Let’s call this the second edition of my W-H-L East Division “Dubble” Power Rankings!
Prior to play starting on March 12 here in Regina, I took a stab at predicting the final standings once everyone had played 24 games. I came up with Brandon, Winnipeg, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw and Swift Current in that order. Now that everybody has played six games, let’s see how much those Power Rankings have changed…
- Top spot belongs to the Blades. They have yet to lose in regulation time, they’ve averaged almost four goals scored per game and allowed just over two goals per game. They’ve killed off 20 straight opposition power plays and are plus-nine when playing five-on-five. All nine players on their top three lines have scored at least one goal, plus three defencemen have found the mark. That’s pretty “power”ful! Hence they are my top team. Is this a “homer” pick? Maybe, but outside of Winnipeg, you can’t make a case, yet, for any team being better!
2. Close behind is Winnipeg. The ICE have handed Saskatoon their only blemish thus far, winning 2-1 in overtime. They flexed their strength Tuesday night in wallopping Regina 8-3 and may have the best team roster, top-to-bottom…although Saskatoon and Brandon would like to dispute that! In my humble opinion, Winnipeg has the best player in the “Dubble” in forward Peyton Krebs. The Vegas first rounder from 2019 has nine points while his line-mate Connor McClennon, a Philadelphia 2020 Draft choice, is tied for the division points lead with 10. Imagine if they had a healthy, 2021 N-H-L Draft-eligible defenceman in Carson Lambos available to them? Yikes!!
3. The Wheat Kings are next. They need to clean up their discipline and/or their penalty killing. Brandon is the second most-penalized team in the division thus far…behind only Saskatoon. The difference comes in the penalty killing where the Blades are second in the division at 89.3% while the Wheaties are second-last at 72.4%. Improving on one or the other area will significantly improve Brandon’s ranking! Bet on them trying to improve the penalty killing because the gritty, in-your-face style that they play does lend itself to taking the odd penalty or two!
4. Moose Jaw is a surprise here, based on my pre-season ranking! But, having a healthy Daemon Hunt on defence and as their on-ice leader has been a boon to the entire team. They’ve shown a lethal power play…second in the division at 32.0% and their entire roster seems to have grown together by a year from the group that only won 14 times before the pandemic shut things down! Saskatoon product and third overall 2020 Bantam Draft pick Brayden Yager is a Top-6 forward already and on the first power play unit…it’s not hard to see that he is going to be a good one!
5. The Prince Albert Raiders would definitely have a better ranking…and record…if they had Kaiden Guhle, Aliaksei Protas and Ilya Usau. Guhle broke his hand and is done for the “Dubble”…he’s the captain and top defenceman. Protas and Usau are playing professionally and won’t be back, taking a huge bite out of the P-A offence…something Ozzy Wiesblatt can’t make up for on his own! I know, I know…all teams didn’t get their imports back because of COVID. Head coach Marc Habscheid knows that as well. As he told me, “we’ve got guys who were in the back seat last year that have to move up into the front season this year.” Until that consistently happens, this ranking likely won’t change!
6. Barely in this position, are the Regina Pats. Connor Bedard has at least one point in all six games thus far…10 points in total, tied with Winnipeg’s McClennon for the Division lead. He has superstar written all over him. He has that innate ability to think two or three steps ahead to what is going…great anticipation and elite skill, a lethal combination that will make him a sure-fire N-H-Ler! But, alas, his supporting cast needs to be very good and 20-year-old Roddy Ross in goal needs to be better!
7. That leaves Swift Current at the bottom. The Broncos are to the East Division “Dubble” what the Ottawa Senators are to the N-H-L’s Canadian Division this year. They are young, they are inexperienced…but they are plucky and feisty and if you sleep on them, Speedy Creek will beat you! Just ask the Raiders! Unfortunately for Dean Brockman and company, they are playing short-handed on defence with only four healthy bodies for a few games now. The good news…goaltenders Isaac Poulter, a veteran, and rookie Reid Dyck have played heroically and are giving Swift Current a chance every game!
There you have it! One man’s opinion…feel free to discuss amongst yourself!!
