While killing a late penalty, Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman Shea Theodore picks the puck up off a faceoff. There is room to shoot it down the ice but instead he turns on the jets and carries the puck up the boards. He hits the neutral zone at top speed, forcing Tri City defenders to desperately retreat. Theodore crosses the blue-line and leans on his blades, cutting across the zone at an impossible angle and speed.
The move mesmerizes the defenders as they watch him glide from left to right. They’re even more shocked when Theodore rips a wrist shot from the top of the circle that beats Eric Comrie by finding the top corner of the goal. It’s a back-breaking short-handed score that gives Seattle a late two-goal advantage.
It was that kind of offensive ability that led to Theodore being drafted 26th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2013 NHL Draft. At that time there was no question about his top end offensive ability and potential. He’s put up impressive numbers and will end his junior career as the Seattle franchise’s all-time leader in goals (58) and points (154) by a defenceman.
The big question mark around him during his draft year was whether he could hold up in his own end. Could he handle the defensive part of being a defenceman?
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In the two years since he was drafted, Theodore has answered that question with a resounding yes. He plays more physical than he did his draft year and is tasked by the Thunderbirds to shut down the opposition’s best lines each night. "I guess a little bit of maturity," he says of his defensive improvement. "I know going to Anaheim’s camp and sitting out a while, I was watching a few NHL games there. Watching the defenceman there, what they’re doing. Watching that kind of game and add it to my own game."
Theodore suffered a wrist injury during camp this fall but still managed to get some one-on-one tutoring from an NHL legend. Hall of Fame defenceman Scott Niedermayer took him to some lunches where they talked hockey and playing the position — something Theodore says he ate up.
The best evidence of Theodore’s defensive development came during the World Junior Championship where he was part of Team Canada’s top defensive pairing. Matched up with Darnell Nurse, Theodore was asked to play more of a stay-at-home game. It worked as the two were Canada’s only pair to not allow an even-strength goal against.
"They were asking me to shut down some of the top guys in the world, with Darnell Nurse," he says. "I don’t know, I just took it as my role, everyone had a role on the team and I feel like I really did well and really elevated my game."
Here are other top affiliated NHL prospects from around the WHL and how they fared this season:
Notable World Junior Team Canada Alumni
Jake Virtanen, LW, Calgary Hitmen
Vancouver Canucks, 2014, 6th overall
Virtanen started the season recovering from shoulder surgery that caused him to miss the first 11 games of the Calgary Hitmen season. He potted two goals and five points in his first three games back with Calgary and has showed no ill effects from the shoulder injury. Since his return he’s been as physical as ever, throwing his 207-pound frame around with no hesitations. He’s been scoring as well. In his 50 WHL games this year he notched 21 goals and 52 points. He looks to be on his way to developing into the power forward that the Canucks have long been searching for.
Sam Reinhart, C, Kootenay Ice
Buffalo Sabres, 2014, 2nd overall
After spending nine unremarkable games in the NHL with Buffalo, Reinhart was returned to the WHL and the Kootenay Ice. While being back in junior had to be somewhat disappointing, Reinhart tore up the league upon his return. He started his year with a 14-game point streak that saw him score eight times while picking up 27 points. The Ice were off to a terrible start when Reinhart returned, but he led them to the playoffs where they pushed Calgary to seven games. He ends his four-year junior career with 319 points in 250 games.
Josh Morrissey, D, Kelowna Rockets
Winnipeg Jets, 2013, 13th overall
One of the more prolific scoring defencemen in the WHL, Morrissey has had an adventurous season. There was some speculation he could stick with the Jets but was returned to Prince Albert before the season started. He then was traded to the Kelowna Rockets just before the World Junior Championships. The Rockets have a loaded roster and the move should give Morrissey a chance to end his junior career with a long playoff run. However, he’s been injured and has not played in a game since Feb. 28. The Rockets are hopeful they will get him back as they progress toward a potential Memorial Cup berth. Even before the injury his production was slightly down this season, as he has 38 points in 47 games.
Nic Petan, C, Portland Winterhawks
Winnipeg Jets, 2013, 43rd overall
The headlines in Portland belonged mostly to Oliver Bjorkstrand this year, but Nic Petan has turned in another impressive season. With a goal scorer like Bjorkstrand on his wing, Petan has turned into an elite play-maker. He racked up 74 assists in only 54 games this season and ends his junior career with an impressive 358 career points. Petan stands at 5-foot-9 and it will be interesting to see how his quickness allows him to navigate the pro hockey ranks next season in the Jets system.
Eric Comrie, G, Tri City Americans
Winnipeg Jets, 2013, 59th overall
Comrie’s junior season came to an end in the playoffs this season in spectacular fashion. He lost, but made 66 saves in his last game before hitting the pros. His career in Tri City was slowed down by injuries and a team in front of him with some limitations. He has also missed significant time due to injury in two of the last three seasons. He missed half of his draft year with a hip injury and was limited to only 40 games this year. Despite that, Comrie still posted a .914 save percentage and a goals-against under three this year.
Euro Flash
Leon Draisaitl, C, Kelowna Rockets
Edmonton Oilers, 2014, 3rd overall
Draisaitl started the season with the Oilers but the speculation about how long he was going to stay began early on. That question was answered in January when the Prince Albert Raiders – the team he had played for the year prior – traded his rights to Kelowna. At the same time, the Oilers announced they were returning the German star to the WHL. The move seemed all too convenient – and raised some eyebrows. Draisaitl is now skating for one of the league’s top teams. He’s contributed as well and in more ways than just the 53 points he’s put up in the second half of the season. Draisaitl plays hard for the Rockets, he back checks, wins battles and appears to have no reservations about being back in junior. Playing for a team that has a shot at the Mastercard Memorial Cup certainly doesn’t hurt.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Portland Winterhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets, 2013, 89th overall
Since being drafted in 2013, Bjorkstrand has exploded for the Portland Winterhawks. He has dangerous speed, a quick and deadly wrist shot and is seemingly all over the ice. He followed up his draft year with 50 goals last season and topped that this year by potting 63, including a 12-game goal streak and hitting the 50-goal mark in 50 games played. The Blue Jackets may end up with one of the better steals from the 2013 draft. Bjorkstrand isn’t the biggest player in the league, but his speed and elusiveness will allow him to continue to be effective in the pros. He’s the odds on favourite to win the WHL player of the year award.
Impact Players
Adam Tambellini, C, Calgary Hitmen
New York Rangers, 2013, 65th overall
After choosing the NCAA route at North Dakota, Tambellini had a change of heart during his freshman year. He appeared in 16 games at North Dakota before reversing and choosing to go the WHL route. His rights were held by Portland and traded to Calgary. He made an immediate impact with the Hitmen, scoring 39 points in 31 games last year. This season Tambellini has been a monster for Calgary, lighting the lamp 47 times and leading them to a Central Division title.
Brayden Point, C, Moose Jaw Warriors
Tampa Bay Lightning, 2014, 79th overall
Brayden Point may be one of the best kept secrets in the WHL. Despite playing on a Moose Jaw team that has struggled the past two seasons, Point has been spectacular. He’s quick, has incredible hands and makes highlight-reel quality goals seem the norm. Point scored 38 goals this season – a career high – and ended up leading the Warriors with 87 points. While not the biggest player, Point has simply been productive and the Tampa Bay Lightning could have found a diamond in the rough.