2014 WHL Bantam Draft

[jkanes]

Canes select Jordy Bellerive with the second overall pick. Welcome to the Canes, that is, if he decides to come...

Also interesting - Skinner was the first goalie picked at 17th overall last year, meanwhile this year, 2 goalies have been selected before the 14th pick!

[jkanes]

Canes decide to use their first 2 second round picks, selecting 2 defensemen.

First, they selected Ethan King 22nd overall, a 14yr old who is already 6'4'' and 210lbs. Finally some size on the backend!

Then, at 27th overall, they selected Nick Watson, also 14 yrs old, 6'0'' and 170lbs.

Welcome to the team boys!

[jkanes]

And the Canes decide to use all three second round picks

With the 42nd pick overall, the Canes picked Centerman Zane Franklin, a 15 yr old who comes in at 5'8'', 190 lbs. I saw one draft preview that had him ranked at 10th overall...

Welcome, Zane!

[sid75]

Thought that the GM would use a second round pick to trade for a proven goal tender, its fine to have all these prospects but the team needs help now! They need to show a significant turn around this up coming season or the "Grim Robison" will turn this franchise into an example of what NOT to do! Really thought that the Canes needed to make at least one meaningful trade today, GM was likely a little gun shy after getting screwed by McCrimmon last year that let them draft Clague, he should have drafted Clague even though he said he wouldn't sign here, would have gotten the mother load by trading the player rather than the pick, maybe that is the plan for Bellerive, as it has to be doubtful he will sign here unless there is some drastic improvement in player development this upcoming season...

[Derek Sutton]

I think the Canes made out all right, the top four picks should all be impact players in a few years. Franklin had been ranked in the top 10 coming into this year, I wonder if he is a NCAA risk given how he fell, his size isn't the greatest but this year the size wasn't there overall.

[HURRICANE'S ROCK]

Canes select Jordy Bellerive with the second overall pick. Welcome to the Canes, that is, if he decides to come..!

Unless I was having a blonde moment or a nightmare, I heard or saw or read somewhere that Bellerive was excited to come to play for the Canes! Let's hope that is the real deal and he shows up and signs with SlurryCanes.

[HURRICANE'S ROCK]

Also interesting - Skinner was the first goalie picked at 17th overall last year, meanwhile this year, 2 goalies have been selected before the 14th pick!

Not only were 2 goalies taken before the 14th pick this year, there were 5 goalies chosen in the first 39 draft picks this year. Last year the 2nd goalie taken was not until the 39th pick. Also in last year's draft, the 5th goalie did not go until the 4th round with the 76th pick.

Their are only 2 logical reasons as to why this anomaly occurred. The 1st reason would be to simply say that there were a lot of good goalies available this year. The 2nd, and actual reason, is that European Goalies are no longer allowed to play in the WHL/CHL. It is obvious that teams have to draft more Canadian kids sooner in the draft.

[HURRICANE'S ROCK]

How lucky is Corbin Boes? He goes from playing for one of the worst teams that ever existed in the CHL to being the starting goalie in the WHL final for one of the best teams that ever played in the WHL.

[HURRICANE'S ROCK]

Clague said he wouldn't sign here, would have gotten the mother load by trading the player rather than the pick,...

Sid75. Everything I have read or heard or have seen or whatever; I never heard that Clague did not want to report to the Canes. How do you know this?

[Derek Sutton]

Not only were 2 goalies taken before the 14th pick this year, there were 5 goalies chosen in the first 39 draft picks this year. Last year the 2nd goalie taken was not until the 39th pick. Also in last year's draft, the 5th goalie did not go until the 4th round with the 76th pick.

Their are only 2 logical reasons as to why this anomaly occurred. The 1st reason would be to simply say that there were a lot of good goalies available this year. The 2nd, and actual reason, is that European Goalies are no longer allowed to play in the WHL/CHL. It is obvious that teams have to draft more Canadian kids sooner in the draft.

The 3rd logical reason is that the 98's were very strong, top end talent like no recent draft and depth like we will never again anytime soon. Teams (other then the 'Canes) did not want to pass up on the high end potential of so many of the skaters that were available. This draft did not have the depth (on the skater side) and teams gambeled early and often on goalies.