The Western Hockey League (WHL) is gearing up for an exciting week as it holds its annual drafts, with the first round of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft set to take place on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 4 p.m. PT. The Vancouver Giants are in a strong position, owning two first-round picks—sixth and 13th overall—an announcement made on April 10, 2025, following the annual draft lottery.
The U.S. Priority Draft will follow on Thursday, May 8, 2025, starting at 8 a.m. PT, with the second round of the WHL Prospects Draft commencing after the U.S. draft concludes. The Giants will also participate in this draft, holding the fifth overall pick.
Fans eager to follow the action can stream the first round of the WHL Prospects Draft for free on Victory+. Real-time results from all drafts will be available on WHL.ca and at vancouvergiants.com.
In the past two years, the Giants have made impactful selections. In 2023, they drafted Ryan Lin with the sixth pick, who has since blossomed into a standout player. Last season, Lin recorded 53 points (5G-48A) and was named a Western Conference finalist for WHL Rookie of the Year. He made headlines recently by winning a gold medal with Hockey Canada at the U18 World Hockey Championship, further solidifying his reputation as a rising star in the league.
Looking back at the Giants' performance in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, they selected several promising players, including Blake Chorney, who was picked 10th overall and had an impressive rookie year with 29 goals and 38 assists in 41 games. Chorney's WHL debut came on November 9, 2024, and he continued to shine, leading the 2024 WHL Cup with 11 points in five games.
As the Giants prepare for the upcoming drafts, they are also anticipating the selections from the Penticton Vees' 2025 WHL Expansion Draft, which will be revealed on the same day as the first round of the Prospects Draft. The expansion draft adds an extra layer of excitement to the proceedings, as teams will be strategizing on how to protect their players while also considering potential trades.
Meanwhile, the Medicine Hat Tigers are also in the thick of draft preparations. With the WHL U.S. Priority Draft and the WHL Prospects Draft happening this week, the Tigers' scouting staff has been busy evaluating talent. They will not make their first selection until the early third round, holding the 50th and 67th overall picks in the Prospects Draft.
Director of player personnel Bobby Fox shared insights into the Tigers' draft strategy, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for unexpected opportunities that may arise during the draft. “You put your list in the order you want and you go from there,” Fox stated, highlighting the unpredictability of draft day.
The Tigers are expected to be active in the draft, holding multiple picks across several rounds. They have pairs of picks in the fourth and fifth rounds, as well as a single sixth-round pick and multiple selections in the seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds.
As the draft approaches, all eyes are on 15-year-old Maddox Schultz, who is anticipated to be the first player selected overall by the Regina Pats. Schultz had an outstanding season, scoring 43 goals and accumulating 93 points in just 44 games, earning him the title of league MVP and rookie of the year in the Saskatchewan U18 AAA Hockey League.
In addition to the Prospects Draft, the WHL is also conducting its U.S. Priority Draft, which has been a significant avenue for the Tigers to acquire talent since its inception in 2020. They have successfully signed three players from this draft, including the recent addition of Owen Hayes, who led his team with 21 goals and 76 points in 49 games this past season.
The expansion draft adds another layer of complexity for teams as they navigate player protections and potential trades. The Tigers will be watching closely to see which players the Vees select, using that information to inform their own draft strategy.
As the WHL Draft unfolds, the Victoria Royals will also be looking to make their mark, selecting 19th overall in the Prospects Draft. The Royals have had a successful track record in recent drafts, having previously picked Cole Reschny third overall in 2022 and Keaton Verhoeff fourth overall in 2023. Both players are now seen as top prospects for the upcoming NHL draft.
Royals GM Craig Heisinger expressed confidence in their approach, stating, “We will approach the prospects draft as we always do, which is to take the best player available.” The first round of the WHL draft will be streamed live on Victory+ starting at 3 p.m. PT on May 7, 2025, followed by the second through 15th rounds the next day.
The WHL expansion draft will also take place on the same day, allowing the Penticton Vees to select players from existing teams while teams strategize on how to protect their rosters. This year, the Vees will be allowed to play four 20-year-olds, giving them a unique advantage over other teams in the league.
As the excitement builds around the WHL Draft, teams are preparing for a pivotal moment in their franchises' futures. With promising young talent on the horizon and strategic decisions to be made, the 2025 WHL Draft promises to be a thrilling event for fans and teams alike.
