2014-2015 WHL Thread

[Drury18]

I'd like to know why as well. Even last year as a 16 year old he wasn't that terrible.

Perhaps opening a roster spot for a trade but other then that I can't see why he was traded.

[Drury18]

Pavel Karnaukhov is turning out to be a hell of a rookie. Just potted his 5th goal in 3 games.

[Flickered Flame]

Babych hasn't shown anything that he was going to be a player. Hitmen have a lot of kids who are going to be better than Babych moving forward. Got a tip yesterday that if the Jets sent Morrissey back to PA, the Hitmen would make a big push for him...he was sent back to jr today.

[Resolute 14]

Heck of a comeback last night, but the Hitmen need to iron out some of those really rough spots. Especially with penalties. Taylor Sandheim cost us two goals with an atrociously lazy attempted stick check while already shorthanded. He was thinking turnover and goal, not defence. On the plus side, that play would have raised his stock with any Oilers scouts in attendance.

Speaking of, Greg Chase came back from Oilers camp totally in love with toe drags.

[Zach]

Rockets on fire

[Resolute 14]

So, yeah. Anyone planning on going to the Teddy Bear Toss should probably buy tickets soon. Ticketmaster shows less than 1000 seats available in the 100 and 200 levels.Though the very last rows of the ends might not be opened for sale yet.

[Red John]

Kelowna showing they are the best organization in the league again. 10 straight wins to start the season, and frankly they probably should have dropped off from last year a bit.

They lost the best goalie in the country from last years team (Cooke), their two best forwards (Bell and Tvrdon) as graduating 20s, then also lost Ryan Olsen (Jets), Damon Severson (Devils) the latter of whom was their best defenseman and has jumped straight to the NHL.

They won 57 games last year and probably projected to win 45, maybe 50 this year but so far obviously haven't missed a beat. What's also impressive is that their 20s are not a strong group this year. Cole Martin and Tyrell Goulbourne are good character all-round guys but not ringers. Then there's Colton Heffley who probably is a Junior-A calibre player. The expectation is that Heffley will be released once the Rockets complete a trade for another 20. Otherwise the Rigby trade will look real dumb.

Then there's the loss of Ryan Huska who was a top coach.

Point is when you lose that much and are using a 1st-year starting goalie you'd expect a step back but so far that hasn't been the case for the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

Certainly not an invincible team and they aren't blowing games out, but this is what happens when you are the best drafting and developing team in the league and can continue to find young players to plug holes every year.

[Montana Moe]

Portland seems to be going through a bit of an "adjustment period", to say the least.

10-3 loss at Brandon today, yeesh.

[Flickered Flame]

I've watched every team at least 3 times now and I would say that Medicine Hat is the best team I've watched so far. They are fast and playing quite aggressive. Kelowna is right up as is Brandon. As for the Hitmen, they are really just trying to hold on until Virtanen comes back, he is expected to be back next week but the new head coach, Mark French, doesn't really have them playing an up-tempo game, a major criticism of Williamson, but we will see how it plays out.

[Resolute 14]

French's system is idiotic. Lets play a slow style with lots of horizontal passes into high traffic areas that get turned over. Genius! He must be angling to be Dallas Eakins' replacement in Edmonton.

The only times we looked good against Medicine Hat last night was when we got fed up with turning the puck over and simplifed down to a hard skating, north-south game. Gave the Tigers fits. Who would have guessed?

[Zach]

I would say Erie is the #1 team in the country and should win it all.

[MissTeeks]

“@WHLHitmen: Greg Chase was a healthy scratch in Saskatoon on Tue. related to on-ice discipline. He has since requested a trade and has returned home.”

[Flickered Flame]

^He actually requested a trade during the summer but the Hitmen were not willing to do make a trade at that time.

[Resolute 14]

Well, that might explain why he has generally looked selfish and lazy. Good riddance.

[getbak]

Developing into an Oiler nicely.

[Hangman]

Article in today's Calgary Herald says "The most logical deal would be to send Chase to the Victoria Royals for Calgary Flames’ defenceman draft pick Keegan Kanzig..."

http://tinyurl.com/klvgm75

That's assuming the Royals would in any way be interested in Chase.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by Hangman

Article in today's Calgary Herald says "The most logical deal would be to send Chase to the Victoria Royals for Calgary Flames’ defenceman draft pick Keegan Kanzig..."

http://tinyurl.com/klvgm75

That's assuming the Royals would in any way be interested in Chase.

The only way they go after Kanzig, imo, is if Moore has decided not to pursue Morrisey, which I heard earlier this week was still his top choice for an addition this year. I also heard Moore had conversations with Regina about a Chase-Klimchuk swap with several other parts included on both sides. Will be very interesting to see how this plays out.

[Resolute 14]

The Hitmen are 4-0-2 since Greg Chase was sent home.

[Red John]

Going to be a healthy amount of butthurt here if Chase wins a championship with the Rockets this year.

Likely a lesser defenseman and a 1st rounder going the other way, though Victoria is putting in a good pitch too.

[Da_Chief]

Was Chase sent home or did he leave the team on his own?

If he left on his own then let him rot at home for rest of the year, who cares when the team is doing good. No need to help another team when the said return is lesser player.