Brandon Wheat Kings

Off-season outlook: Brandon Wheat Kings

We continue on with our ongoing series as we start the long road to the 2019-20 WHL season. We will be going in the order that teams were eliminated from contention. Keep in mind that the roster guesses vary because of information made available to us. We did our very best to capture all of the signings, but could be missing some.

2018-19 WHL Season: This past season was an extremely disappointing one for the Brandon Wheat Kings. They were expected to be right up there with the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades in the East Division. Instead they struggled and were knocked out of playoff contention over the last weekend of the regular season.

Stelio Mattheos  (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze)

Their poor season has to be putting some pressure on head coach David Anning. That could be the same for general manager Grant Armstrong after the reported deal that would have brought in a lot of picks and prospects for Stelio Mattheos fell through. Mattheos is not likely to return as an NHL-signed overage player.

He has a great season though as a 19-year-old, piling up 96 points in 65 games. Luka Burzan also broke out with 78 points. Braden Schneider looked great in his second season on the blue line and 16-year-old rookie Ridly Greig had some strong moments that seem to point to him being the next dynamic Wheat Kings star forward.

In net, import Jiri Patera came in and solidified things there, sharing the net with Ethan Kruger.

Even without Mattheos, with the right moves, this team on paper looks like it should vault back into the playoffs.

2019 WHL Bantam Draft: Trading away Tanner Kaspick and Kale Clague at the 2018 trade deadline has lined them up with two more first round picks come May 2nd. They will select seventh overall, 12th and 16th. That should be quite the trio of players from the 2004 age group.

They also have Winnipeg’s third round selection but moved their second round pick to Vancouver.

Signed Players (29):

Forwards (16):

Braden Schneider (photo-Andy Devlin/Edmonton Oil Kings)

1999 – Stelio Mattheos, Baron Thompson, Connor Gutenberg

2000 – Luka Burzan, Lynden McCallum, Cole Reinhardt, Caiden Daley, Markus Sekundiak

2001 – Ben McCartney, Jonny Hooker

2002 – Ty Thorpe, Bode Hagan*, Nolan Ritchie*, Ridly Greig

2003 – Jake Chiasson*, Brett Hyland*

Defensemen (10):

1999 – Zach Wytinck,

2000 –

2001 – Jonny Lambos, Neithan Salame, Chad Nychuk, Braden Schneider

2002 – Jack Zayat, Vincent Iorio

2003 – Jacob Hoffrogge, Logan Hammett

Goalies (3):

1999 – Jiri Patera

2000 –

2001 – Ethan Kruger

2002 – Connor Ungar*

2003 –

*=Did not play 10 games in the WHL in 2018-19.

Overage Shuffle: Forward Connor Gutenberg, who had 47 points and defenseman Zach Wytinck who put up 43 points appear to be the most likely overage candidates. Baron Thompson struggled and only had 17 points in 65 games, though he did provide them with a big net-front presence. If Patera goes pro, then Thompson’s path to a spot with the Wheat Kings is much easier.

Jiri Patera (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Going Pro: While he is eligible to come back for the 2019-20 season, Mattheos signing with the Carolina Hurricanes essentially ended his WHL career. He is eligible to play in the AHL next season and that is likely what will happen. Patera, who is a sixth round pick by the Vegas Golden Knights is currently with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, though he has not played in a game. He could be signed to an ECHL deal as well. I do not think the Wheat Kings are expecting him to come back.

Aged Out: Forward Linden McCorrister and defenseman Braydyn Chizen have moved on.

Import Issues?: So with Patera not likely back, the Wheat Kings could be drafting twice in the CHL Import Draft. Last year they took Erik Brannstrom, who never came in and instead played in the AHL.

NHL Draft: Ben McCartney (117th NA skater) and Burzan were the only Wheat Kings listed on the latest NHL Central Scouting rankings. Schneider would have been a high pick, but has a late birthday and so is not eligible until the 2020 NHL Draft.