After losing four dynamic defencemen to the NCAA this past off-season, the WHL returns with a bit of a mysterious feel.
Now that Ryan Lin (Vancouver-Denver), Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert-Denver), Carson Carels (Prince George-North Dakota) and Landon DuPont (Everett-Michigan) are getting ready for the U.S. college season, it has opened the door for many teams to make big gains in the WHL.
The Medicine Hat Tigers lost their own huge name the previous off-season when Gavin McKenna joined Penn State, but GM/head coach Willie Desjardins has done a wonderful job developing and recruiting. The Tigers have to be one of the favourites this season after reaching the Eastern Conference final last year.
The Tigers kick off their season against Lethbridge on Friday in one of five games on opening night.
Here's a look at storylines to watch this season:
Tigers have bite
The Tigers return the league's top two scorers from last season in Markus and Liam Ruck.
The twin brothers are going back to Medicine Hat and plan to join Penn State next season.
Liam Ruck is the only NHL first-round pick expected to play in the WHL this season. He went 22nd overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins this year. The Penguins followed that selection up picking Markus Ruck in the second round (39th overall).
The Tigers do lose top defenceman Bryce Pickford to the pro ranks with the Montreal Canadiens, but acquired Calgary Flames third-rounder Mace'o Phillips in a trade with the Portland Winterhawks. After playing in the USHL last season, Phillips is heading north.
Tigers forwards Noah Davidson and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll are names to watch for the 2027 NHL Draft.
Schultz, Pue ready for full season
Regina Pats forwards Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue were trail-blazers last year, playing half the season in the WHL as underagers and half with a minor-hockey team in Regina as part of the Western Canada Development Model.
Both players performed well as 15-year-olds, especially Schultz, who had 15 goals and 14 assists in 34 games with the Pats.
This summer, they played for Canada's gold medal-winning under-18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton. Schultz had three goals and seven assists in five games, while Pue had six goals and three assists.
With all this experience under their belts, Schultz and Pue are poised for big seasons as they make the full-time leap to major junior.
They'll also have another high-profile teammate in Canadiens prospect winger Parker Trottier. The grandson of Bryan Trottier, Parker left the U.S. National Team Development Program to join the Pats.
Following in their footsteps
At least three players will try what Schultz and Pue did last season as part of the Western Canadian project.
First-overall WHL Draft pick Madden Daneault will play half the season with the Kelowna Rockets, while No. 2 pick Parker McMillan and No. 5 Jevin Morrison will do the same with the Wenatchee Wild.
Daneault already has generated plenty of buzz after notching 149 points (65 goals, 84 assists) in 34 regular-season games last season with the under-15 Red Deer Rebels.
Lots of young talent
While McKenna (picked first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs this year) and DuPont left for the NCAA for their pre-NHL Draft years, the WHL still boasts a healthy contingent of first-round prospects for next year's NHL Draft.
Brandon Wheat Kings forward Brandon Jacobson, Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Brock Cripps, Seattle Thunderbirds forward Brock England and Wild defenceman Boston Tait are among the WHL names expected to be in consideration for next year's NHL first round.
What can Vees do for an encore?
The Penticton Vees had one of the best expansion seasons in CHL history after jumping up from the BCHL, reaching the Western Conference final.
The Vees did have an older team, but longtime Penticton GM/coach Fred Harbinson is known as one of the best recruiters in the business.
The Vees signed six-foot-seven Latvian forward Roberts Naudins after he played for Shattuck-St. Mary's last season and also added Los Angeles Kings prospect defenceman Giorgos Pantelas in a trade with Brandon.
Giants bring back familiar coach
After leaving Vancouver to serve as an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies the past three seasons, Michael Dyck returns to the Giants with the dual GM/head coach role.
Dyck was part of a Marlies team that won the Calder Cup last season.
The Giants have two dangerous forwards in Anaheim Ducks second-rounder Mathis Preston and Flames third-rounder Joe Iginla, son of Jarome.
On the move again
Cameron Schmidt joined his third WHL team this off-season when the Victoria Royals traded the seventh-overall pick to Seattle to acquire the Dallas Stars prospect forward.
Seattle got Schmidt prior to last year's trade deadline in a deal with Vancouver.
Schmidt led the WHL with 51 goals in 72 games last season.
The Royals start the season ranked third in the CHL, top among WHL teams.
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