The Winnipeg to Brandon pipeline is still strong even post-Nolan Patrick. The latest Winnipeg native to be taken with a high WHL Bantam Draft pick by the Brandon Wheat Kings was 2000-born Caiden Daley.
The six-foot, 170 pound forward joined Patrick and Stelio Mattheos on the list of first round bantam picks Brandon has used on prospects a little more than two hours to the east.
With Patrick going on to be drafted first overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2016 and Mattheos being selected 73rd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2017, Daley is in good company.
Daley was well aware of Patrick and enjoyed playing with him when he came up for five games as a 15-year-old during Brandon’s 2015-16 WHL-title winning season.
“I knew of him a lot in Winnipeg, just hearing who he was and how good he was. I watched him play a lot and he was a pretty special player. Getting the chance to play with him and watching him was pretty neat and really helped me,” Daley said.
Brandon was far enough away from Daley, that he did not know too much about the storied franchise.
“I didn’t really know a lot about the WHL until my draft year and then I started to clue in and learn about the WHL. I tried to learn about Brandon because it was really close to home. I just knew that they were a great organization and I really lucked out coming here.”
Once he looked into the Wheat Kings, it became clear pretty quickly to Daley that he was in good hands.
“They are a great and prestigious organization. Probably one of the best in the league, I’d say. The history and success has really come out of this organization and we are going to try to keep building on it.”
Daley had three assists in his five-game stint as a 15-year-old, but that production came from him not trying to do too much. “I just tried to keep it simple. It’s a fast game with big bodies and good players. If you just try to keep it simple and stick to the game plan and play together as a team, you can be successful.”
With so many players departing the defending champions during Daley’s 16-year-old season, he had the opportunity to play in 60 regular season games and four playoff games.
“It gave me a little bit of exposure and showed me the ropes. The guys really helped me out. They tried to tell me to just play my game and don’t do too much. I think when I was up as a 15 it helped me develop my game and I continue to do that to develop even today.”
Despite Daley potting two goals and adding eight assists for 10 points in that time, Daley still knew there was a lot he needed to work on this last summer.
“I just tried to get faster and stronger. It’s a speed game now and everyone can skate so you just have to try to keep the speed up and keep pace and try to get stronger. I work on every area of the ice, try to get better in the d-zone and o-zone.”
In 52 games so far this year, Daley has five goals and four assists for nine points. He had a rough start to the season, but has progressed as the season has gone on.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better as the year has gone on. I had a tough start with my injury but building and getting more confidence back and working hard has really helped myself. I’m just trying to keep getting better.”
A lot of those 52 games have been against some of the best players in the league as the East Division has five of the best six records in the Eastern Conference.
“Every time we are playing those guys, they are big rivals so they are great games. Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Regina, you have to be at your best because those are great teams. If you are not, you will be exposed. Every time you hear those guys or anyone else come up, you have to be ready. This is a tough league.”
Daley has a ways to go before he’s considered in the same NHL draft prospect class as Mattheos and Patrick, but he’s in a great spot to continue improving and be another Winnipeg native playing in Brandon, to hear his name called by an NHL team at the draft.
