[{"id":269323,"date":"2026-08-20T15:15:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T21:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=269323"},"modified":"2026-08-20T15:15:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T21:15:27","slug":"nhl-prospect-watch-st-louis-blues-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/nhl-prospect-watch-st-louis-blues-5","title":{"rendered":"NHL Prospect Watch: St. Louis Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we\u2019re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL\u2019s criteria for rookie status.<\/em><\/p>\n

These prospects are cruisin’ for a Blues-in.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Adam Jecho<\/strong><\/p>\n

A hand injury marred a significant chunk of Adam Jecho’s season and forced him to withdraw from the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, but the 6-foot-5, 201-pound forward still put up strong minutes on a significantly improved Edmonton Oil Kings squad. The Zlin, Czechia product posted 36 points (10G-26A) in 47 games before adding another four points (1G-3A) in seven playoff matches. Jecho, 20, was named an alternate captain for Edmonton in his third season in the provincial capital. St. Louis selected him with the 95th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft and signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract in March of 2025. Jecho is expected to jump to the pro ranks in 2026-27, whether that’s with St. Louis or the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds (along with his 2025 World Juniors teammate, Jakub Stancl).<\/p>\n

William McIsaac<\/strong><\/p>\n

After reaching the 2025 WHL Championship Series, Spokane Chiefs alternate captain Will McIsaac maintained steady numbers despite a season of massive turnover for the U.S. Division squad, with its powerhouse top line moving on to professional hockey or ageing out of the league. Still, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound rearguard logged 34 points (8G-26A) and maintained a team-best +22 rating in 66 contests to help Spokane return to the postseason, where he had another five assists in six tilts. McIsaac registered seven multipoint games in 2025-26, including a one-goal, two-assist effort against Portland in December. The Vancouver, B.C. product was drafted in the fifth round (145th overall) in 2024.<\/p>\n

Tomas Mrsic<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speedy forward Tomas Mrsic tried his hand in a new league last season, potting 10 points (5G-5A) in 36 spins with Colorado College in the NCAA. Previously, the 6-foot, 174-pound Mrsic spent parts of four seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers and Prince Albert Raiders, totalling 176 points (66G-110A) in 196 games, highlighted by a 90-point campaign in Hockeytown North in 2024-25. Mrsic, now 20, was selected by the Blues with the 113th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

Jakub Stancl<\/strong><\/p>\n

Six-foot-three, 198-pound forward Jakub Stancl made the transition to pro hockey with AHL Springfield in 2025-26, scoring 19 points (9G-10A) in 60 appearances, highlighted by a hat trick against the Providence Bruins in December. The 2023 fourth-round pick (106th overall) was assigned to the Kelowna Rockets for 2024-25, where he had a red-hot 57-point (23G-34A) campaign. The 21-year-old also suited up for his first 10 pro matches at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

Vladimir Proskurin<\/strong><\/p>\n

Incoming Victoria Royals netminder Vladimir Proskurin is one of the newest members of the Blues organization, having been selected with the 123rd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound puckstopper comes from MHL Atlant Mytishchi of the MHL, Russia’s top junior league, where he earned a 14-21-1 record, a 2.97 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and two shutouts in 2025-26. The 18-year-old signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Royals in July.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we\u2019re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL\u2019s criteria for rookie status. These prospects are cruisin’ for a Blues-in. Adam Jecho A hand…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":487,"featured_media":269370,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":1043,"name":"nhl prospect watch","slug":"nhl-prospect-watch","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1082,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":148,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1517"},{"term_id":1370,"name":"St. Louis Blues","slug":"st-louis-blues","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1370,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1887"}],"class_list":["post-269323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-nhl-prospect-watch","tag-st-louis-blues","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/08\/20151506\/260820_Prospect-Watch-1920_STL.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/487"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=269323"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269327,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269323\/revisions\/269327"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/269370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=269323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=269323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=269323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":269351,"date":"2026-08-20T14:14:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T20:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=269351"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:14:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T20:14:54","slug":"2026-whl-graduates-lethbridge-hurricanes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/2026-whl-graduates-lethbridge-hurricanes","title":{"rendered":"2026 WHL Graduates: Lethbridge Hurricanes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the month of August, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2025-26 season in a 23-part, team-by-team series.<\/p>\n

Today, we continue with the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ graduating class.<\/p>\n

\n

Matteo Fabrizi (D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> St. Albert, Alta.
WHL Career Stats:<\/strong> 282 GP \u2013 17 G-47 A \u2013 64 points
WHL Draft:<\/strong> 2020 \u2013 Second Round, 31st Overall (Red Deer Rebels)<\/p>\n

After a five-year WHL career Matteo Fabrizi is on to future endeavours!<\/p>\n

Originally selected 31st overall by the Red Deer Rebels in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Fabrizi came into the Western League with a bang. The St. Albert, Alta., local made his WHL debut on October 9, 2021, against the Lethbridge Hurricanes and collected his first career multi-point game in his second-ever skate with Red Deer \u2013 collecting two assists on October 15, 2021, against the Calgary Hitmen.<\/p>\n

Following his debut, the 6-foot-6 blueliner spent the next four seasons of his junior career with Red Deer, steadily carving out a role on the Rebels\u2019 backend.<\/p>\n

From October 2021 to December 2024, Fabrizi made 197 appearances with the Rebels, collecting 37 points (11 G-26 A).<\/p>\n

On December 31, 2024, Fabrizi welcomed in the New Year by heading east to join the Prince Albert Raiders following a trade with Red Deer. Fabrizi went on to suit up with the Raiders on 28 regular season occasions, tallying up two goals, six assists, and eight times. Although short, Fabrizi’s time HockeyTown North was truly memorable, as the blueliner also skated in 11 games during the 2025 WHL Playoffs with the Raiders.<\/p>\n

And, in May 2025, Fabrizi found himself in a third WHL market as the Lethbridge Hurricanes acquired the veteran defenceman from Prince Albert.<\/p>\n

Back in the Central Division, Fabrizi quickly became a key piece on the Hurricanes\u2019 blue line and was named an alternate captain ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n

In 56 regular season appearances with Lethbridge, Fabrizi posted a career-best five goals, 18 assists, and 23 points, while also contributing a physical presence with 62 penalty minutes.<\/p>\n

In total, the St. Albert product skated in 282 regular season games across Red Deer, Prince Albert and Lethbridge, collecting 64 points (17 G-47 A). He also appeared in 34 career postseason games.<\/p>\n

Andrew Petruk (F)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> Surrey, B.C.
WHL Career Stats:<\/strong> 170 GP \u2013 12 G-17 A \u2013 29 points
WHL Draft:<\/strong> Listed (Everett Silvertips)<\/p>\n

From listed player to WHL graduate, Andrew Petruk’s WHL journey is one filled with hard work and dedication.<\/p>\n

After going undrafted in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Petruk was listed by the Everett Silvertips before joining the Club in September 2022. Defying the odds, the Surrey, B.C., local made his WHL debut on September 24, 2022, before suiting up in 51 total games during his rookie season.<\/p>\n

In total, Petruk spent parts of three seasons in Everett, racking up 15 points (6 G-9 A) in 117 appearances.<\/p>\n

In January 2025, the forward returned to his home province after being acquired in a trade by the Kelowna Rockets. Petruk embraced the move back to British Columbia, posting four points (1 G-3 A) in 25 regular season games in Kelowna.<\/p>\n

But, Kelowna wasn’t the last stop in Petruk’s junior hockey career. In December 2025, a 20-year-old Petruk signed as a free agent with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.<\/p>\n

Petruk went on to make his Hurricanes debut on December 12, 2025, registering his first goal with the Club in the process.<\/p>\n

The forward wound up collecting 10 points (5 G-5 A) in 28 regular season games with Lethbridge. His 0.36 points-per-game average during the 2025-26 WHL campaign also went down as his career best.<\/p>\n

In total, Petruk closes out his WHL career with 170 regular season appearances split between the Silvertips, Rockets, and Hurricanes, boasting 29 points (12 G-17 A).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the month of August, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2025-26 season in a 23-part, team-by-team series. Today, we continue with the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ graduating class. Matteo Fabrizi (D) Hometown: St. Albert, Alta.WHL Career Stats: 282 GP \u2013 17 G-47 A \u2013 64 pointsWHL Draft: 2020 \u2013 Second…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":269368,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2479,"name":"2026 WHL Graduates","slug":"2026-whl-graduates","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2479,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw","term_order":"3"},{"term_id":1603,"name":"Andrew Petruk","slug":"andrew-petruk","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1603,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw","term_order":"198"},{"term_id":35,"name":"lethbridge 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acquire 20-year-old forward Cunningham from Tigers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Penticton, B.C. \u2013 The Penticton Vees have acquired 20-year-old forward Carter Cunningham<\/a> from the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2028 WHL Draft.<\/p>\n

The two Clubs announced the trade Thursday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re excited to add Carter to our group,\u201d said Fred Harbinson, General Manager and Head Coach of the Vees. \u201cHe brings size, experience and a competitive edge, and we believe his style of play will fit extremely well with the identity we\u2019re continuing to build here in Penticton.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-3, 192-pound Cunningham, who hails from Lethbridge, Alta., joined the Tigers during the 2024-25 campaign, appearing in 38 regular season games and logging seven points (1G-6A). He was part of the Tigers squad that went on to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions in 2025.<\/p>\n

The 2025-26 season saw Cunningham grow into a larger role with the Club. In 62 regular season games, he logged 30 points (9G-21A) before adding another five points (1G-4A) in 15 post-season contests.<\/p>\n

Undrafted into the WHL, Cunningham signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Tigers on October 24, 2024. In 100 career WHL regular season outings, he has collected 37 points (10G-27A).<\/p>\n

The Vees are set to open training camp Thursday, August 27.<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Penticton, B.C. \u2013 The Penticton Vees have acquired 20-year-old forward Carter Cunningham from the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2028 WHL Draft. The two Clubs announced the trade Thursday morning. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to add Carter to our group,\u201d said Fred Harbinson, General Manager and Head Coach of the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":269362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2149,"name":"Carter Cunningham","slug":"carter-cunningham","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2149,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw","term_order":"444"},{"term_id":30,"name":"medicine hat tigers","slug":"medicine-hat-tigers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":185,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1247,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1436"},{"term_id":1911,"name":"Penticton Vees","slug":"penticton-vees","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1911,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":161,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1629"},{"term_id":100,"name":"whl transactions","slug":"whl-transactions","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":103,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":595,"filter":"raw","term_order":"2264"}],"class_list":["post-269357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-carter-cunningham","tag-medicine-hat-tigers","tag-penticton-vees","tag-whl-transactions","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/08\/20102106\/Cunningham_Trade-1920.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/116"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=269357"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269357\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269361,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269357\/revisions\/269361"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/269362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=269357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=269357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=269357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":269306,"date":"2026-08-19T12:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T18:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=269306"},"modified":"2026-08-19T12:52:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T18:52:02","slug":"nhl-prospect-watch-seattle-kraken-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/nhl-prospect-watch-seattle-kraken-5","title":{"rendered":"NHL Prospect Watch: Seattle Kraken"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we\u2019re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL\u2019s criteria for rookie status.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Seattle Kraken are among the NHL’s most Dub-heavy clubs and feature two of the WHL’s most recent champions.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Clarke Caswell<\/strong><\/p>\n

Buzzy playmaker Clarke Caswell’s first season in the NCAA saw him propel Denver to a national championship, netting 34 points (8G-26A) in the regular season before coming up big with the game-tying goal in the Frozen Four semifinal. He was recognized as the national Rookie of the Month for March\/April. The 6-foot, 185-pound forward from Brandon, Man., previously spent parts of four seasons with the Swift Current Broncos, including a run as captain in 2024-25. His final season saw him break out for 84 points (22G-62A) in 65 games. Over his WHL career, the 20-year-old logged 191 points (57G-134A) in 199 games. Caswell was selected with the 141st pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

Berkly Catton<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2024 eighth-overall pick managed to ‘Krak’ Seattle’s roster as a determined teenager, and while the offensive numbers that made him pop at the junior level didn’t necessarily follow, he certainly didn’t look out of place and has a strong base to build on in his sophomore campaign. Catton posted 17 points (7G-10A) in 66 regular-season NHL games, with all seven of his strikes coming in the back half of the season. Seattle opted not to loan Catton out for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in favour of more NHL opportunities. The 5-foot-10, 179-pound centreman from Saskatoon ranks as one of Spokane’s all-time greats with 284 points (116G-168A) in 197 games over four seasons. Catton ranks eighth in all-time Chiefs scoring and assists and 10th in goals, while captaining the squad in his final junior season. He posted back-to-back hundred-plus-point campaigns and won the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

Lukas Dragicevic\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Six-foot-2, 196-pound rearguard Lukas Dragicevic’s first full professional season is under his belt. The 21-year-old posted an 11-point run (1G-10) with the Firebirds in an injury-shortened 43-game campaign. Drafted with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Dragicevic split his WHL career between the Tri-City Americans and Prince Albert Raiders. He surpassed 70 points on two occasions and totalled a monster 277 points (53G-174A) in 268 games over parts of five seasons. The Richmond, B.C. product was also named to the WHL U.S. Division First All-Star Team in 2023.<\/p>\n

Ryden Evers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Penticton Vees alternate captain Ryden Evers joined the WHL as an undrafted free agent and came away a Kraken prospect. The Vees alternate captain, 21, burst onto the major junior scene with a 74-point season (35G-39A), leading the B.C. Division champs in goals while sitting second in points and third in assists. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound centreman led the entire league with 937 faceoff wins (59.6%) and averaged just shy of a point per game in the playoffs with 13 (7G-6A) in 15 games to reach the Western Conference Championship. Seattle signed Evers to a three-year, entry-level contract in March of 2026.<\/p>\n

Blake Fiddler<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s easy to tell when 6-foot-5, 213-pound defenceman Blake Fiddler is on the ice. Defence is the bread and butter of the 19-year-old’s game, but the Edmonton Oil Kings alternate captain did score a career-best 36 points (11G-25A) and a +23 rating in 63 games. Fiddler\u00a0recently suited up for the United States at the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase in hopes of earning a roster spot at the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was picked up by Seattle with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft and currently has 84 points (26G-58A) over 190 WHL matches, all with the Oil Kings.<\/p>\n

Jagger Firkus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Could the Firkus Circus be NHL-bound in 2026-27? The former WHL Player of the Year took a big step forward in his second season of professional hockey with 56 points (21G-35A) in 63 games with Coachella Valley. Firkus ranked third on the team in points, goals and assists and stepped up his output in the playoffs with nine points (4G-5A) in 12 outings. In an end-of-season media availability, Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill lamented that Firkus hadn’t yet made his NHL debut, putting the 22-year-old in a prime position to contend for an opening night roster spot. The 5-foot-11, 161-pound winger remains one of the most dominant players to suit up for the Moose Jaw Warriors, having amassed 310 points (144G-166A) in 230 games over parts of five seasons, culminating in his masterful 126-point (61G-65A) 2023-24 season that saw him earn WHL and CHL Player of the Year, WHL and CHL Top Scorer honours, and hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the first time in franchise history.<\/p>\n

Kaden Hammell<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hammell was another youngster bitten by the dreaded injury bug in 2025-26, but he still left quite the impression in his first season of professional hockey. His spirited tilt against Calgary Wranglers tough guy Alex Gallant- and a rematch just weeks later- made headlines, and Hammell managed to put up 13 points (6G-7A) in 44 games. The 6-foot-1, 187-pound defenceman ranked second among Firebirds blueliners in plus\/minus with a +14 rating. The former Everett Silvertips captain was selected with the 148th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He racked up 103 points (26G-77A) in 242 games with the Kamloops Blazers and Silvertips.<\/p>\n

Ollie Josephson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shutdown centreman Ollie Josephson registered 20 points (6G-14A) in 38 games with the University of North Dakota in 2025-26. The 2024 fourth-round pick (105th overall) went down with an injury during his team’s run to the Frozen Four, but was ultimately able to return for the national semifinal. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound pivot notched 102 points (31G-71A) in 185 games over parts of four seasons with the Red Deer Rebels.<\/p>\n

Tyson Jugnauth\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

2025 WHL Defenceman of the Year Tyson Jugnauth flexed his offensive prowess in his first season in the pro ranks. The 22-year-old bagged 45 points (9G-36A) to sit seventh in scoring among all AHL defenders and first among rookie blueliners. Jugnauth, who stands 6 feet, 183 pounds, cracked the AHL All-Rookie Team and represented the Pacific Division at the AHL All-Star Game. The former Portland Winterhawks alternate captain put up 130 points (20G-110A) in 106 games over two seasons in the Rose City, helping the Hawks reach the 2024 WHL Championship Series, where they ultimately fell to Firkus and the Warriors, and the 2025 WHL Western Conference Championship. 2024-25 also saw the Kelowna, B.C. product lead all WHL defenders with 89 points. His name was called 100th overall in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

Julius Miettinen<\/strong><\/p>\n

You couldn’t ask for a much better season for 6-foot-3, 207-pound centreman Julius Miettinen. The Everett Silvertips star erupted for 35 goals and 41 assists for 76 points in 52 games with the regular-season champion Everett Silvertips. He was third on the Tips in scoring, third across the entire league in plus\/minus with a +60 rating and eighth in faceoff wins with 634 (60.6%). He hit a new gear in the postseason with a league-best 27 points (14G-13A) in 18 games, helping Everett capture its first WHL Championship and becoming the second European WHLer to be named Playoff MVP, following Leon Draisaitl in 2014. The 20-year-old had another goal and assist in five games to reach the Memorial Cup Final, and four points (2G-2A) at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship with Finland. Miettinen was selected with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft and will jump to the pro ranks in 2026-27.<\/p>\n

Caden Price<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saskatoon, Sask.’s Caden Price saw his first professional season clipped by injury, but he still had a solid showing with 11 points (2G-9A) in 42 outings. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defender put together four strong seasons in major junior, posting 159 points (29G-130A) in 231 games with the Kelowna Rockets and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He advanced to the 2025 WHL Eastern Conference Championship with the Canes with eight points (2G-6A) in 16 postseason matches. Seattle drafted Price with the 84th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 Draft.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we\u2019re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL\u2019s criteria for rookie status. The Seattle Kraken are among the NHL’s most Dub-heavy clubs and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":487,"featured_media":269344,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":1043,"name":"nhl prospect watch","slug":"nhl-prospect-watch","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1082,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":148,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1517"},{"term_id":1222,"name":"Seattle Kraken","slug":"seattle-kraken","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1222,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1849"}],"class_list":["post-269306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-nhl-prospect-watch","tag-seattle-kraken","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/08\/19125133\/260818_Prospect-Watch-1920_SEA.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/487"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=269306"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269345,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269306\/revisions\/269345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/269344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=269306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=269306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=269306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":269341,"date":"2026-08-19T11:10:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=269341"},"modified":"2026-08-19T11:10:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:10:28","slug":"josh-evaschesen-2026-27-whl-highlight-reels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/video\/josh-evaschesen-2026-27-whl-highlight-reels","title":{"rendered":"Josh Evaschesen | 2026-27 WHL Highlight Reels"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":269342,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1113],"tags":[{"term_id":2388,"name":"Josh Evaschesen","slug":"josh-evaschesen","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2388,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1123"},{"term_id":30,"name":"medicine hat 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Blazers complete trade involving 2006-born forward Josh Evaschesen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medicine Hat, Alta. \u2013 <\/strong>The Medicine Hat Tigers have acquired 2006-born forward Josh Evaschesen<\/strong> from the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for a first and fourth-round pick in 2027 and a sixth round pick in 2029.<\/p>\n

The Medicine Hat, Alta., product tallied 33 goals and 73 points in 67 games during the 2025-26 season with Kamloops. This off-season he was invited to attend the Dallas Stars’ 2026 Development Camp. Evaschesen grew up playing for the Medicine Hat Hounds U15 AA, SEAC Tigers U15 AAA, and SAHA U18 Prep.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Medicine Hat, Alta. \u2013 The Medicine Hat Tigers have acquired 2006-born forward Josh Evaschesen from the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for a first and fourth-round pick in 2027 and a sixth round pick in 2029. The Medicine Hat, Alta., product tallied 33 goals and 73 points in 67 games during the 2025-26 season with Kamloops.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":269338,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2388,"name":"Josh Evaschesen","slug":"josh-evaschesen","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2388,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1123"},{"term_id":40,"name":"kamloops blazers","slug":"kamloops-blazers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":82,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1191,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1174"},{"term_id":30,"name":"medicine hat 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OPPORTUNITY: WHL Manager, Strategic Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":269325,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1172],"tags":[{"term_id":99,"name":"whl job 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WHL Graduates: Kelowna Rockets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the month of August, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2025-26 season in a 23-part, team-by-team series.<\/p>\n

Today, we continue with the graduating trio from the Kelowna Rockets.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n

Ty Halaburda (F)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> Victoria, B.C.
\nWHL Career Stats:<\/strong> 315 GP \u2013 105 G-140 A \u2013 245 points
\nWHL Draft:<\/strong> 2020 \u2013 Second Round, 32nd Overall (Vancouver Giants)<\/p>\n

Ty Halaburda is graduating from the Western Hockey League as British Columbia’s best and brightest.<\/p>\n

The Victoria, B.C., local got the opportunity to stay in his home province following his second-round selection by the Vancouver Giants in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.<\/p>\n

Halaburda made his WHL debut on October 2, 2021, against his hometown Victoria Royals and went on to spend more than four seasons with Giants.<\/p>\n

Since his introduction to the organization in October 2021, Halaburda quickly developed into one of the Club\u2019s most productive forwards.<\/p>\n

And, it was during the 2023-24 WHL Season where Halaburda truly established himself as one of the League’s most consistent contributors. In 68 regular season appearances, Halaburda recorded a career-best 45 assists and 66 points \u2013 finishing tied for first in Giants scoring alongside fellow WHL alumnus, Jaden Lipinski.<\/p>\n

Yet, Halaburda’s legacy in Vancouver also extended past his on-ice performance.\u00a0In November 2025, a 20-year-old Halaburda was named the captain of the Vancouver Giants.<\/p>\n

With a freshly-stitched captain patch on his uniform, Halaburda’s final season of WHL eligibility couldn’t have started better, as the forward collected 39 points (20 G-19 A) in his first 40 regular season appearances.<\/p>\n

Then, on January 6, 2026, the overage forward was acquired by the Kelowna Rockets as part of a trade that sent Los Angeles Kings prospect Will Sharpe to the Giants.<\/p>\n

Looking for additional scoring ahead of their hosting duties at the 2026 Memorial Cup, Halaburda continued his strong offensive season adding 25 points (9 G-16 A) in 32 regular season games with the Rockets.<\/p>\n

Halaburda also helped Kelowna make its return to the 2026 WHL Playoffs, putting up five points (1 G-4 A) in six postseason appearances.<\/p>\n

In total, Halaburda closes out his WHL career with 245 points (105 G-140 A) in 315 regular season games with both the Giants and Rockets.<\/p>\n

Mazden Leslie (D)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> Lloydminster, Alta.
\nWHL Career Stats:<\/strong> 347 GP \u2013 75 G-183 A \u2013 258 points
\nWHL Draft:<\/strong> 2020 \u2013 First Round, 10th Overall (Vancouver Giants)<\/p>\n

When Mazden Leslie landed in Kelowna, he brought more than four seasons of Western League experience with him.<\/p>\n

But, before the veteran defenceman was suiting for the 2026 Memorial Cup with the Rockets he was getting reps in with the Vancouver Giants.<\/p>\n

Leslie was 10th-overall selection by the Vancouver Giants in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft and spent five seasons in Langley, B.C.<\/p>\n

Leslie first made his WHL debut and recorded his first multi-goal outing on March 28, 2021, scoring twice in a meeting with his future club, the Kelowna Rockets.<\/p>\n

And, with his first couple of junior hockey accolades quickly captured, Leslie was clear to run rampant against his Western League competition. The blueliner recorded back-to-back-to-back, 40-plus-point campaigns with the Giants spanning from 2022-23 to 2024-25.<\/p>\n

Leslie also recorded a career-high in goals (21), assists (51), and points (72) during the 2024-25 WHL Season. For his efforts, Leslie was named to the WHL’s Western Conference First All-Star Team and a finalist for the WHL’s Defenceman of the Year award.<\/p>\n

On May 21, 2025, Leslie was acquired by the Kelowna Rockets as the Club continued to bolster their roster ahead of the 2026 Memorial Cup. The veteran defenceman had initially committed to the NCAA’s Bowling Green State University, but ultimately elected to return to the WHL for his final season.<\/p>\n

And, a surprise to none, Leslie delivered another strong campaign.<\/p>\n

In 67 regular season appearances with Kelowna, he recorded 68 points (18 G-50 A) and led the Rockets\u2019 blue line in scoring. He also finished the season as the WHL\u2019s active leader in career games played and career points among defencemen.<\/p>\n

After six seasons in the Western League, Leslie exits junior hockey having dressed in a 347 regular season games, collecting 258 points (75 G-183 A).<\/p>\n

Shane Smith (F)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> Cessford, Alta.
\nWHL Career Stats:<\/strong> 264 GP \u2013 93 G-90 A \u2013 183 points
\nWHL Draft:<\/strong> 2020 \u2013 Third Round, 51st Overall (Medicine Hat Tigers)<\/p>\n

From on-ice performances to off-ice initiatives, Shane Smith was one of the League’s best contributors.<\/p>\n

Originally selected 51st overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, a 15-year-old Smith made his WHL debut on May 6, 2021, against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Smith returned for nine more appearances the following year before breaking out with 32 points (19 G-13 A) in 66 games during the 2022-23 WHL Season.<\/p>\n

And, as the seasons progressed, so did Smith\u2019s offensive game. In the 2023-24 campaign, Smith collected 51 points (29 G-22 A) in 64 games with the Tigers.<\/p>\n

And, after spending part of the 2024-25 season in Medicine Hat, Smith was acquired by the Lethbridge Hurricanes via trade.<\/p>\n

Unfazed by his move to what was once a division rival, Smith instantly caught fire with the Hurricanes. In 81 total games with Lethbridge, the product of Cessford, Alta., racked up 24 goals, 29 assists, and 53 assists.<\/p>\n

Then, came one final move.<\/p>\n

On November 9, 2025, Smith was acquired by the Kelowna Rockets in a deal aimed to bolster the Club’s offence ahead of the 2026 Memorial Cup. He quickly made an impact in the Okanagan, recording 45 points (21 G-24 A) in 41 regular season games with the Rockets. Combined with his 23 points in Lethbridge, Smith finished the 2025-26 campaign with a career-high of 33 goals, 35 assists, and 68 points in 61 games.<\/p>\n

Yet, Smith\u2019s contributions extended well beyond the scoresheet too.<\/p>\n

For the three-consecutive seasons, Smith was named a finalist for the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy, given annually to the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year, before\u00a0ultimately receiving the award following the 2025-26 WHL Season.<\/p>\n

Smith closes out his WHL career with 183 points (93 G-90 A) in 264 regular season games and 12 points (5 G-7 A) in 32 career playoff appearances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the month of August, the Western Hockey League will be celebrating the WHL Graduates from the 2025-26 season in a 23-part, team-by-team series. Today, we continue with the graduating trio from the Kelowna Rockets. Ty Halaburda (F) Hometown: Victoria, B.C. WHL Career Stats: 315 GP \u2013 105 G-140 A \u2013 245 points WHL Draft:…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":269316,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":2479,"name":"2026 WHL Graduates","slug":"2026-whl-graduates","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2479,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw","term_order":"3"},{"term_id":33,"name":"kelowna rockets","slug":"kelowna-rockets","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":166,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1114,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1195"},{"term_id":1626,"name":"Mazden Leslie","slug":"mazden-leslie","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1626,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1432"},{"term_id":1918,"name":"Shane Smith","slug":"shane-smith","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1918,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":9,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1863"},{"term_id":1782,"name":"Ty Halaburda","slug":"ty-halaburda","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1782,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw","term_order":"2014"}],"class_list":["post-269313","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-2026-whl-graduates","tag-kelowna-rockets","tag-mazden-leslie","tag-shane-smith","tag-ty-halaburda","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/08\/18165512\/2026-WHL-Graduates_Kelowna.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=269313"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269314,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269313\/revisions\/269314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/269316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=269313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=269313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=269313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":269292,"date":"2026-08-18T13:43:31","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T19:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/?p=269292"},"modified":"2026-08-18T13:43:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T19:43:31","slug":"nhl-prospect-watch-san-jose-sharks-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/article\/nhl-prospect-watch-san-jose-sharks-5","title":{"rendered":"NHL Prospect Watch: San Jose Sharks"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we\u2019re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL\u2019s criteria for rookie status.<\/em><\/p>\n

After a long seven seasons without playoff hockey in San Jose, the Sharks have laid the groundwork to become a Western Conference force in the coming years.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Luca Cagnoni<\/strong><\/p>\n

Twenty-one-year-old Luca Cagnoni’s second professional season saw the 5-foot-9, 181-pound defender take a slight step back in production, but find the tools he needs to make the NHL. Cagnoni put up 43 points (8G-35A) in 67 games, ranking fifth on the San Jose Barracuda in scoring and 10th among all AHL defencemen. Notably, 23 of those points (3G-20A) came on the man advantage. He earned three games in the NHL and looks to carve out a position for himself on special teams for the Sharks. The Burnaby, B.C. product played more than 200 games with the Portland Winterhawks, racking up 193 points (44G-149A). Cagnoni’s final season of major junior puck saw him become the first defenceman in the WHL to hit 90 points since 1993-94 (18G-72A). He picked up WHL U.S. Division First-Team All-Star honours in 2023-24 and added 13 postseason points to help the Hawks reach the 2024 WHL Championship Series. Cagnoni was selected with the 123rd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

Jake Gustafson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Six-foot-four centreman Jake Gustafson’s rookie WHL campaign saw the 18-year-old post 25 points (13G-12A) in 68 regular-season tilts in Portland, highlighted by a hat trick against the Kamloops Blazers back in November of 2025. He led all Hawks rookies in goals while finishing fourth on the team in penalty minutes (68). The San Jose, Calif. product represented Team West at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game, where he earned an assist, and suited up for four playoff tilts. Gustafson had his name called by his hometown NHL club with the 174th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

Max Heise<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another centreman boasting plenty of size, 6-foot-3, 172-pound Max Heise’s first Dub campaign was one to remember. The 20-year-old was named an alternate captain for the Prince Albert Raiders and went on to lead the team with 29 tucks in 63 games, in addition to 34 assists and a +28 rating. Despite being injured early in Game 1 of the 2026 WHL Playoffs, Heise returned to pot six points (4G-2A) in 16 games to help the Raiders reach the Final. The Calgarian also went 53.6% at the faceoff dot, ranking second on the squad with 431 faceoff wins. The Sharks’ 2025 fifth-round pick (150th overall) has one more season of junior eligibility remaining.<\/p>\n

Ryan Lin<\/strong><\/p>\n

2026 21st overall pick Ryan Lin hopes to join a new class of smaller defencemen making waves in the NHL. Despite having his season shortened by injury, the 5-foot-11, 176-pound blueliner led the Vancouver Giants with 57 points (14G-43A) in 53 games in 2025-26. He nearly tripled his goal output from his monster 53-point rookie season and was named an alternate captain for Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. Lin was named to the 2025-26 WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team and went on to suit up for Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he had the most points by a defenceman with six. Lin has played parts of three seasons in the WHL, totalling 110 points (19G-91A).<\/p>\n

Nate Misskey<\/strong><\/p>\n

Melfort, Sask.’s Nate Misskey hit the university waters in 2025-26, netting 10 points (4G-6A) in 35 games with UMass-Lowell. Previously, the 6-foot-4, 212-pound right-shot defenceman turned in parts of four seasons on the Island with the Victoria Royals, including two turns as an alternate captain. Misskey, now 21, totalled 95 points (22G-73A) in 179 games, including a 47-point (10G-37A) run in 2024-25 that also saw the Royals reach the second round of the 2025 WHL Playoffs, along with one of the newest members of the Sharks’ prospect pool.<\/p>\n

Joshua Ravensbergen<\/strong><\/p>\n

The puck stops here! Joshua Ravensbergen, 19, has made history as the first netminder in Prince George’s history to win WHL Goaltender of the Year (Hockey Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr and Kevin Eastman previously won as members of the Victoria Cougars). The 6-foot-6, 195-pound puckstopper went 32-13-0-0 with a 2.51 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and four shutouts to claim the title. Ravensbergen led all WHL netminders in wins and save percentage, tied for second in shutouts and clocked in at fourth in GAA. He was also named to the WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team. After breaking into the WHL as an undrafted free agent, Ravensbergen has surpassed 30 wins twice. Over three seasons, the North Vancouverite owns an eye-popping 91-30-4-2 record, a 2.68 GAA, a .909 save percentage and 10 shutouts. San Jose snapped him up in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft with the 30th overall pick.<\/p>\n

Colton Roberts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another sizeable defender with a right-hand shot, 6-foot-4, 209-pound Colton Roberts registered 11 points (3G-8A) in 29 outings with Colorado College in 2025-26. But he also mentored a young Ryan Lin during his Vancouver Giants tenure- and the pair were even roommates at San Jose’s recent development camp. Roberts held down the Giants blueline with 75 points (16G-59A) in 195 games over parts of four seasons. He was selected with the 131st overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n

Keaton Verhoeff<\/strong><\/p>\n

A big year saw Keaton Verhoeff get called in the top 10, take on new roles at the international level and give a new league a spin. After collecting 20 points (6G-14A) with the University of North Dakota, the Victoria Royals alum wore the ‘C’ for Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, where he logged four helpers. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. product also had four assists at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship en route to a bronze medal. The 2025 WHL Rookie of the Year finalist was with the Royals for parts of two seasons, highlighted by a 21-goal, 45-point campaign in 2024-25. He was one of the highest-drafted defencemen in 2026 as the ninth overall pick.<\/p>\n

Carson Wetsch<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s on to the professional ranks for Kelowna Rockets captain Carson Wetsch! The 20-year-old enjoyed one of his strongest WHL seasons with a 72-point (22G-50A) season in the Okanagan. Wetsch has surpassed the 20-goal mark for three straight seasons and ranked second on the Rockets in points. Wetsch, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound winger, also logged seven games with three or more points, highlighted by a one-goal, three-assist effort against the Regina Pats in December. The North Vancouver, B.C. skater added four points (2G-2A) in eight playoff games and appeared in all three matches for Kelowna at the 2026 Memorial Cup. The 2024 third-round pick (82nd overall) signed his three-year, entry-level deal with the Sharks in May and is expected to join the AHL Barracuda in 2026-27.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the lead-up to the 2026-27 hockey season, we\u2019re diving into the WHL prospect pool for every NHL team. To be included in this list, a player must be recently drafted, signed to an NHL contract, or meet the NHL\u2019s criteria for rookie status. After a long seven seasons without playoff hockey in San Jose,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":487,"featured_media":269309,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"article","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110],"tags":[{"term_id":1043,"name":"nhl prospect watch","slug":"nhl-prospect-watch","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1082,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":148,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1517"},{"term_id":1414,"name":"San Jose Sharks","slug":"san-jose-sharks","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1414,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw","term_order":"1819"}],"class_list":["post-269292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-nhl-prospect-watch","tag-san-jose-sharks","category-1110","description-off"],"acf":[],"featured_image":["https:\/\/media.chl.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/08\/18134314\/260818_Prospect-Watch-1920_SJS.png",1920,1080,false],"hide_from_app_feed":false,"video":false,"gallery":null,"ht_game_id":0,"target_video":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/487"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=269292"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269305,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269292\/revisions\/269305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/269309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=269292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=269292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chl.ca\/whl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=269292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]