Wheat Kings ready to load up at draft

The Brandon Wheat Kings will pick 14th and have six selections in the top 103 choices as the Western Hockey League holds its annual prospects draft today.

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray said there will be lots of talent to choose from in the 2009-born crop of players from Western Canada and the western United States.

“There are some really good players available,” Murray said. “Just talking to our guys a little bit, even at some of the scouting events this spring, maybe it seemed a little deeper last year. If you look back at the draft a year ago, a lot of those ’08s came in and had some pretty good success in our league right out of the gate. I don’t know how common that is but there were a number of guys who came in and had pretty good success right away, and I think that speaks to the volume of the depth in that ‘08 draft.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be as deep this year but there will be some good players.”

The first pick, which will take place around 11 a.m. (CDT), belongs to the Everett Silvertips and will almost certainly be used to draft the league’s first-ever defenceman to be granted exceptional status, Calgarian Landon DuPont. He is only the second player to get the exemption following Connor Bedard in 2020.

Everett has the opportunity due to the deal on Jan. 8, 2023 that sent Olen Zellwegger and Ryan Hofer to the Kamloops Blazers for a king’s ransom that included four players and 10 picks, including four first-rounders.

Murray said the first round can essentially be divided into thirds, with several top-end players, a group that is slightly below and then another very close group.

But he added the focus has to be on the entire draft, because the hidden gems are out there.

“They are young men who are still kids and there is a lot of time to develop yet,” Murray said. “You’re trying to project, and sometimes you win those ones and they’re the ones who are the difference makers. You get those kids in the middle rounds who turn out to be pretty good players. Spending time on the bus, you go through team’s rosters and where they’re drafted, and those who fifth, sixth, seventh-round picks who turn out to be pretty good players are big winners on draft day.”

Great examples aren’t that hard to find. Swift Current Broncos general manager Chad Leslie found Connor Hvidston in the seventh round and Owen Pickering with a ninth-round pick in 2019, after also snagging Mathew Ward, Josh Davies and Josh Filmon earlier.

Moose Jaw Warriors sniper Jagger Firkus, who led the league in scoring this season, was taken in the fourth round with the 82nd overall pick that same year.

“Those are crazy,” Murray said. “Those are just huge wins. It just goes to show you at this age how much can change over a short period of time, whether it is physical growth or growth as a player. You can win or lose with development or lack thereof from a player from 15 to 16, 17, 18.”

Murray’s hiring as GM was announced on Aug. 29, 2022, so this is his second draft with the club. It’s the fourth for director of player personnel Chris Moulton, who came on board on July 2, 2021. There will be four or five people in the team’s board room on draft morning, with the other scouts on a Zoom or Teams call.

The league hasn’t held the draft in a Calgary ballroom since before the pandemic, with the teams instead saving money and enjoying a new level of privacy with the online event.

“There are arguments both ways,” Murray said. “The excitement of the draft and players getting called up is always a special thing but you can also speak openly and discuss things without having to worry about getting caught by another team hearing what you’re discussing. If you’re on the phone or walking to another table, sometimes people can predict your strategy.”

Moulton essentially takes the lead at the draft table, since he has the best knowledge of the players after watching them all winter. The two are in constant contact and Murray watches when he can, but with his coaching duties, he just can’t see as many games.

“When you’re on the bench, you don’t get out and see the kids as much,” Murray said. “For me, I have the ultimate trust in our group. I think we’re all on the same page for what we’re looking for. Chris does a great job of leading our scouts and our scouts are very passionate and work hard and are pounding the pavement in the rinks. There is that good relationship where they understand what we’re looking for. Hopefully, we can execute that on draft day.”

“It’s kind of a by-committee thing but Chris probably leads the draft,” he added

The Wheat Kings, regardless of who has been in charge in recent years, prepare a list ranking the players they’re interested in. It remains a living document until draft day, although there might some slight tinkering right up until draft day.

“Our guys go to bat for guys in their region, but at the same time, they understand there are lots of players outside,” Murray said. “It’s always good conversations and respectful. When there are get-togethers and meetings, they go really well.”

Brandon is in a nice spot with its 2023 draft of 2008-born players. They’ve signed six, including goalie Dylan McFadyen, forwards Jaxon Jacobson, Isaac Davies and defencemen Giorgos Pantelas, Nigel Boehm and Cameron Allard.

Murray said each draft has to be considered to be an entity unto itself, but at the same time, a team has to be cognizant of what they’ve accrued before.

“I think a little bit of both,” Murray said. “It kind of goes back to what your needs are. You look back to last year’s draft, we were a little bit defence-heavy. We wanted to stabilize that position as well as we could. I think you have to look at what you have coming up as prospects and what position they are and understand where you might need to get some numbers and depth in your organization. It all comes into play.

“At the end of the day, when there are two players side by side, by position, if there is a great separation between the two players, then you ask yourself what’s best for you at the time.”

Murray said there is talent at every position, with the top tiers including both forwards and defencemen.

A year ago, 232 players were selected, with 38 from Manitoba, 44 from Saskatchewan, 93 from Alberta and 50 from British Columbia. There were also seven American players taken.

By position, 128 forwards, 88 defencemen and 16 goaltenders were selected, with 85 coming from prep schools.

Murray said general managers around the league are in fairly consistent contact with each other, whether it’s in-person at the various provincial showcases or by phone. Murray said the sense he’s had so far is there is a lot of tire-kicking going on rather than motivated buyers or sellers.

“There is always the potential for trades on draft day,” Murray said. “You listen to everything out there and if it’s need or a fit with your club, you make those assessments. There are always trades that go down and we’ll see what’s out there and talk to our peers and see what makes sense for us.”

The team, which was one of the last in the WHL to hold a prospects camp in late May, is doing away with the event this year, so the players won’t visit Brandon until camp begins in early September. Instead, the focus lies on doing a great job today, and reaping the benefits in coming seasons.

“It’s a big day for our future,” Murray said. “It’s a little bit of an adrenalin rush and a little bit of nervousness and anxiety as your pick approaches. and guy are getting pulled off the board. You might have somebody in mind you want to take. That’s always the nerve-wracking part but a lot of fun too at the same time. It’s always an exciting day.

“We want to get not only good hockey players but good people as well who can help lead us the right way with our culture.”

ICINGS: There is an extra pick at the end of the second round because the Calgary Hitmen were unable to sign 2022 first-round pick Noah Kosick, who committed to the University of Michigan.

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

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BRANDON’S 2024 PICKS

1. 14 — Their own.

2. 36 — Their own.

3. 59 — Their own.

4. 81 — Their own.

4. 85 — Via Moose Jaw via Vancouver — Moose Jaw trades Marek Howell and a 2024 fourth-round pick to Vancouver for Ethan Semeniuk, 2024 first and fifth-round picks and a 2025 second-round pick July 28, 2023. Brandon trades Logen Hammett to Vancouver for a 2024 fourth-round pick that was originally Moose Jaw’s on May 19, 2023.

5. 103 — Via Victoria via Brandon — Victoria trades Anthony Wilson and Luke Shipley to Brandon for Teydon Trembecky, a 2023 third-round pick, a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick on Nov. 24, 2022. Brandon trades Dawson Pasternak to Victoria for a conditional 2024 fifth-round pick on Oct. 5, 2023.

5. 107 — Moose Jaw — Brandon trades Riley Ginnell to Moose Jaw for a 2024 fifth-round pick on Oct. 11, 2022.

6. 128 — Via Swift Current — Brandon trades Zach Turner to Swift Current for a 2024 sixth-round pick on Sept. 27, 2023.

8. 169 — Their own.

9. 191 — Their own.

10. 210 — Via Kelowna — Brandon trades Ben Thornton to Kelowna for a conditional draft pick on Nov. 4, 2023.

10. 213 — Their own.

11. 235 — Their own.

BRANDON’S TRADED PICKS

5. 93 — Kelowna — Via Seattle via Lethbridge via Brandon — Lethbridge trades Easton Kovacs to Seattle for a 2024 fifth-round pick on June 22, 2022. Brandon trades Tyson Zimmer to Lethbridge for a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 fifth-round pick that was originally Seattle’s on Sept. 27, 2022: Kelowna trades Nolan Flamand to Brandon for Trae Johnson, a 2023 second-round pick, and a 2024 fifth-round pick that was originally Seattle’s on Jan. 10, 2023.

6. 125 — Everett — Everett trades a 2023 sixth-round pick to Brandon for a 2024 sixth-round pick on May 11, 2023.

7. 147 — Tri-City — Via Brandon — Tri-City trades Landon Roberts to Brandon for a 2024 seventh-round pick.

7. 152 — Moose Jaw — Via Everett via Brandon — Brandon trades Jacob Hoffrogge to Everett for a 2024 seventh-round pick on July 15, 2022. Moose Jaw trades Calder Anderson to Brandon for a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick on Aug. 8, 2022.