@Kofax. With 3 players left to draft, sign, promote to the bigs to round out your roster of 25 and only $1,761,075 in cap space, can we expect some more moves in the near future?
An optimistic account of our offseason I would think, but I appreciate the accolades as it helps keep the Toronto Fans and Media at bay a bit!
(I'm also attributing a letter and a + of that grade for having nominated the insider for GM of the year!)
@Kofax. With 3 players left to draft, sign, promote to the bigs to round out your roster of 25 and only $1,761,075 in cap space, can we expect some more moves in the near future?
Vancouver Voodoo
Off season grade = C-
Key players in = Dahlin, Joseph
Key players out = Carlson, Marchessault, Perry, Chiasson
It was a rather quiet off season over on the West Coast, with the most significant trade being a salary dump that saw the Voodoo ship out Carlson & Marchessault for Dahlin. Fans are excited to see the new young star on the ice, however the hefty price likely will impact them in the standings.
Season outlook = 5th
Voodoo GM flew in Dahlin after the trade to show the prized new player around town. They visited Stanley Park, toured Granville Island, and then let Dahlin explore the area. The Voodoo should very much be expected to remain in the top tier and likely top 5, but may no longer still be considered a contender after this off season. The GM may need to cast a spell on the league to get back in a battle for the league title....
Follow me @WHLrumourmill for rumblings from around the World Hockey League
Victoria
Off season grade = I
Key players in = None
Key players out = None
No players added or traded away, nothing to report here, incomplete grade.
Season outlook = 14th
I foresee a drop in the standings for Victoria after over achieving a bit last year. And with making no additions this Summer, it may lead to an unsatisfied GM that receives no happy ending at the conclusion of the season. The GM is playing the long game, drafting and developing from within. He doesn’t just go shopping on a street corner for a quickie fix, this GM appears determined to stay loyal to his workers and rarely makes a transaction. #teamemojiready
Follow me @WHLrumourmill for rumblings from around the World Hockey League
Wheeling Nailers
Off season grade = C-
Key players in = Greiss, Garland
Key players out = None
Not much building during the offseason, however the Nailers did hammer out some depth at forward and a respectable backup goalie in the construction process.
Season outlook = 17th
It may be a long season in the Nail city, with the hockey team competing with the popular music scene in Wheeling for fans. The Nailers hope to become a must see attraction much like the local majestic suspension bridge, but this may be a few more years of building before they are a must see attraction in the city.
Follow me @WHLrumourmill for rumblings from around the World Hockey League
Windsor Spitfires
Off season grade = C-
Key players in = Howden, Zadina, Schmidt
Key players out = Murray, Niku, Lindblom, Byfuglien, Joseph
The new look Spitfires have shifted towards a youth movement recently as they have gone from contender to rebuilder status, bringing in Howden, Zadina, and were able to draft Krebs after trading Byfuglien in the lead up to the draft.
Season outlook = 20th
The rebuild is in full stride in Windsor, as they revamp their aging, once-competitive roster. This team will look very different by seasons end, with Giroux, Bergeron, and Pavelski all expecting to be moved. Each of those 3 stars had an individual meeting with the GM this off season to discuss the future of the franchise, and they are not part of the plans...expect all 3 to be gone before or at the trade deadline. The return from those 3 players, plus an expected lottery pick in 2020, could make for a quick turnaround back to sky high expectations for this GM.
Follow me @WHLrumourmill for rumblings from around the World Hockey League
Ahhh... get out of my head!!!
My own short review:
WHL Insider
Off season review grade = A++++++++++++++
Best Reviewer in the World.
How many leagues have a dedicated 3rd-party Twitter-Lord!!!
OMG - U.Da.Man
Dude... you are so the man!!!!
This league loves you.
Insert Jesus-Two-Thumbs-Up GIF
Where is the grade for Fresno? I thought these were alphabetical.
Fresno Firebirds
Off season grade = D
Key players in = Lajoie, Chiasson, Vanek, Seabrook
Key players out = Berggren, Wennberg
It was not an offseason for the record books in Fresno....trading away the youthfulness of Berggren and Wennberg while bringing in the older, declining Seabrook and the unsigned Vanek. Fans were left scratching their heads this Summer.
Season outlook = 21st
This team is being built from the goalie out. Hart is now entrenched in goal, and the D core is built around Trouba, Sanheim and Nurse. The next target of the GM is to upgrade the forward ranks to surround Larkin with more talent. There is a lot of tinkering still to be done to get these Firebirds buzzing up the standings, but the GM has a plan and is being methodical throughout implementing it.
Follow me @WHLrumourmill for rumblings from around the World Hockey League
Summary of the Insider Rankings?
Full tabulation of the insider grades and rankings:
1. Braham - C+
2. North London - C
3. James Bay - A
4. Manitoba - C-
5. Vancouver - C-
6. Lake Erie - B
7. Toronto - A+
8. Grand Rapids - C-
9. Tampere - B
10. Edmonton - D
11. Lake Valley - A-
T12. Royal City - B+
T12. Dryden - C+
14. Victoria - I
15. Oshawa - C+
16. District 5 - B-
17. Wheeling - C-
18. Amsterdam - C
19. Glasgow - B-
20. Windsor - C-
21. Fresno - D
22. Montreal - C
23. Markham - C-
24. Fort Frances - B
After a long summer, the WHL season moves into high gear today as our 5-round PRO draft begins!
A reminder of the rules:
1. This year's five round pro-draft is rounds 11-15.
2. Eligible players for the pro re-draft include anybody that was eligible for the prospect draft, anybody with a valid NHL contract as of Sept15, 8am, and any player that a valid NHL contract last season (2018-2019).
Here we go!
Draft Position/Player/Position/WHL Team & (GM):
Round 11
241. Ivan Barbashev - C - Montreal Canadiens - newfcollins
242. Ryan Murray - D - Markham Waxers - praba
243. Joakim Nygard - LW - Glasgow Kiss - Magicstew
244. Linus Ullmark - G - Dryden Eagles - metaldude26
245. Anthony Stolarz - G - Fort Frances Muskies - Burgandy
246. Radko Gudas - D - Fresno Firebirds - Pit Bulls
247. Jimmy Howard - G - Wheeling Nailers - Brosive
248. Mike Smith - G - Amsterdam Red Lights - rataylor22
249. Scott Mayfield - D - North London Nationals - VintageVibe
250. Pat Maroon - LW - Royal-City-Leafs - Havanablast21
251. Dylan DeMelo - D - Tampere Polar Bears - Juoko-Pouko
252. Jason Spezza - RW - Lake Valley Thunder - First Round Pick
253. Auston Czarnik - RW - Amsterdam Red Lights - rataylor22
254. Casey Cizikas - C - Lake Eerie Monsters - Sulla
255. Derek Brassard - LW - Windsor Spitfires - Penguin7
256. Kyle Okposo - RW - Grand Rapids Griffins - brakil
257. Josh Manson - D - Oshawa Generals - Bobby4Ever
258. Anton Khudobin - G - Dryden Eagles - metaldude26
259. Curtis McElhinney - G - James Bay Cougars - InForAPenny
260. Jordan Weal - RW - Toronto Fighting Turtles - Kofax
261. Phoenix Copely - G - Victoria Dead Hookers - Loch
262. Laurent Brossot - G - District-5 Ducks - evans334
263. Devin Shore - C - Wheeling Nailers - Brosive
264. Calle Jarnkrok - LW - Royal-City-Leafs - Havanblast21
Round 12
265. Matthias Janmark - LW - Montreal Canadiens - newfcollins
266. Calvin de Haan - D - Victoria Dead Hookers - loch
267. Malcolm Subban - G - Glasgow Kiss - Magicstew
268. Jonny Brodzinski- RW - Dryden Eagles - metaldude26
269. Daniel Carr - RW - Fort Frances Muskies - Burgandy
270. Garnet Hathaway - RW - Toronto Fighting Turtles - Kofax
271. Jordan Oesterle - D - Wheeling Nailers - Brosive
272. Scott Laughton - C - Edmonton Road Runners - Lemmy
273. Joel Kiviranta - LW - Oshawa Generals - Bobby4Ever
274. Brayden McNabb - D - Royal-City-Leafs - Havanblast21
275. Tyler Ennis - LW - Tampere Polar Bears - Juoko-Pouko
276. Tim Heed - D - James Bay Cougars - InForAPenny
277. Alex Goligoski - D - Amsterdam Red Lights - rataylor22
278. Frans Nielsen - C - Lake Eerie Monsters - Sulla
279. Anders Nilsson - G - Windsor Spitfires - Penguin7
280. Jonathan Bernier - G - Grand Rapids Griffins - brakil
281. Nathan Beaulieu - D - Toronto Fighting Turtles - Kofax
282. Aaron Dell - G - Windsor Spitfires - Penguin7
283. Jujhar Khaira - LW - James Bay Cougars - InForAPenny
284. Deryk Engelland - D - Toronto Fighting Turtles - Kofax
285. Brandon Carlo - D - Manitoba Moose - GinFizz
286. David Savard - D - James Bay Cougars - InForAPenny
287. Valteri Filppula - C - Grand Rapids Griffins - brakil
288. Alexander Steen - RW - Glasgow Kiss - Magicstew
Round 13
289. Andrei Chibisov - LW - Montreal Canadiens - newfcollins
290. Adam Larsson - D - Glasgow Kiss - Magicstew
291. Brett Ritchie - RW - Oshawa Generals - Bobby4Ever
292. Michael Del Zotto - D - Royal-City-Leafs - Havanablast21
293. Brett Kulak - D - Fort Frances Muskies - Burgandy
294. Carl Hagelin - LW - Fresno Firebirds - Pit Bulls
295. Madison Bowey - D - Wheeling Nailers - Brosive
296. Nick Cousins - C - District-5 Ducks - evans334
297. Keith Kincaid - G - Fort Frances Muskies - Burgandy
298. Ben Hutton - D - Markham Waxers - praba
299. Markus Granlund - C - Tampere Polar Bears - Jouko-Pouko
300. Radim Simek - D - Lake Valley Thunder - First Round Pick
301. Craig Anderson - G - Amsterdam Red Lights - rataylor22
302. Jordie Benn - D - Lake Eerie Monsters - Sulla
303. Marc Edouard-Vlasic - D - Windsor Spitfires - Penguin7
304. Colin Wilson - LW - Grand Rapids Griffins - brakil
305. Christopher Tanev - D - Manitoba Moose - GinFizz
306. Nick Jensen - D - Royal-City-Leafs - Havanablast21
307. Riley Sheahan - C - James Bay Cougars - InForAPenny
308. William Carrier - LW - Toronto Fighting Turtles - Kofax
309. Ben Chiarot - D - Victoria Dead Hookers - Loch
310. Jamie Olesiuk - D - Manitoba Moose - GinFizz
311. Pick skipped by Commissioner
312. Pontus Aberg - RW - Markham Waxers - praba
Round 14
313. Melker Karlsson - James Bay Cougars - InForAPenny
314. Kenny Agostino - LW - Markham Waxers -praba
315. Brandon Sutter - C - Glasgow Kiss - magicstew
316. Dylan Coghlan - D - Dryden Eagles - metaldude26
317. Maxime Fortier - RW - Fort Frances Muskies - Burgandy
318. Marcus Foligno - LW - Fresno Firebirds - Pit Bulls
319. Connor Murphy - D - Wheelng Nailers - Brosive
320. Gerald Mayhew - RW - Oshawa Generals - Bobby4Ever
321. Zdeno Chara - D - Oshawa Generals - Bobby4Ever
322. Michael Grabner - LW - Braham Pietasters - glorybe23
323. Daniel Brickley - D - Tampere Polar Bears - Jouko-Pouko
324. Slater Koekkoek - D - Toronto Fighting Turtles - Kofax
325. Mario Ferraro - D - Vancouver Voodoo - GoNucks
326. Sam Gagner - RW - Edmonton Road Runners - Lemmy
327. Joel Edmunson - D - Windsor Spitfires - Penguin7
328. Jake McCabe - D - Grand Rapids Griffins - brakil
329. Chase Priskie - D - Lake Valley Thunder - First Round Pick
330. Andre Sekera - D - Vancouver Voodoo - GoNucks
331. David Gustafsson - C - Glaskow Kiss - magicstew
332. Victor Rask - C - Markham Waxers - praba
333. Gabriel Carlsson - Victoria Dead Hookers - Loch
334. Vladislav Kotkov - LW - Fort Frances Muskies - Burgandy
335. Axel Andersson - D - Tampere Polar Bears - Jouko-Pouko
336. Brogan Rafferty - D - Vancouver Voodoo - GoNucks
Round 15
337. Anton Wedin - LW - Montreal Canadiens - newfcollins
338. Ryan Miller - G - Braham Pietasters - glorybe23
339. Cedric Paquette - C - Glasgow Kiss - magicstew
340. Nic Petan - RW - Dryden Eagles - metaldude26
341. Jonas Brodin - D - Fort Frances Muskies - Burgandy
342. Brad Richardson - C - Fresno Firebirds - Pit Bulls
343. Garret Sparks - G - Wheeling Nailers - Brosive
344. Brian Elliot - G - District-5 Ducks - evans334
345. Gaetan Haas - C - Oshawa Generals - Bobby4Ever
346. MacKenzie Weegar - D - Dryden Eagles - metaldude26
347. Carson Twarynski - C - Edmonton Road Runners - Lemmy
348. Jon Merrill - D - Manitoba Moose - GinFizz
349. Jordan Martinook - RW - Manitoba Moose - GinFizz
350. Cameron Schilling - D - Lake Eerie Monsters - Sulla
351. Brad Hunt - D - Windsor Spitfires - Penguin7
352. Nate Schnaar - C - Edmonton Road Runners - Lemmy
353. Kasper Bjorkqvist - RW - Edmonton Road Runners - Lemmy
354. Brandon Gignac - C - Edmonton Road Runners - Lemmy
355. Shane Starrett - G - James Bay Cougars - InForAPenny
356. Kevin Connauton - D - Toronto Fighting Turtles - Kofax
357. Christian Folin - D - Victoria Dead Hookers - Loch
358. Luke Glendening - D - Braham Pietasters - glorybe23
359. William Lockwood - Vancouver Voodoo - GoNucks
360. Lukas Radil - LW - Markham Waxers - praba
Last edited by Pit Bulls; September 23, 2019 at 8:02 AM.