my twitter if needed @FHPQuinn