2025 WHL Prospects Draft Preview
For the first time since 2022, the Prince Albert Raiders will not have a top two pick in the WHL Prospects Draft Presented by Windsor Plywood. Prince Albert’s first pick in the 2025 draft is 16th overall, a spot they haven’t picked in since 1999 when they took Ceylon, SK product Landon Lillejord. Since the draft was introduced in 1990, the Raiders have selected 16th overall four times, with their other selections in that slot being Jordan Sawatsky (1996), Sean Robertson (1993), and Kaleb Toth (1992).
With the Raiders not having the luxury of having one of the top selections this season, Director of Player Personnel Bruno Zarrillo explains how the draft process might be a bit different for the club this year.
“In your head you’re thinking it would be nice to get one of about five guys you have circled,” Zarrillo explained. “We’re hoping one of those five guys are still there at pick 16. If they all drop like flies, then we’ll have to do something, but we think one of those guys will be there at 16.”
As for the draft as a whole, Zarrillo described how he thinks it looks this year.
“It seems to be a little more defence heavy than offence heavy,” he said. “There seems to be a lot more defenceman than forwards. Overall, it’s a good quality draft. Saskatchewan has some really good players which is good for us. Unfortunately we don’t get the number one pick, but we have 16 and 39, and then three third round picks which is where we’re hoping we can score well. That’s where we hope we can get a guy like (2023 fourth round pick) Jonah Sivertson, or someone who has a similar kind of impact.”
Zarrillo has been busy all season long looking for the next batch of Raider talent with the help of his scouting staff. With time spent across Western Canada, he said it’s time to catch some quick rest before getting ready to make Prince Albert’s first pick in the draft.
“It’s been pretty busy but it’s starting to slow down now. We have basically a week off until the draft before everyone gets together again.”
Looking back at the 2023 and 2024 WHL Prospects Drafts, the Raiders have been able to select some elite talent. Daxon Rudolph, Riley Boychuk, and Ty Meunier all finished successful rookie years with the Raiders, with 2024 first round picks Brock Cripps and Ben Harvey on the horizon next season. With the skill that has come through the organization via the draft over the last number of years, Zarrillo feels good about where he and his scouts are at when it comes to making the right picks.
“I’m very happy with our 50-man list. The team is in a good spot. Now it’s about finding which guys in that 50-man list will come up and take the opportunity and run. I believe there’s a lot of quality there. Just looking at a guy like Sivertson, he was a fourth round pick, 71st overall, and he looks like he’s going to be a steal. You never know, you might find someone in the sixth round or the seventh round, like Knox Burton for example who had a great year in U17 where he scored the lights out. So I’m happy with our scouting staff and with the group of players that we have. Now it’s about taking that group and augmenting them like we did this year at the deadline. It paid off this year by winning the East Division title, and we were able to have a really good year.”
The first round of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft Presented by Windsor Plywood is on Wednesday, May 7th, with live coverage on Victory+.
