Lottery luck: Raiders snag first two picks in WHL prospects draft

By Rob Mahon

The last time a team held both the first and second overall pick in the WHL Prospects Draft, that team was the Winnipeg ICE. They used the picks on forwards Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie, and the results are showing now, as they’ve been the first place team in the Eastern Conference two years running.

The Prince Albert Raiders are hoping for a similar run of success in their future after lady luck dealt them the best possible hand on the morning of Wednesday. Following the WHL draft lottery, it was announced the Raiders would hold the first and second overall picks in the upcoming Prospects Draft.

“We’re obviously really excited,” said Curtis Hunt, Raiders general manager. “Only once has a team been in this situation, and that team, right now, is number one in our league two years in a row. It’s invigorating, it’s exciting. It’s a great opportunity to build on what we’ve done so far, and I’m looking forward to sitting down with some of the players in that mix and getting to know them a little more between now and the draft.”

It’s been six years since the Raiders themselves held the 1st overall pick. That pick, made in 2017, was Kaiden Guhle. Ironically, it was the trade of Guhle that netted the Raiders their best chance at that first overall pick, as they owned Edmonton’s pick this year as a result of last year’s swap.

“It’d be interesting to see the tree of picks and where it leads to, especially when you have these bigger deals that include multiple picks,” Hunt said. “When you’re in our situation, where me made the decision to get (Guhle) that opportunity and he goes on to win a second WHL championship, I think there’s some karma. In terms of giving back to a team, that’s a pretty good way to give back to a team.”

In addition to the first and second picks, the Raiders will also have the seventh selection thanks to their swap with Seattle that sent Nolan Allan (another defenseman selected by the Raiders in the first round) to the Thunderbirds. As the Raiders also hold Seattle’s first round pick next year, and as they had two first round picks in 2021, these picks could open a long-lasting window for the Raiders to contend again.

“When you see that growth and development, those kids contributing, it excites you,” said Hunt. “When you reflect back on drafts, I mentioned Winnipeg, that’s Savoie and Geekie and those are two high impact players in our league. We’re excited about this year, we’re excited about the year to come, and about the current roster and the group of players right now.”

The Raiders also had two second round picks in the 2021 draft and all four of those players (forwards Ryder Ritchie, Cole Peardon, and Grady Martin, and defenseman Seth Tansem) were regulars this past season. So the Raiders’ recent draft record is strong.

The WHL prospects draft will be held on Thursday, May 11.