It is a day many aspiring hockey players dream of. That’s right, NHL Draft day. Players who have been chasing the dream of being drafted by an NHL team, putting on that brand new jersey and hat and proudly making their way to the stage or to the grouping of tables where the ice once was. For many, today is the first day seeing their names associated with the actual NHL draft, not just being mentioned as a potential pick in a few seasons. Their hard work and determination has really begun to pay off, already being drafted or signed by a junior hockey team and playing in their league. Most will be second year players, some will be rookies. They will look to improve their draft stock throughout the season.
This year may be considered a down year for the Western Hockey League draft hopefuls. There is only one player listed as an “A” prospect. This means that NHL Central Scouting currently only has one WHL player listed as being a first round draft prospect.
| First Name | Last Name | Date of Birth | Team | Height | Weight | Position | Ranking |
| Ty | Smith | 24-Mar-00 | Spokane | 5′ 10.25″ | 176 | D | A |
Spokane Chiefs Defenseman Ty Smith is the highest rated player in the WHL this season according to NHL Central Scouting. He was the 1st overall WHL Bantam Draft pick in 2015. He played in 66 regular season games last year posting five goals and adding 27 assists. In just four games this season he has eight points, two goals and six assists. He is from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan and played his midget hockey with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Midget Hockey League. Smith was also the captain of the U17 Canada Black team and played for the U18 team as well.
Below are the remainder of the players from the WHL on the list from NHL Central Scouting.
| Last Name | First Name | Date of Birth | Team | Height | Weight | Position | Ranking |
| ADDISON | CALEN | 11-Apr-00 | Lethbridge | 5′ 9.75″ | 179 | D | B |
| ALEXEYEV | ALEXANDER | 15-Nov-99 | Red Deer | 6′ 3″ | 200 | D | B |
| BURZAN | LUKA | 7-Jan-00 | Moose Jaw | 5′ 11.75″ | 185 | C | B |
| SUTTER | RILEY | 25-Oct-99 | Everett | 6′ 3″ | 205 | RW | B |
| WOO | JETT | 27-Jul-00 | Moose Jaw | 5′ 11.75″ | 205 | D | B |
| BARTEUX | DAWSON | 12-Jan-00 | Red Deer | 6′ 0.5″ | 180 | D | C |
| DALEY | CAIDEN | 5-Feb-00 | Brandon | 6’0.5″ | 172 | C | C |
| FARREN | MICHAEL | 19-Apr-00 | Saskatoon | 5’9.75″ | 167 | RW | C |
| FOCHT | CARSON | 4-Feb-00 | Tri-City | 6’0.0″ | 178 | C | C |
| GRICIUS | JAKE | 13-Oct-99 | Portland | 6’3.0″ | 187 | C | C |
| HARTJE | CHASE | 17-Dec-99 | Moose Jaw | 5’11.5″ | 190 | D | C |
| JOHNSON | ISAAC | 24-Jan-99 | Tri-City | 6’2.0″ | 186 | LW | C |
| LEPPARD | JACKSON | 18-Jan-00 | Prince George | 6’1.25″ | 200 | LW | C |
| NIELSEN | TRISTEN | 23-Feb-00 | Calgary | 5’8.75″ | 180 | C | C |
| PATTERSON | MAX | 27-Dec-99 | Swift Current | 6’5.25″ | 209 | RW | C |
| PECKFORD | RYAN | 4-Mar-99 | Victoria | 6’0.5″ | 191 | LW | C |
| POPOWICH | TYLER | 29-Apr-00 | Vancouver | 6’4.25″ | 197 | C | C |
| REINHARDT | COLE | 1-Feb-00 | Brandon | 6’0.5″ | 203 | LW | C |
| ROMAN | MILOS | 6-Nov-99 | Vancouver | 5’11.75″ | 188 | C | C |
| SCOTT | TODD | 23-May-00 | Vancouver | 6’0.5″ | 203 | G | C |
| STOTTS | RILEY | 5-Jan-00 | Swift Current | 5’11.5″ | 168 | C | C |
| WOUTERS | CHASE | 8-Feb-00 | Saskatoon | 5’11.5″ | 177 | C | C |
| ZABRANSKY | LIBOR | 26-May-00 | Kelowna | 6’0.75″ | 190 | D | C |
| ZAMULA | YEGOR | 30-Mar-00 | Regina | 6’2.5″ | 160 | D | C |
| ZAZULA | LUKE | 18-May-00 | Kamloops | 5’7.75″ | 169 | D | C |
| ZUMMACK | ELI | 22-Mar-00 | Spokane | 5’9.0″ | 177 | C | C |
Stay tuned as DUBNetwork will be working to bring you prospect interviews from all the players above, as well as some other up and coming WHL players who you may not see on this list currently but may be able to work their way into hearing their name called on draft day.
