2023-24 Season Preview – Portland Winterhawks
The Western Hockey League is producing season previews for all 22 teams ahead of the start of the 2023-24 regular season this Friday, September 22. Below is the Winterhawks’ preview as created by the league.
–
The Portland Winterhawks enter the 2023-24 season having earned 40 more wins in each of the past six full-length WHL campaigns, a mark of consistency matched by few Clubs around the League. This season’s Winterhawks have the talent to continue that trend of success, with an eye on bettering the Second Round playoff appearances the Club has achieved over the last two springs.
Key Returners
Portland returns key contributors in all areas of their roster this season including captain and 2022-23 scoring leader Gabe Klassen. The product of Prince Albert, Sask. put up 35 goals a season ago and is one of four returnees (James Stefan, Luca Cagnoni, Jack O’Brien) to record 55 or more points last winter. On the blueline, the Winterhawks boast three NHL draftees including Cagnoni (San Jose Sharks) and his defence partner Carter Sotheran (Philadelphia Flyers). Goaltender Jan Spunar went 17-7-2-1 for Portland in his first season in North America, while posting a .908 save percentage over his 31 regular season outings.
Who’s In And Out
Florida Panthers prospect Josh Davies headlines Portland’s list of newcomers this fall; the 19-year-old forward was acquired from the Swift Current Broncos in a blockbuster deal that also saw 20-year-old blueliner Ryan McCleary head home to the Land of Living Skies. Davies, a 20-goal scorer a season ago, is joined up front by rookie forwards Kyle McDonough and Tyson Yaremko. Career Winterhawks Robbie Fromm-Delorme and Dante Giannuzzi graduated from the WHL at the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign, while forward Aidan Litke was dealt to the Edmonton Oil Kings during the off-season.
NHL Draft Prospects
The Winterhawks are a veteran group but still possess some names to watch ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft. Forwards Diego Buttazzoni and Josh Zakreski enter their first years of NHL Draft eligibility this winter; Zakreski led all Portland rookies in scoring a season ago while Buttazzoni finished tied for the WHL scoring lead during the pre-season with 11 points. Defenceman Alex Thompson could be the latest Winterhawks blueliner to hear his name called at the NHL Draft: in fact, Portland has seen at least one defender drafted by an NHL Club in four of the past five Drafts dating back to 2019.
WINTERHAWKS BY THE NUMBERS (2022-23):
Team Record: 40-20-5-3 (88 points)
Division Ranking: 2nd, U.S.
2023 WHL Playoffs: lost Second Round (Kamloops)
Goals For: 244 (11th)
Goals Against: 218 (7th)
PP (Overall): 23.7% (9th)
PK (Overall): 82.2% (4th)
Leading Scorers: Klassen (35-34-69), Fromm-Delorme (33-34-67), Stefan (22-42-64)
Leading Rookie: Zakreski (13-12-25)
NHL Draft: Alscher (FLA – 2022), Cagnoni (SJ – 2023), Davies (FLA – 2022), Sotheran (PHI – 2023)
