2019 WHL Draft Results

Round 1

The 2019 WHL Draft has future NHL talent on display. Find out who went to what WHL team and our grades for all 22 first round picks.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: September 13, 2019.

1. Winnipeg Ice: Matthew Savoie, C, (2022) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-9 165 lb Matthew Savoie applied for exceptional status. He had 31 goals, 40 assists, and 71 points with Northern Alberta Academy in 2018-2019. Before that Savoie had 28 goals, 69 assists, and 97 points in 2017-2018.
   
   
   
   Savoie has added 5 lbs of muscle. He now weighs 174 lbs as he will enter his first season and only season as a line 1 center on the Rink Hockey Academy Prep Team.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 15, Savoie has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Matthew Savoie has already drawn comparisions to Sidney Crosby despite not getting any ice time in the WHL.
   
   
   
   Savoie is the best WHL player I've seen since Matthew Barzal. He's another great Matthew in the making, but Matthew Barzal got to play in the WHL at age 15. Thanks to WHL Standard Agreements, Savoie cannot make the jump to the Western Hockey League until he turns 16. This means we will not see Savoie play in the WHL until 2020-2021 unless Winnipeg can call him up in the second half of the season this season once he turns 16.
   
   
   
   Winnipeg currently has Peyton Krebs as their line 1 center. It will be interesting to see if Savoie can come in and take the line 1 center job from the Vegas Golden Knights 2019 first round draft pick. He has the upside to do that and is a better defender and face off guy. He hasn't played in the WHL though so how Savoie transitions to the WHL will reveal a lot since Savoie is considered the guy with a higher ceiling than Shane Wright who got granted exceptional status in the WHL.
   
   
   
2. Winnipeg Ice: Connor Geekie, C, (2022) A+ Grade
   
   
   Connor Geekie is the face of the Yellowhead Chiefs. Conor Geekie had 38 goals, 30 asssists, and 68 points in 2017-2018 during his rookie year with the Yellowhead Chiefs in 35 games. Geekie improved on that total with 49 goals, 37 asssists, and 86 points.
   
   
   
   The 6-3 192 lb Conor Geekie already signed his rookie deal with the Winnipeg Ice just like Matthew Savoie. Geekie is getting promoted to team captain of the Yellowhead Chiefs.
   
   
   
   Despite being only 15, Geekie has the speed, explosion, burst, agility, skating, foot speed, playmaking, passing, sniping, wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, slap shot accuracy, vision, offensive awareness, defensive awareness, and hockey IQ to succeed in the NHL. Matthew Savoie has already drawn comparisions to Evgeni Malkin despite not getting any ice time in the WHL. Geekie is someone who can learn under those two and thrive as a top line center.
   
   
   
   Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie could be the best teammates to enter an NHL Draft since Conor McDavid and Dylan Strome back in 2015 who went first and third overall. Geekie is just that good on tape and if Peyton Krebs gets one more year in the WHL after this season, Winnipeg just may make a run to the Memorial Cup with Krebs, Savoie, and Geekie.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Prince George Cougars: Keaton Dowhaniuk, D, (2022) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-10 148 lb Keaton Dowhaniuk is fundamentally sound as a two-way defender despite his size. He knows how to check and take up space despite being only 15-years-old. He's a great playmaker and quarterback on the power play as well. Prince George has a future top 10 pick on their hands if Dowhaniuk continues to grow and develop as a player. He's already sound defensively on tape despite his size which is the biggest reason Prince George took him third overall with this selection that they got from the Regina Pats.
   
   
   
   Keaton Dowhaniuk had 8 goals, 27 assists, and 35 points with OHA Edmonton Prep. Dowhanuik does everything well on tape except shoot with accuracy. His wrist shot power and slap shot power is through the roof. He's got three years to improve that area of his game.
   
   
   
   The Prince George Cougars got the top defender in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Now they just have to hope he becomes as good as Bowen Byram.
   
   
   
4. Prince George Cougars: Koehn Ziemmer, C, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-10 179 lb Koehn Ziemmer is the first fourteen year old to ever be drafted into the CHL. He isn't eligible to play for two more seasons until 2021-2022 by the new WHL Standard Agreement. Ziemmer looks like an early front runner to be the top pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Brandon Wheat Kings: Nate Danielson, C, (2023) A+ Grade
   
   
   Nate Danielson may be another top 5 pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft along with Koehn Ziemmer. Danielson is not draft eligible until 2023.
   
   
   
6. Brandon Wheat Kings: Tyson Zimmer, C, (2022) A+ Grade
   
   
   Tyson Zimmer is just as good as Nate Danielson. He is going to have a quicker transition to the Brandon Wheat Kings despite being the sixth overall selection in the 2019 WHL Draft due to his leadership and being an alternate captain on a junior team at the mere age of 15-years-old. Danielson has more upside, but Zimmer is a very polished quick skater on tape so he should transition quicker being a 2022 prospect. Danielson will not be eligible to play for Brandon until 2021 while Zimmer can help the team in 2020.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Kamloops Blazers: Mats Lindgren Jr., D, (2022) A+ Grade
   
   
   The 5-8 140 lb Mats Lindgren is fundamentally sound as a two-way defender despite his size. He knows how to check and take up space despite being only 15-years-old. He's a great playmaker and quarterback on the power play as well. Kamloops may have a future top 10 pick on their hands if Lindgren continues to grow and develop as a player. He's already sound defensively on tape despite his size which is the biggest reason Kamloops took him seventh overall with this selection. A large part of that is due to his father being former NHL player Mats Lindgren.
   
   
   
8. Seattle Thunderbirds: Jordan Gustafson, C, (2022) A+ Grade
   
   
   Jordan Gustafson is already signed and practicing with the Seattle Thunderbirds despite being the eighth overall pick in the 2019 WHL Priority Selection. Since Gustafson does not have a contract with a junior team for 2019-2020, he may be the only player in this draft class to make the immediate jump to the WHL at the mere age of fifteen. He had 31 goals, 39 assists, 70 points, skates, and defends. Gustafson also had 13 goals, 12 assists, and 25 points in 13 playoff games where he led his midget team during the playoffs. He's easily the best draft pick the Thunderbirds have made since Matthew Barzal.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Saskatoon Blades: Brandon Lisowsky, C, (2022) A+ Grade
   
   
   Brandon Lisowsky was team captain on the Burnaby Winter Club Bantam Prep Team. He got promoted to an elite Under 15 Team prior to getting promoted to the Burnaby Winter Club Prep Team. It only took this kid 14-years to become a team captain. Also Lisowsky is the only team captain to be drafted so far in the top 10 so Saskatoon gets another A+ grade. Lisowsky is the perfect successor to Kirby Dach who got drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks third overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
   
   
   
10. Seattle Thunderbirds: Kevin Korchinski, D, (2022) A+ Grade
    
    
    Bil La Forge did a hell of a job for the Seattle Thunderbirds. Kevin Korchinski has impressed so much in training camp that he may get a spot on the Thunderbirds right away while the rest of the rookies sit out this year. Seattle has a two to five year window of opportunity to push for a Memorial Cup if both of these rookies make Seattle's roster right away as 15-year-old kids which looks like a possibility at the moment.
    
    
    
    The 5-10 146 lb Kevin Korchinski is fundamentally sound as a two-way defender despite his size. He knows how to check and take up space despite being only 15-years-old. He's a great playmaker and quarterback on the power play as well. Seattle may have a future top 10 pick on their hands if Korchinski continues to grow and develop as a player. He's already sound defensively on tape despite his size which is the biggest reason Seattle took him tenth overall with this selection.
    
    
    
    
    
11. Moose Jaw Warriors: Denton Mateychuk, D, (2022) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 5-7 170 lb Denton Matyechuk has the same birthday as my older brother which is July 12. Not only does he want to get bigger and stronger, he also wants to work on his gap control. He interviewed well and does a lot on tape as a two-way defender despite his size with Eastman Selects. He may go straight to the Moose Jaw Warriors right away too.
    
    
    
12. Medicine Hat Tigers: Oasiz Wiesblatt, C, (2022) A+ Grade
    
    
    The 5-5 145 lb Oasiz Wiesblatt signed with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He does not have the upside other players have, but unlike some of the players that will not make the WHL until age 16, Wisblatt may make the jump to the WHL right away.
    
    
    
    
    
13. Calgary Hitmen: Grayden Siepmann, D, (2022) A+ Grade
    
    
    Calgary gets another defender who can hit hard without hitting so hard that they put bounties on players and get sent to the penalty box. Siepmann is just as good as any defender in this class.
    
    
    
14. Swift Current Broncos: Mathew Ward, C, (2022) B- Grade
    
    
    The 5-7 130 lb Mathew Ward went from 30 points to 64 points. He's also not making the jump to Swift Current right away. The A+ streak finally ends after thirteen of the twenty two first round selections. Also I'm giving Ward a B- grade for having one t in Matthew.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Spokane Chiefs: Ben Thornton, LW, (2022) B Grade
    
    
    Ben Thornton impressed in training camp with the Spokane Chiefs. Unfortunatley, Spokane has to wait a year since Yale Hockey Academy Prep has Thornton under contract until he turns 16.
    
    
    
16. Brandon Wheat Kings: Rylen Roersma, C, (2022) C+ Grade
    
    
    Brandon Wheat Kings need help everywhere. If a line 3 center was the top player on their board then this pick gets a C+ grade. Their current best player is a line three right winger at the NHL level that looks like a day 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Brandon is in a total rebuild like a lot of WHL teams, but they are planning long-term so if they hit on this pick they will have three good centers. I would have gone with a left winger or a defender to maximize the effectiveness of my lines, but if Roersma was their top player on the board then this is a solid pick.
    
    
    
    
    
17. Regina Pats: Layton Feist, D, (2022) A+ Grade
    
    
    Layton Feist is another two-way defender that checks out all the boxes on tape. He's now the sixth defender in this WHL draft I've handed an A+ grade to and all six defenders in this draft got A+ grades from the tape I've seen on Youtube.
    
    
    
18. Edmonton Oil Kings: Caleb Reimer, C, (2023) A Grade
    
    
    This was a good pick. I heard a rumor that the Prince Albert Raiders tried to move up with the Edmonton Oil Kings for Reimer. Edmonton kept their pick and stood their ground. Anytime the defending WHL Champion tries to trade up for a guy you liked, that's a good sign. This isn't an A+ level prospect, but I'm giving Edmonton an A grade for standing their ground and finding a 2023 guy they can groom for the future. Also Reimer is not draft eligible until 2023 so he has more time to develop.
    
    
    
    
    
19. Victoria Royals: Jason Spizawka, D, (2022) A+ Grade
    
    
    Victoria drafted the Spzawka twins. They got two two-way defenders that are Twins. Jason in the first round and his twin brother Ryan in the seventh round. Both Spizawka twins are on my 2022 NHL Draft board giving me potentially 8 defenders in the WHL to look at on tape.
    
    
    
20. Kamloops Blazers: Connor Levis, C, (2023) C Grade
    
    
    Connor Levis has yet to sign his rookie deal with Kamloops. He's also committed to Michigan so he may develop at his current junior prep program and enroll in Michigan.
    
    
    
    Levis is 2023 draft eligible so I'm going to be generous by sparing Levis with our first C grade because its not cool for me to put pressure on a person who is still got so much room for growth. Levis would not enroll into Michigan until 2023-2024 and would have to enter the USHL Import Draft if there was such a thing in order to defect to the USHL. Since he's in Canada, I'm not sure if Levis has that option.
    
    
    
    
    
21. Swift Current Broncos: Tyson Jugnauth, D, (2022) A+ Grade
    
    
    Tyson Jugnauth's nickname is the Juggernaught despite being only 5-9 135 lbs. Depsite being undersized he's an excellent two-way defender for someone his age. This 2022 NHL Draft could have as many as nine first round picks on the blue line from the WHL. These defenders in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft all did well when watching them on tape both offensively and defensively.
    
    
    
22. Prince Albert Raiders: Niall Crocker, RW, (2022) A+ Grade
    
    
    Your 2019 WHL Champions wrap up the first round with the top right winger in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Crocker could sneak into the first of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft simply due to the lack of depth at the wing in that class.