Buttonwood
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Looking at Ryan Getzlaf's WHL career has led me down a rabbit hole. He put up slightly less than 1 PTS/GP in his draft year, lead league in PPG draft + 1 year, and slightly more 2 years after being drafted. Points are everything but interesting trajectory (impacted by lockout), then when on to have a great NHL career.
But looking more at the WHL at that time, the top draft eligible scorers in 2002-03 were (their WHL rank in PTS/GP listed, min 10 GP):
2002-2003
Nigel Dawes (#14)
Clarke MacArthur (#43)
Jonathan Filewich (#47)
Ryan Getzlaf (#55)
Jeremy Colliton (#72)
Then in 2003-2004
Brandon Dubinsky (#17)
Andrew Ladd (#18)
Cam Barker (#32)
Kyle Chipchura (#45)
Kris Versteeg (#59)
Mike Green (#76)
Those are some good to great prospects that went on to high draft positions and notable NHL careers but weren't dominate WHL 17yos.
Shift to a last 2 seasons of WHL (granted with a generational player and notable draft class(s?))
2022-2023
Connor Bedard (#1)
Andrew Cristall (#3)
Zach Benson (#5)
Riley Heidt (#16)
Samuel Honzek (#23)
2023-2024
Berkly Catton (#7)
Terik Parascak (#12)
Cayden Lindstrom (#18)
Andrew Basha (#24)
Tij Iginla (#30)
So there were 1-2 draft eligibles in the top 30 of league scoring 20 years ago, now there's 5 each of the last 2 seasons.
Is this as easy as 2 great draft crops or are 17yo's finding it easier to get ice-time, PP-time? Less physical league which makes age, maturity less important? Curious to hear thoughts from those with more insight on the league eras than me.
But looking more at the WHL at that time, the top draft eligible scorers in 2002-03 were (their WHL rank in PTS/GP listed, min 10 GP):
2002-2003
Nigel Dawes (#14)
Clarke MacArthur (#43)
Jonathan Filewich (#47)
Ryan Getzlaf (#55)
Jeremy Colliton (#72)
Then in 2003-2004
Brandon Dubinsky (#17)
Andrew Ladd (#18)
Cam Barker (#32)
Kyle Chipchura (#45)
Kris Versteeg (#59)
Mike Green (#76)
Those are some good to great prospects that went on to high draft positions and notable NHL careers but weren't dominate WHL 17yos.
Shift to a last 2 seasons of WHL (granted with a generational player and notable draft class(s?))
2022-2023
Connor Bedard (#1)
Andrew Cristall (#3)
Zach Benson (#5)
Riley Heidt (#16)
Samuel Honzek (#23)
2023-2024
Berkly Catton (#7)
Terik Parascak (#12)
Cayden Lindstrom (#18)
Andrew Basha (#24)
Tij Iginla (#30)
So there were 1-2 draft eligibles in the top 30 of league scoring 20 years ago, now there's 5 each of the last 2 seasons.
Is this as easy as 2 great draft crops or are 17yo's finding it easier to get ice-time, PP-time? Less physical league which makes age, maturity less important? Curious to hear thoughts from those with more insight on the league eras than me.
