WHL Alumni Spotlight: Western League grads the focal point following another week at the Stanley Cup Playoffs
With over 100 graduates currently featured on NHL rosters, the Western Hockey League prides itself as one of the finest development leagues in the World.
By way of the WHL Alumni Spotlight, we aim to highlight notable achievements set by our alumni at the highest level of professional hockey on a week-to-week basis.
This is what our WHL Alumni were up to over the last week.
Edmonton’s Draisaitl dubbed ‘road warrior’ with latest playoff accomplishment
As much as he loves a rowdy playoff crowd in Edmonton’s Rogers Arena, Leon Draisaitl equally enjoys hearing the boos from an opposing fan base while on the road. So much so, that it can be argued that the German forward may actually prefer taking to the ice as a visitor. Or, that’s what his on-ice performance during the Stanley Cup Playoffs has shown.
The epitome of a ‘road warrior,’ Draisaitl has become a player that clubs fear when he enters their building. As a part of his team’s two-game stint in Southern California for Round One against the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton’s resident sharpshooter quickly found the scoresheet on several occasions. With two goals and two assists, including a three-point outing (two goals—one assist) in Game 3 on April 26, Draisaitl helped the Oilers cruise through their trip to Los Angeles while securing a 3-1 series lead over the Kings.
Leon Draisaitl
6th player in Oilers history with 10 career multi-goal games in the postseason pic.twitter.com/xsG6ZQ7utl
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 2, 2024
The recent road efforts have also catapulted the 28-year-old to the top of the NHL’s record book, becoming the fastest player in League history to record 20 goals as a visitor during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Shattering the archive in just 26 postseason appearances, Draisaitl surpassed the previous record holders, NHL legends Kevin Stevens and Bernie Nicholls, who both hit the 20-playoff-goal plateau in 29 games. With eight points (three goals—five assists) through four games in Round One, Draisaitl sits tied for second in points — positioned next to Colorado’s Cale Makar and Boston’s Brad Marchand. In 53 career playoff appearances, the three-season WHL alumnus has totalled up 85 points (34 goals—51 assists).
A former skater for both the Prince Albert Raiders and Kelowna Rockets, Draisaitl thrived at the WHL Playoffs too. A member of Kelowna’s WHL Championship-winning team during the 2015 postseason, Draisaitl was named the WHL Playoffs MVP following a campaign that saw the German record 28 points (10 goals—18 assists) in 19 games. This included the game-winning goal to secure the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the Rockets on May 13, 2015. Draisaitl soon added to his year-end accolades by becoming the recipient of the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the MVP at the 2015 Memorial Cup.
WHL graduate Reinhart extends milestone season into Stanley Cup Playoffs
In a year filled with career milestones and personal bests, Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart had accomplished everything he was hoping for during the regular season. Not only did he help his club secure a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but he also led all Panthers skaters in goals (57) and points (94) at the end of his ninth-career campaign. From an individual standpoint, Reinhart’s 57-goal season also marked both a career-high in tallies and the first time he passed the half-century mark in his NHL career. Additionally, his 94 points (57 goals—37 assists) was the highest in his professional-level tenure, surpassing his previous best of 82 points (33 goals—49 assists) through 78 games recorded during the 2021-22 season.
Sam Reinhart makes this one all even. ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/etSxqHtfa6
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 26, 2024
But, just because the regular season has concluded, doesn’t mean more milestones can’t be claimed – or, in Reinhart’s case, records can’t be broken. Still skating in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the product of Vancouver, B.C. is keeping to his scoring ways. Through his opening four postseason appearances, the Panthers’ top point-getter has recorded three goals. And, more importantly, set a franchise record.
With 60 goals between the 2023-24 regular season and playoffs, the WHL alumnus has leaped past Hockey Hall of Famer Pavel Bure for the most goals by a member of the Panthers in a full season. The previous record was set at 59 goals – twice by Bure – and has lasted for over 20 years. Reinhart isn’t done either, as the Florida Panthers are headed to the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs following a Game 5 win over the Tampa Lightning on April 29.
For Reinhart, recording points came naturally at the WHL level too. Spending parts of five seasons with the Kootenay ICE, Reinhart recorded 120 goals and 199 assists for 310 points in 250 regular season games. He reached the 35-goal plateau on two occasions and recorded his personal-best 105 points (36 goals—69 assists) during the 2013-14 WHL season. He graduated from the League as the WHL Rookie of the Year (2011-12), WHL Player of the Year (2013-14), and as a WHL Champion with the ICE following the 2011 WHL Playoffs.
18-year-old Bedard a finalist for NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy
Connor Bedard has been named a finalist for the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.”
Shocker.
With 61 points (22 goals—39 assists) in 68 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, the first-overall selection at the 2023 NHL Draft torched all other first-year competitors. Leading this season’s rookie class in goals, points, and points-per-game (0.90), Bedard was in a league of his own when it came to his natural-born talent – offensive output. The next closest point-getters were New Jersey’s Luke Hughes and Minnesota’s Brock Faber (47 points apiece), who both clocked in 14 points less than the Blackhawks’ up-and-comer. All the while, Bedard missed 14 games in January due to a jaw injury. The 18-year-old also spent the season leading the Blackhawks’ ranks. Along with tying his teammate, Jason Dickinson, in goals, the rookie led all Chicago skaters in assists (39) and points – becoming just the third player in NHL history to finish the regular season as his team’s top point scorer as an 18-year-old.
Never a doubt 🔥
Read more → https://t.co/zx9amlAWeF pic.twitter.com/jLDtiWREKk
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 30, 2024
The Regina Pats alumnus is now looking to pair the NHL’s Top Rookie Award with the hardware he acquired at the junior level. As the first player to be granted exceptional status in the Western League, Bedard’s three-season span with the Pats was spent rewriting the history books and engraving his name on countless League awards. In his first season in the WHL, the product of North Vancouver, B.C. captured the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the League’s Rookie of the Year. And, following his third and final season with the Pats, Bedard was the recipient of the WHL’s Four Broncos Memorial Trophy and Bob Clarke Trophy, as the League’s Player of the Year and Top Scorer, respectively. Bedard also graduated from the WHL as the CHL’s Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
NHL Bracket Buzz
WINNIPEG JETS VS COLORADO AVALANCHE
Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey concluded his postseason campaign by recording his third goal of the first-round series with Colorado. The Prince Albert Raiders and Kelowna Rockets alumnus led all Jets defencemen in points, with four.
EDMONTON OILERS VS LOS ANGELES KINGS
Following a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4, Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner is the first netminder to record a shutout during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The homegrown product of Edmonton, Alta. stopped all 33 shots he faced on April 28. Skinner is a former member of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Swift Current Broncos and won the WHL Championship with the Broncos in 2018.
Leon Draisaitl recorded two goals in Edmonton’s series-clinching win over the Los Angeles Kings on May 1. With 10 points (five goals–five assists) through five games at the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Prince Albert Raiders and Kelowna Rockets alumnus sits second in NHL scoring.
CAROLINA HURRICANES VS NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Seth Jarvis recorded four points (two goals–two assists) in Carolina’s final two games of the first round against the New York Islanders. The Winterhawks alumnus became just the second skater in Hurricanes history to record at least 10 playoff goals before the age of 23. Jarvis and the Hurricanes have also advanced to Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They will play the New York Rangers.
Seth Jarvis: confirmed good at hockey pic.twitter.com/iG41E4gDPJ
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) April 25, 2024
Seth Jarvis opens the scoring for Carolina. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/noiZp29944
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 27, 2024