Brian Liesse

Updated: 8 WHL players taken at 2019 NHL Draft remain unsigned

With just days remaining until they need to be signed, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the eight players who have been NHL drafted but have yet to sign with their respective clubs. The 2020-21 season has been a mess due to COVID-19 and some WHL divisions have yet to Return To Play.

RW Henry Rybinski –  Seattle Thunderbirds

Drafted Florida Panthers 5th round, 136th overall, Medicine Hat Tigers 2nd round 34th overall, 2016

Recently named assistant captain, Rybinski will be looking to improve on his 31 points in 53 games (.585pts/gm) in the 2019-20 season. The Seattle Thunderbirds acquired Rybinski on January 4, 2019, in exchange for Aidan Brook, a 2019 2nd round pick, and a 2020 3rd round pick. Rybinski posted seven goals and 21 assists in 23 games with the Thunderbirds in 2020-21.

“Didn’t show much growth in his third WHL season, whether he can improve or not, may not matter as I feel the Panthers will move on from the Vancouver native.” – Ashley Glover DUBNetwork Scouting

Henry Rybinski (photo-Brian Liesse)

RW Sasha Mutala –  Tri-City Americans

Drafted Colorado Avalanche 5th round, 140th overall, Tri-City Americans 1st round 6th overall, 2016

Mutala gained himself four games of professional experience after signing a tryout agreement with the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on January 16, 2021. He earned himself an assist in his third AHL contest. Mutala had six goals and 14 assists in 19 games with the Americans in 2020-21. Mutala signed with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies, an affiliate of the Eagles on May 23rd, and has since scored three goals in four games.

“Proved he can hang with AHLers during the WHL pause. The Avs are very intrigued by his mature style of play and view him as a possible depth piece and key contributor at the AHL level with the Eagles as he continues to develop” – Ashley Glover DUBNetwork Scouting

Sasha Mutala (Photo by Christopher Mast/Everett Silvertips)

G Roddy Ross –  Regina Pats

Drafted Philadelphia Flyers 6th round, 169th overall, undrafted to the WHL, signed by Seattle Thunderbirds, 2019

Ross came on the WHL scene as an absolute unknown after signing with Seattle on January 1, 2019. The Seattle Thunderbirds were able to clinch a playoff spot in the 2018-19 season thanks to Ross’s stellar 16-5-3 record, a 2.76 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage. 2019-20 was another story as the team took a step back in the COVID-shortened season. This led the Thunderbirds to trade Ross and a 2020 eighth-round pick to the Regina Pats on April 22, 2020, for a second-round pick in 2020, a fourth-round pick in 2022, and a conditional second-round pick in 2024. In 2020-21, Ross had a 6-8-2 record with a 3.75 GAA and .874 sv%.

“Hasn’t set the world on fire with Regina this season. The Flyers have a decent little log jam of promising netminders in the stables, not sure I see a fit for Roddy.” – Ashley Glover DUBNetwork Scouting

Roddy Ross – Keith Hershmiller/WHL.

Luka Burzan –  Colorado Eagles C/RW

Drafted Colorado Avalanche 6th round 171st overall, Moose Jaw Warriors 1st round 6th overall, 2015

Burzan spent the first season and a half with the Moose Jaw Warriors before being sent to the Brandon Wheat Kings along with Chase Hartje, a first-round pick in 2019, a first-round pick in 2021, and a second-round pick in 2018 for Kale Clague. Burzan then played 161 games for the Wheat Kings, piling up 84 goals and 77 assists. This season, Burzan played in 14 games, scoring three goals and adding an assist, with the Colorado Eagles as a player in his 20-year-old season.

“Another guy who the Avs hope can impact at the AHL level with his Dub career done. A five-game stint this season would suggest they have some plans for him and I don’t think they will roll the dice on him being snapped up elsewhere.” – Ashley Glover DUBNetwork Scouting

Luka Burzan – Photo: Colorado Eagles

Quinn Schmiemann –  Kamloops Blazers D

Drafted Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round, 182nd overall, Kamloops Blazers 3rd round, 59th overall, 2016

19-year-old Schmiemann has played two full seasons with the blue and orange, racking up 65 points in 118 games. Scmiemann has yet to step on the ice this season, as the Blazers are part of the last group of teams to take part in the 24-game WHL season. Was tops among defensemen on the Blazers in +/- at +25. Wore an ‘A’ with the Blazers as he scored two goals and added 15 assists in 22 games in 2020-21.

“The Bolts do have some age on their back end expiring at the lower levels. They have a nice blend of youth, however. They do seem to have a fair amount of like-type guys that fit the bill of Schmiemann. Much will depend on their willingness to bring back some vets or perhaps aim to get a tad younger.” – Ashley Glover DUBNetwork Scouting

Quinn Schmiemann-Caedan Bankier. Photo by Allen Douglas/Kamloops Blazers.

Cole Moberg – Rockford IceHogs D

Drafted Chicago Blackhawks 7th round, 194th overall, undrafted to the WHL, signed by the Prince George Cougars, 2016

Moberg spent three full seasons plus a four-game stint with the Prince George Cougars after signing with the team on August 29, 2016. Moberg headed to Rockford for his overage season after signing an amateur tryout with the Icehogs on January 20, 2021. Moberg collected 29 goals and 60 assists over 187 career WHL games. For his final two seasons, Moberg was the team’s highest-scoring defenseman. While with the IceHogs in 2020-21, Moberg had one goal and four assists in 22 contests.

“Just seems to be a guy peaking at the right time. Liked his stint in Rockford this season. I think he’s a player they can see is a good depth piece for the organization. He’s big, skilled, and can produce points; I like him.” – Ashley Glover DUBNetwork Scouting

Cole Moberg (James Doyle)

Matthew Wedman – Greenville Swamp Rabbits C

Drafted Florida Panthers 7th round, 199th overall, Seattle Thunderbirds 2nd round 38th overall in 2014

Had a five-season career with the Thunderbirds until he was dealt to the Kelowna Rockets on December 12th, 2019. With 310 WHL games, Wedman has the most experience at the junior level of all the players remaining to be signed by the team that drafted them. He scored 92 goals and added 119 assists in his career, with 17 goals and 19 assists coming in his 35 games with the Rockets. Since joining the Swamp Rabbits this season, Wedman had four goals and four assists in 31 games.

“Wedman is a big strong kid who will always play with a physical edge. He’s athletic and has good puck skills, he’s just yet to capture the ability process at the next level and is still working on deficits within his game.” – Ashley Glover DUBNetwork Scouting

Matthew Wedman tussles with Macoy Erkamps – Photo: Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Lukas Parik – HC Benatky nad Jizerou / Dubuque Fighting Saints G

Drafted Los Angeles Kings 3rd round 87th overall, Spokane Chiefs 43rd overall 2019 CHL Import Draft

Parik is in a different situation than his draft brothers as he was selected by the Kings while a member of the Bili Tygri Liberec U19 squad in his home country of the Czech Republic. Because of the agreement signed between the national team/league in the Czech Republic and the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings have until June 1, 2023, to sign Parik. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Parik was loaned to Bili Tygri Liberec U20 as well as HC Benatky nad Jizerou. His record with those two teams this season is 6-5-0 in 11 games. Parik has since joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints (28GP, 15-8-4, 3.35GAA, .867sv%) of the USHL.

Sean Tshigerl and Lukas Parik – Photo By: Candice Ward