Spokane Chiefs possible U.S. Division favorites in 2018-19?

The Spokane Chiefs hit their stride at the right time during the 2017-18 season and despite having a less-than healthy Kailer Yamamoto going, they took the Portland Winterhawks to seven games in the first round.

While the Chiefs did make a bit of splash in acquiring the surprisingly available right wing Zach Fischer last year, they mostly stayed pat, with the knowledge that they would likely be returning a lot for the 2018-19 campaign.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan (photo Dayna Fjord/Portland Winterhawks)

Fischer and Hudson Elynuik aged out of the forward group, along with stalwart defenseman Tyson Helgesen. Yamamoto stuck with the Edmonton Oilers for a good portion of last year before coming back to the Chiefs. Now that the AHL is an option for the Spokane-native he will not be back.

Everyone else from a deep group in Spokane is coming back.

Seven of their top-nine scorers will be back. Up front they return the entirety of the line of Toporowski, Zummack and McGrew that gave the Winterhawks fits in the playoffs. Look for that group to continue to improve as they get used to each other more.

Anderson-Dolan led Spokane with 91 points last year and could play for Hockey Canada at the 2019 World Junior Championships. Joining him there could be possible top-10 NHL draft pick Ty Smith from the Chiefs blue line. If they do not miss time playing for their countries, those two could be near the league-lead in points for their respective positions.

Woods had a breakout year and McIndoe seems a good fit on that top line with Anderson-Dolan, but Spokane has many more options depending on development and chemistry. Fafrak will be entering his second year and his excellent shot could be a good fit there as well.

Up the middle is where the Chiefs could make some improvements via trade if they are a serious contender at the trade deadline. Finley looked good as did many other of the young players listed below but they could use a 19-year-old NHL drafted player there for a playoff run. Everyone they have signed played at least one game in 2017-18.

McKay gives them some toughness and he could add some scoring depth as well. There is lots of youth sprinkled around the bottom-six as well and if one or more of them breakout this could be one of the best groups in the league.

LW Center RW
Riley Woods (98)^ Jaret Anderson-Dolan (99) Ethan McIndoe (99)
Luke Toporowski (01) Eli Zummack (99) Jake McGrew (99)
Milos Fafrak (99)# Jack Finley (02) Riley McKay (99)
Jeff Faith (98)^ Adam Beckman (01) Cedric Chenier (00)
 Sean Gulka (00) Cordel Larson (01) Carter Chorney (01)

On the blue line, Smith had an incredible playoff run and could be one of the best defenders in the WHL this coming season. He piled up 73 points as a 17-year-old and will be entering his third season as a top-pairing blue liner with the Chiefs.

Reid was a good find for Spokane as they brought him in from Saskatoon via trade back in December of 2016. He went from one goal in 16-17 to 14 last year and should get lots of chances to improve that in 18-19.

Filip Kral (Photo by Christopher Mast/Everett Silvertips)

He should be one of a good group of overage players for Spokane along with Woods and either Faith or Hamaliuk. Faith is likely the odd-man out in my opinion as he was moved from the back end up front during the season and played mostly a bottom-six forward role.

Kral should find himself in the top-four group as he piled up 35 points in his first year playing in the WHL. That other spot is up for grabs as Leduc played more than Gallagher but the latter is right-handed and if he gets better in his own end could end up there. He looked great in the preseason last year and could work himself into a spot there.

Overall they have four d-men who have shown they can jump into the play and create scoring chances. In years past, that is something the Chiefs have not had a whole lot of. Now that they have it, they could make a run past the first round for the first time since 2013.

Left Defense Right Defense
Ty Smith (00) Nolan Reid (98)^
Filip Kral (99)# Luke Gallagher (00)
Dalton Hamaliuk (98)^ Matt Leduc (00)
Tyson Feist (01)

Goalie is where the questions are for the Chiefs. They added Brkin at the trade deadline and had him start the series with Portland. The Winterhawks got to him as the series went and that brought in Weatherill, who had a much better showing. Weatherill has shown great talent at times but has struggled with consistency. He has drawn interest from NHL scouts at different points over the past two years but injuries and uneven play seem to have quelled that for now. If the Chiefs show confidence in him to start the 2018-19 season and he actualizes that talent he has shown, they should have a good tandem with him and likely Buskey and Arnold. If he does not, they may need to make a move for a proven goalie to go with this team that seems primed to win now.

Goalie
Dawson Weatherill (99)
Bailey Brkin (99)
Donovan Buskey (00)
Campbell Arnold (02)

 

^=overage player

#=import player

*=has not played a regular season or playoff game in the WHL.

 

Unsigned players not committed to an NCAA school:

I did not include those from the 2018 Bantam draft.

Player Birth year Position Acquired 2017 Team
Connor Gabruch 2001 F Listed Saskatoon (SMHL)
Ross Hawryluk 2001 G 2016 Draft (5th round) Lloydminster (AMHL)
Kurtis Labant 2001 F 2016 Draft (8th round) Fort Sask. (AMHL)
Mike Ladyman 2001 D Listed Whitecourt (AJHL)
Aidan West 2001 D Listed St. Albert (AMHL)
Erik Atchsion 2002 D 2017 Drafted (5th round) AZ Bobcats 16U
Henrik de Klerk 2002 D 2017 Drafted (7th round) SC (SSMHL)
Mac Gross 2002 D 2017 Drafted (3rd round) SC (SMHL)
Hunter Hastings 2002 F 2017 Draft (8th round) AZ Bobcats 16U
Kurt Hoogendoorn 2002 D 2017 Draft (9th round) Van NW (BCMML)
Reed Jacobson 2002 F 2017 Draft (6th round) SC (SMHL)
Jackson Murphy-Johnson 2002 D Listed VAN NE (BCMML)
Ryan Popowich 2002 F 2017 Draft (6th round) OHA (CSSHL)
Zac Robins 2002 D 2017 Draft (4th round) MJ (SMHL)
Kayden Smith 2002 F Listed CNHA (AMMHL)
Alex Von Sprecken 2002 D 2017 Draft (6th round) Notre Dame (SMHL)

 

-Ladyman was on the all MJHL rookie team. He was originally drafted by Regina in 2016 (5th round).

Michael Rasmussen
Weatherill (photo-Doug Love)

-Popowich had 117 penalty minutes in 24 games.

-Von Sprecken played for Team Saskatchewan at the WHL Cup.

Spokane could use some blue line depth in the form of another 2001-born blue liner and a couple from 2002. Ladyman would be a big signing for them if they can get him to come as he had a stellar showing as a 16-year-old in Junior A. They have quite a few players in the Swift Current Legionnaires program and maybe if one commits, others will follow.

 

There are of course a whole lot of unknowns for all five U.S. Division teams heading into next year, but the Chiefs appear to have the fewest holes in their lineup. Even with the loss of the three key overage players and a transcendent talent in Yamamoto, they should have a whole lot coming back. Key among those returnees are two second-year imports and a high-end 2019 NHL draft prospect in Toporowski. Pair them with Anderson-Dolan and Smith and you got yourselves possibly the best roster on paper in the division and maybe in the conference.