Many WHL'ers on Central Scouting's List for NHL Draft

The Western Hockey League announced today that 50 WHL players have been listed by NHL Central Scouting in its final rankings in advance of the 2019 NHL Draft, scheduled for June 21-22 in Vancouver, B.C.

Headlining the list are three WHL players among the top four skaters in North America, led by defenceman Bowen Byram (Cranbrook, B.C. / Vancouver Giants) who is ranked second. Forwards Kirby Dach (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. / Saskatoon Blades) and Dylan Cozens (Whitehorse, Yukon / Lethbridge Hurricanes) rank third and fifth respectively.

Joining Byram, Dach, and Cozens in the Top 10 North American skaters is Winnipeg ICE captain Peyton Krebs (Okotoks, Alta. / Winnipeg ICE). Mads Søgaard (Aalborg, Denmark / Medicine Hat Tigers) is ranked second among goaltenders in North America, leading all WHL net minders.

Including, the aforementioned four skaters, eight WHL players are ranked inside the Top 31, including defenceman Lassi Thomson (15^th – Tempere, Finland / Kelowna Rockets), forward Brayden Tracey (21^st – Calgary, Alta. / Moose Jaw Warriors), forward Brett Leason (25^th – Calgary, Alta. / Prince Albert Raiders), and defenceman Matthew Robertson (26^th – Sherwood Park, Alta. / Edmonton Oil Kings).

Notable risers on the final rankings, include Tracey, who led all WHL rookies in scoring with 81 points (36G-45A). He rose 52 spots from the midterm ranking to rank 21^st. Adam Beckman (Saskatoon, Sask. / Spokane Chiefs), who ranked second in rookie scoring, rose 10 spots to rank 34^th. On defence, Gianni Fairbrother (North Vancouver, B.C. / Everett Silvertips) moved up 35 spots to rank inside the top 50.

Overall the list includes 26 forwards, 14 defencemen, and 10 goaltenders from the WHL, representing all 22 WHL member Clubs. The East, Central, and U.S. Division each have 13 players on the list while 11 come from the B.C. Division. The Eastern Conference holds a slight edge with 26 players on the list to 24 from the Western Conference.



2019 NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING FINAL RANKINGS (NORTH AMERICA) – WHL SKATERS

Final Rank	Player	Height	Weight	Position	Amateur Club
2	Bowen Byram	6’0”	193	Defenceman	Vancouver
3	Kirby Dach	6’4”	197	Centre	Saskatoon
5	Dylan Cozens	6’3”	180	Centre	Lethbridge
10	Peyton Krebs	5’11”	180	Centre	Winnipeg
15	Lassi Thomson	6’0”	190	Defenceman	Kelowna
21	Brayden Tracey	6’0”	177	Left Wing	Moose Jaw
25	Brett Leason	6’4”	200	Right Wing	Prince Albert
26	Matthew Robertson	6’3”	201	Defenceman	Edmonton
32	Kaedan Korczak	6’2”	192	Defenceman	Kelowna
34	Adam Beckman	6’0”	168	Left Wing	Spokane
37	Nolan Foote	6’3”	190	Left Wing	Kelowna
44	Aliaksei Protas	6’5”	205	Centre	Prince Albert
50	Gianni Fairbrother	6’0”	194	Defenceman	Everett
66	Oleg Zaytsev	6’1”	180	Centre	Red Deer
79	Sasha Mutala	6’0”	200	Right Wing	Tri-City
81	Reece Newkirk	5’11”	172	Centre	Portland
94	Quinn Schmiemann	6’2”	185	Defenceman	Kamloops
100	Luke Toporowski	5’11”	179	Centre	Spokane
117	Ben McCartney	6’0”	182	Left Wing	Brandon
118	Vladimir Alistrov	6’2”	175	Left Wing	Edmonton
123	Henrik Rybinski	6’0”	176	Right Wing	Seattle
126	Luka Burzan	6’0”	184	Right Wing	Brandon
128	John Ludvig	6’0”	196	Defenceman	Portland
132	Mark Kastelic	6’4”	213	Centre	Calgary
136	Cole Moberg	6’2”	187	Defenceman	Prince George
138	Jackson van de Leest	6’6”	222	Defenceman	Calgary
142	Krystof Hrabik	6’4”	218	Centre	Tri-City
145	Josh Williams	6’1”	190	Right Wing	Edmonton
146	Jake Lee	6’1”	214	Defenceman	Seattle
164	Connor Horning	6’3”	188	Defenceman	Swift Current
168	Mitchell Brown	6’3”	205	Defenceman	Tri-City
170	Bryce Kindopp	6’2”	185	Right Wing	Everett
171	Brett Kemp	6’0”	162	Centre	Medicine Hat
175	Alex Swetlikoff	6’2”	188	Centre	Kelowna
186	Nikita Sedov	6’1”	186	Defenceman	Regina
188	Logan Barlage	6’4”	202	Centre	Lethbridge
192	Emil Malysjev	6’3”	187	Defenceman	Saskatoon
199	Tarun Fizer	5’10”	163	Centre	Victoria
202	David Kope	6’4”	170	Right Wing	Edmonton
206	Cole Muir	6’2”	205	Centre	Winnipeg

2019 NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING FINAL RANKINGS (NORTH AMERICA) – WHL GOALTENDERS

Midterm Rank	Player	Height	Weight	Position	Amateur Club
2	Mads Sogaard	6’7”	196	Goaltender	Medicine Hat
6	Trent Miner	6’0”	182	Goaltender	Vancouver
7	Taylor Gauthier	6’1”	195	Goaltender	Prince George
12	Dustin Wolf	6’0”	156	Goaltender	Everett
17	Roddy Ross	6’2”	180	Goaltender	Seattle
18	Roman Basran	6’2”	195	Goaltender	Kelowna
21	Ethan Anders	6’1”	172	Goaltender	Red Deer
22	Nolan Maier	6’0”	173	Goaltender	Saskatoon
27	Jesse Makaj	6’3”	209	Goaltender	Winnipeg
30	Max Paddock	6’2”	162	Goaltender	Regina