Two years ago I took a long look at the history of WHL players being selected in the NHL Draft. Since then there have been two drafts, so I figured it was time to take another look at how each team has fared with their players being selected by NHL teams.
Again, I just stuck with the franchise under their current name and in their current home.
While they had no players selected in 2018, the Portland Winterhawks remain the WHL team with the most players taken in the NHL draft. This was helped in 2017 when four players were taken. Cody Glass and Henri Jokiharju both going in the first round that year also helped them maintain their lead in most players taken in the first round.
Here is the top five for each of the categories I looked at:
Most NHL-drafted players:
1) Portland Winterhawks 137
2) Saskatoon Blades 127
3T) Brandon Wheat Kings 128
3T) Regina Pats 128
5) Medicine Hat Tigers 116
Most first round picked players:
1) Portland 29
-Extended their lead by two more in 2017.
2) Regina 24
3) Medicine Hat 23
4) Brandon 19
5T) Prince Albert 16
5T) Saskatoon 16
-Kirby Dach is expected to be a high first-round pick and Brett Leason is being projected as a late first round or early second round pick. Dach going in the first round and Leason not going would mean the Blades stand alone in fifth on this list.
Consecutive seasons with a player drafted:
1) Saskatoon 30
2) Red Deer 26 (current)
-The longest current streak and second longest in WHL history is in danger of ending unless the Rebels have a player drafted. Oleg Zaytsev and Ethan Anders are a couple of possibilities as both were ranked on the final list by NHL Central Scouting.
3) Portland 24
4T) Kamloops 23
4T) Prince Albert 23
4T) Swift Current 23
Brandon Wheat Kings (1967)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 128
-First-round picks: 19
-Ron Chipperfield (1974-17th overall), Rick Blight (1975-10th), Bill Derlago (1978-fourth), Ray Allison (1979-18th), Brad McCrimmon (1979-15th), Brian Propp (1979-14th), Laurie Boschman (1979-ninth), Steve Patrick (1980-20th), Kevin Cheveldayoff (1988-16th), Trevor Kidd (1990-11th), Chris Dingman (1994-19th), Wade Redden (1995-second), Stefan Cherneski (1997-19th), Eric Fehr (2003-18th), Scott Glennie (2009-eighth), Brayden Schenn (2009-fifth), Ryan Pulock (2013-15th), Ivan Provorov (2015-seventh), Nolan Patrick (2017-second).
-longest consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 13 (2005-2017).
Calgary Hitmen (1995)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 57
-First-round picks: 11
-Kris Beech (1999-seventh), Pavel Brendl (1999-fourth), Brent Krahn (2000-ninth), Ryan Getzlaf (2003-19th), Andy Rogers (2004-30th), Jeff Schultz (2004-27th), Andrew Ladd (2004-fourth), Alex Plante (2007-15th), Karl Alzner (2007-fifth), Jake Virtanen (2014-sixth), Jake Bean (2016-16th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 13 (1998-2010).
Edmonton Oil Kings (2005)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 17
-First-round picks: four.
-Mark Pysyk (2010-23rd), Henrik Samuelsson (2012-27h), Griffin Reinhart (2012-fourth), Curtis Lazar (2013-fourth).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: six (2009-14).
Everett Silvertips (2003)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 22
-First-round picks: seven.
-Leland Irving (2006-26th), Peter Mueller (2006-eighth), Zach Hamill (2007-eighth), Kyle Beach (2008-11th), Ryan Murray (2012-second), Mirco Mueller (2013-18th), Noah Juulsen (2015-26th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: five (2006-10).
Kamloops Blazers (1981)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 94
-First-round picks: 13
-Ryan Stewart (1985-18th), Dave Chyzowski (1989-second), Darryl Sydor (1990-seventh), Scott Niedermeyer (1991-third), David Wilkie (1992-20th), Nolan Baumgartner (1994-10th), Jarome Iginla (1995-11th), Shane Doan (1995-seventh), Robyn Regehr (1998-19th), Shaone Morrisonn (2001-19th), Scottie Upshall (2002-sixth), Devan Dubnyk (2004-14th), Keaton Ellerby (2007-10th).
-Consecutive season with a player drafted: 23 (1985-2007).
Kelowna Rockets (1995)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 55
-First-round picks: seven.
-Scott Hannan (1997-23rd), Scott Parker (1998-20th), Tyler Myers (2008-12th), Luke Schenn (2008-fifth), Nick Merkley (2015-30th), Lucas Johansen (2016-28th), Cal Foote (2017-14th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 11 (2007-2017).
Kootenay (now Winnipeg) ICE (1998)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 28
-First-round picks: three.
-Steve McCarthy (1999-23rd), Dan Blackburn (2001-tenth), Sam Reinhart (2014-second).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: nine (1999-2007).
Lethbridge Hurricanes (1987)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 58
-First-round picks: five
-Mark Greig (1990-15th), Brent Seabrook (2003-14th), Luca Sbisa (2008-19th), Zach Boychuk (2008-14th), Carter Ashton (2009-29th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 10 (1989-1998).
Medicine Hat Tigers (1970)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 116
-First-round picks: 23
-Lanny McDonald (1973-fourth), Tom Lysiak (1973-second), Greg Vaydik (1975-seventh), Bryan Maxwell (1975-fourth), Barry Dean (1975-second), Dan Murdoch (1976-sixth), Murray Craven (1982-17th), Mark Pederson (1986-15th), Neil Brady (1986-third), Dean Chynoweth (1987-13th), Wayne McBean (1987-fourth), Trevor Linden (1988-second), Jason Miller (1989-18th), David Cooper (1992-11th), Mike Rathje (1992-third), Rob Niedermeyer (1993-fifth), Johnathan Aitken (1996-eighth), Joffrey Lupul (2002-seventh), Jay Bouwmeester (2002-third), Cam Barker (2004-third), Tyler Ennis (2008-26th), Emerson Etem (2010-29th), Hunter Shinkaruk (2013-24th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 20 (1980-1999).
Moose Jaw Warriors (1984)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 74
-First-round picks: nine
-Ryan Smyth (1994-sixth), Matt Higgins (1996-18th), Jamie Lundmark (1999-ninth), Brian Suherby (2000-26th), Kenndal McArdle (2005-20th), Quinton Howden (2010-25th), Dylan McIlrath (2010-10th), Morgan Rielly (2012-fifth), Brett Howden (2016-27th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 20 (1989-2008).
Portland Winterhawks (1976)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 137
-First-round picks: 29
-Larry Playfair (1978-13th), Brent Peterson (1978-12th), Wayne Babych (1978-third), Keith Brown (1979-seventh), Perry Turnbull (1979-second), Dave Babych (1979-second), Jim Benning (1981-sixth), Jim Playfair (1982-20th), Ken Yaremchuk (1982-seventh), Gary Nylund (1982-third), Alfie Turcotte (1983-17th), Cam Neely (1983-ninth), Dan Woodley (1986-seventh), Dave Archibald (1987-sixth), Glen Wesley (1987-third), Adam Deadmarsh (1993-14th), Jason Wiemer (1994-eighth), Brenden Morrow (1997-25th), Marcel Hossa (2000-16th), Jakub Klepis (2002-16th), Braydon Coburn (2003-eighth), Nino Niederreiter (2010-fifth), Ryan Johansen (2010-fourth), Joe Morrow (2011-23rd), Sven Baertschi (2011-13th), Derrick Pouliot (2012-eighth), Seth Jones (2013-fourth), Cody Glasss (2017-sixth), Henri Jokiharju (2017-29th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 24 (1977-2000).
Prince Albert Raiders (1971)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 88
-First-round picks: 16
-Dave Pasin (1984-19th), Dave Manson (1985-11th), Kim Issel (1986-21st), Pay Elynuik (1987-eighth), Mike Modano (1988-first), Scott Allison (1990-17th), Dean McAmmond (1991-22nd), Denis Pederson (1993-13th), Brad Church (1995-17th), Steve Kelly (1995-sixth), Chris Phillips (1996-first), Scott Hartnell (2000-sixth), Kyle Chipchura (2004-18th), Mark McNeil (2011-18th), Josh Morrissey (2013-13th), Leon Draisaitl (2014-third).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 23 (1983-2005).
Prince George Cougars (1994)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 37
-First-round picks: three
-Eric Brewer (1997-fifth), Dan Hamhuis (2001-12th), Brett Connolly (2010-sixth).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: five (twice).
Red Deer Rebels (1992)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 62
-First-round picks: 13
-Jesse Wallin (1996-26th), Lance Ward (1996-10th), Mike Brown (1997-20th), Jeff Woywitka (2001-27th), Colby Armstrong (2001-21st), Cam Ward (2002-25th), Boyd Gordon (2002-17th), Dion Phaneuf (2003-ninth), Brandon Sutter (2007-11th), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011-first), Mathew Dumba (2012-seventh), Haydn Fleury (2014-seventh), Alexander Alexeyev (2018-31st).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 26 (1993-present).
Regina Pats (1966)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 128
-First-round picks: 24
-Larry Wright(1971-eighth), Clark Gillies (1974-fourth), Greg Joly (1974-first), Mike Blaisdell (1980-11th), Darren Veitch (1980-fifth), Doug Wickenheiser (1980-first), Garth Butcher (1981-10th), Nevin Markwart (1983-21st), Selmar Odelein (1984-21st), Brent Fedyk (1985-eighth), Jamie Heward (1989-16th), Kevin Haller (1989-14th), Mike Sillinger (1989-11th), Jason Smith (1992-18th), Jeff Frisen (1994-11th), Derek Morris (1996-13th), Josh Holden (1996-12th), Brad Stuart (1998-third), Barret Jackman (1999-17th), Nick Ross (2007-30th), Jordan Eberle (2008-22nd), Colton Teubert (2008-13th), Morgan Klimchuk (2013-28th), Sam Steel (2016-30th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 10 (three times).
Saskatoon Blades (1966)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 127
-First-round picks: 16
-Ralph Klassen (1975-third), Bernie Federko (1976-seventh), Fred Williams (1976-fourth), Blair Chapman (1976-second), Duncan MacPherson (1984-20th), Wendel Clark (1985-first), Curtis Leschyshyn (1988-third), Scott Scissons (1990-sixth), Richard Matvichuk (1991-eighth), Wade Belak (1994-12th), Adrian Foster (2001-28th), Mike Green (2004-29th), Devin Setoguchi (2005-eighth), Colton Gillies (2007-16th), Duncan Siemens (2011-11th), Nikita Scherbak (2014-26th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 30 (1972-2001).
Seattle Thunderbirds (1985)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 84
-First-round picks: 12
-Chris Joseph (1987-fifth), Lindsay Vallis (1989-13th), Turner Stevenson (1990-12th), Petr Nedved (1990-second), Brent Bilodeau (1991-17th), Brendan Witt (1993-11th), Chris Wells (1994-24th), Patrick Marleau (1997-second), Scott Kelman (1999-15th), Oleg Saprykin (1999-11th), Thomas Hickey (2007-fourth), Shea Theodore (2013-26th), Mathew Barzal (2015-16th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 22 (1987-2008).
Spokane Chiefs (1985)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 74
-First-round picks: seven
-Pat Falloon (1991-second), Ty Jones (1997-16th), Brad Ference (1997-10th), Michael Grabner (2006-14th), Jared Cowen (2009-ninth), Kailer Yamamoto (2017-22nd), Ty Smith (2018-17th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 16 (1987-2002)
Swift Current Broncos (1986)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 70
-First-round picks: six
-Peter Soberlak (1987-21st), Joe Sakic (1987-15th), Tyler Wright (1991-12th), Nathan Smith (2000-23rd), Julius Honka (2014-14th), Jake DeBrusk (2015-14th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 23 (1987-2009).
Tri-City Americans (1988)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 63
-First-round picks: 14
-Olaf Kolzig (1989-19th), Stu Barnes (1989-fourth), Jason Bowen (1992-15th), Brian Boucher (1995-22nd), Terry Ryan (1995-eighth), Daymond Langkow (1995-fifth), Jaroslav Svejkovsky (1996-17th), Dan Focht (1996-11th), Scott Gomez (1998-27th), Shawn Belle (2003-30th), Carey Price (2005-fifth), Chet Pickard (2008-18th), Michael Rasmussen (2017-ninth), Juuso Valimaki (2017-16th).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 17 (1989-2005).
Vancouver Giants (2001)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 30
-First-round picks: four
-Mark Fistric (2004-28th), Gilbert Brule (2005-sixth), Jonathon Blum (2007-23rd), Evander Kane (2009-fourth).
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: 15 (2002-2016).
Victoria Royals (2011)
-Total drafted to the NHL: 10
-First-round picks: none
-Consecutive seasons with a player drafted: six (2012-2017).
