Regina Pats’ Draft Overview
–Yea, I know there has been a huge gap between this and the previous one. I was busy with the NHL Draft okay? I’m sorry!! Anyways, these will be back on schedule from now on, starting where we left on… with the Regina Pats. They had an eventful draft, took some shots on a few guys. They drafted player we were high on from day one and made the most of their picks for a team that didn’t choose until the third round. A real offensively laden draft class. Only three of the 10 pick weren’t forwards. They also took a few Americans; something that we like. A real risky situation that could turn out well for them in the future.
Top selection
–Ty Smilanic (51st Overall) – By far the most elite offensive American talent in the WHL Draft. Smilanic has good size, quickness in his feet, and the ability to create offense. He played a year above this past season and produced well posting 30 points in 32 games. He has also recently committed to the University of Denver, which makes him such a risky pick as he probably won’t play in the WHL.
Other Notable Selections
–Cole Dubinsky (79th Overall) – An OHA Edmonton offensive catalyst who plays a strong play-making role. He isn’t the biggest kid but can get under the other team’s skin, and put the puck in the net. Good vision from the perimeter. We really like his upside and think he will be a serviceable depth scoring option who has the ability to create offense.
-Aiden Bangs (177th Overall) – Aiden Bangs is coming off of a solid developmental season, where he really improved his power and quickness. Bangs is a dynamic power forward who loves to put the puck on net. He is also slippery along the perimeter and highly competitive. We felt this was a solid pick for a future depth forward. We see his play adapting well Junior hockey and being an effective player on the fore-check.
-Carter Savoie (198th Overall) – A well rounded two-way forward who I personally was high on all season long. He has some real solid offensive tools: the ability to get shots off from a distance and a hard working personality on the ice. He supports the play well in all three zones and really improved his defensive play and skating this past season. We felt that he would have gone earlier in the draft, but this way a great pick by Regina as he really has middle-six potential in the WHL one day.
Conclusion
-In conclusion, we felt that Regina made some real strong picks. They were really limited on who they might get but they took a risk on a few of those picks but in the later rounds made some good decisions, adding some good pieces. I don’t believe they got that player who everyone will be hugely impressed with this year unless they somehow get Smilanic to come. I would have liked to see them move up to the early second as there were some solid players around that part. Nonetheless, Regina added some depth pieces and guys who should wear that Pats jersey someday.
