The Victoria Royals had to be disappointed in their second round exit in the 2018 playoffs. They were a veteran team that boasted seven NHL-drafted players. Injuries played a role though as the Royals were chewed up and spit out by the Tri-City Americans in a four-game sweep.
Tyler Soy played just one game in the playoffs and Tanner Kaspick was in just two. Losing those two centers may have played a big role in them being exposed by Tri-City center Morgan Geekie and co. in the second round.
The Royals will now face life without franchise scoring leader Soy (aged out) and Kaspick (overage signed by St. Louis) in 2018-19. The biggest loss though may just be dynamic winger Matthew Phillips. The diminutive speedster overcame his lack of height to wreck havoc on the WHL in his three seasons. Phillips piled up 281 points in 215 games with 112 in his 19-year-old year last season. He will not be back as he is signed by the Calgary Flames and can play in the AHL.
Noah Gregor also signed a deal with San Jose and will likely play in the AHL as a 20-year-old. Chaz Reddekopp and Kade Jensen aged out and will not return to the Royals blue line.
So four of the top-five scorers from the 2017-18 Royals will not be back. That is not where the losses stopped though. The Royals carried 10 players born in 1998 during the playoffs last year. Gregor, Kaspick and Phillips turning pro left them with seven players for only three overage spots.
They made a deal around the Bantam Draft by moving Jared Freadrich – their highest scoring blue liner in the playoffs, but that still leaves them with six. While Lane Zablocki was drafted by Detroit last year, it does not appear he will be signed by them yet.
The choices come down to Zablocki, Dante Hannoun, Jeff de Wit, Braydon Buziak, Ralph Jarratt and netminder Griffen Outhouse.
It would seem that Hannoun – the lone returning leading scorer of the top-five – would be welcomed back, as would Outhouse who has played 150 regular season and 20 playoff games for them in net. The Royals also seem to like having a veteran shutdown blue liner and Jarratt would fit that mold.
The trade value of Zablocki, de Wit and Buziak is intriguing to me. Zablocki has been moved four times now since August of 2015. He was part of the move Prince George made for Jesse Gabrielle nearly four years ago and originally came up with the Cougars. The Royals gave up three picks to Lethbridge for Zablocki and he had just six points in 25 regular season games. He then had three points in an increased role in the playoffs.
De Wit has been moved three times in his career in the WHL, but the Royals only gave up a sixth round pick for him. Buziak was brought in along with a late draft pick for Jared Legien.
Keep in mind though that the Royals are trying to host the Memorial Cup in 2020 and if they can get some 2000-born players in exchange for Hannoun, Outhouse or Jarratt, that may change who among the overage players they keep. Hannoun would seem to have the highest value as a play-making forward who has 212 points in 258 games and can play in any team’s top-six.
| LW | Center | RW |
| Igor Martynov (99)# | Dante Hannoun (98)^ | Lane Zablocki (98)^ |
| Tarun Fizer (01) | Jeff de Wit (98)^ | Andrei Grishakov (99)# |
| Braydon Buziak (98)^ | Kaid Oliver (00) | Dino Kambeitz (00) |
| D-Jay Jerome (99) | Ty Yoder (02) | Tyus Gent (01) |
| Alex Bolshakov (02)* |
-Subtract three overage forwards and they have just 10 forwards signed to standard player agreements. They need to bring in some forwards to this group that can play in 2018-19.
They have two solid 2000-born players to build that Memorial Cup bid around in Oliver and Kambeitz. Both showed moments of strong play-making ability and Victoria will need them to make huge statistical jumps this coming year.
Victoria has two solid imports in Martynov and Grishakov. Both hit around 40 points in 2017-18 and seem primed for a 20-plus point improvement on that, especially if they find the right chemistry. If the Royals are in a non-wildcard playoff spot come trade deadline time, the emergence of these two imports will likely be one of the reasons.
Gent and Fizer should continue to improve with increased roles. Yoder and Bolhakov also should get every chance to play in their 16-year-old seasons with so many bodies leaving and the talent they have shown off at lower levels.
Jerome had zero points in 13 regular season games with Victoria and one assist in the playoffs. Now with an opportunity to play regularly in the top-nine we will see if he can make the most of his chance.
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
| Ralph Jarratt (98)^ | Scott Walford (99) |
| Matthew Smith (00) | Mitchell Prowse (00) |
| Remy Aquilon (01) | Kaden Reinders (02) |
| Noah Lamb (02)* | Nolan Bentham (03)* |
-The three losses in the top-four will hurt but there is a lot to like in this group. Jarratt is a big-body who will do his best to keep the ice in front of Outhouse clear. Walford is a strong puck-mover who was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. He will be trying hard to earn an NHL contract. I would look for him to take on the role of running the power play. Last year they went with five forwards on the top unit and Freadrich running the second team.
Smith had some strong moments in 2017-18 and him and Prowse should round out that top-four. Aquillon and Reinders combined for 10 games played in 2017-18 and Lamb is a full rookie. We don’t quite know what to expect from those three but if their inclusion in the top-seven here means that the Royals will be pretty young on the blue line.
| Goalie |
| Griffen Outhouse (98)^ |
| Dean McNabb (00) |
| Brock Gould (01)* |
| Joel Gzybowski (99) |
-Outhouse put together another 0.914-plus save percentage and was leaned on for 60 games. That is surprisingly less than the previous year when he played in 63 games. His GAA jumped up to 3.08 but his save percentage stayed stagnant. Outhouse has gotten some interest at NHL development camps, but his size is likely a big reason he has not signed anywhere. A huge overage year might change that and get him a deal. Portland’s Cole Kehler played himself into a contract at the start of last year and Outhouse may follow that path.
One thing head coach Dan Price employed last year was pulling Outhouse late in games Victoria was winning and inserting McNabb. This was done to conserve the veteran goalie. His poor playoff showing (4.02 GAA and 0.885 save percentage) is a possible sign that he still wore down.
McNabb has to be clamoring for more playing time in 2018-19 after spending so much time riding the pine. If the Royals start the year trying to make a run, they might be served well to rest Outhouse more in his last season in the league.
Gould is the goalie of the future and could see some playing time if the Royals get a good offer for Outhouse or McNabb.
^=overage player
#=import player
*=has not played a regular season or playoff game in the WHL.
Unsigned players not committed to an NCAA school:
| Player | Birth year | Position | Acquired | 2017 Team |
| Grady Hobbs | 2000 | Forward | 2015 Draft 5th round | Dauphin (MJHL) |
| Luke Bast | 2000 | Defense | 2015 Draft 6th round | Brooks (AJHL) |
| Lach Hadley | 2000 | Forward | 2015 Draft 9th round | Victoria (BCHL) |
| Mason Kruse | 2001 | Forward | 2016 Draft 7th round | Brainerd HS (USHS) |
| Isaac Alvarado | 2001 | LW | 2016 Draft 7th round | N Island Silvertips (BCMML) |
| Shane Griffin | 2001 | Forward | 2016 Draft 8th round | Lakeville HS (USHS) |
| Mitchell Becker | 2000 | Defense | 2016 Draft 8th round | Rogers HS (USHS) |
| Dallon Melin | 2002 | Forward | 2017 Draft 2nd round | Sherwood Park Kings (AMHL) |
| Michael Benning | 2002 | Defense | 2017 Draft | N Alberta E15s (CSSHL E15) |
| Dylan Hewlett | 2002 | Forward | 2017 Draft 8th round | BWC E15s (CSSHL E15) |
| Mark Gordon | 2002 | D/F | 2017 Draft 9th round | Little Caesars U15 |
| Carter Loney | 2002 | Forward | 2017 Draft 10th round | Rink HA E15 (CSSHL E15) |
| Nathan Morgan | 2002 | Forward | 2017 Draft 11th round | N Alberta E15s (CSSHL E15) |
| Andrew Ramsey | 2002 | Defense | 2017 Draft | AZ Bobcats 16U (NAPHL 16U) |
| Hunter Strand | 2002 | Forward | Trade with PA for Regan Nagy | Alaska Oilers (ASHA) |
| Cameron McDonald | 2002 | Forward | Trade with Brandon | West Valley (BCMML) |
-Kruse was drafted by Des Moines in the USHL.
-Melin was drafted by Omaha of the USHL.
-Benning, Yoder, Lamb and Morgan’s team won the CSSHL E15. Benning had the most points by a d-man and was named the top d-man. He has signed with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL.
-Loney was drafted by the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL. He played for Team Black at the USA Select 15 camp.
-Morgan has committed to the Grande Prairie Storm of the AJHL.
