Spokane Chiefs’ Kailer Yamamoto becoming late round steal in stacked WHL bantam draft class

Kailer Yamamoto has stolen some of the spotlight away from his peers in the highly regarded 2013 WHL bantam draft class. The Spokane Chiefs winger has asserted himself as one of the top rookies in the league even though 104 players were selected ahead of him in his draft year.

Yamamoto didn't take long to find his offensive grove following an adjustment period at the start of the season. Largely because of a hot streak around Christmas, when he racked up nine goals and 20 points in just 11 games, he now sits fourth in rookie points with 17 goals and 43 points in 52 games. Top 2013 bantam pick Tyler Benson and fifth overall selection Brett Howden are among those in his rear-view mirror on the stats sheet.

“It wasn’t easy at first this season,” says Yamamoto. “I had a rough start to the season, but I’ve gotten more confident and comfortable. The more I’ve played the more confident I’ve gotten and I’ve adjusted to everything.”

The skilled sniper clearly appears to be a late-round steal, but he wasn’t necessarily overlooked in his bantam draft. With a 5-foot-8, 160-pound frame at 16, his size worked against him. Moreover, players develop at various rates, making it hard for scouts to look into the crystal ball of a 14-year-old.

“It was tough to say then (whether the Chiefs were lucky to draft Yamamoto in the fifth round),” says Chiefs head coach Don Nachbaur. “The bantam draft is a bit of a crap shoot. It is tough determining where players should go and how they will adjust to the league. But we knew he was a skilled player and had the talent to play at this level.”

The Chiefs started to see that Yamamoto has what it takes to be a special player for them last year. He had a strong 2013-14 season with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings U16 squad, notching 17 goals and 40 points in 34 matches. He also was a point-per-game player (3G-4A) in seven games on the U.S. National U17 Team. But since potential doesn’t always translate into production, Spokane’s coaching staff didn’t expect him to make this big of an offensive impact this fast as a rookie.

“We knew he was talented and had good skills, but I’m not sure if we could have predicted that he would have made this big of an impact this early,” says Nachbaur. “There are a lot of adjustments a young player needs to make to play in this league, so it isn’t easy to predict how a rookie season will go. What has made him successful is how he has continued to work and improve. He started the year on the fourth line and worked his way up. He’s worked hard on the forecheck and done the little things to earn that ice time.”

To put the impression Yamamoto has made on Nachbaur into a better perspective, the Chiefs coach believes he has seen shades of San Jose Sharks star Patrick Marleau in him. This is a significant statement for a bench boss who has 16 years of junior rookies to choose from when assessing Yamamoto.

“I’m not comparing them, but I’m reminded of Patrick Marleau,” says Nachbaur, who coached Marleau for two seasons in the Seattle Thunderbirds organization. “When Patrick came into the league, he didn’t expect anything. He worked for everything and continued to get better and better. Kailer has demonstrated an attitude and work ethic like that. He has worked for everything he’s got.”

Yamamoto credits his speed for a major reason why he has had success against his older, bigger opponents.

“I try to play fast with my speed,” says the major junior freshman, who isn’t NHL draft eligible until 2017 because of his late Sept. 29 birthdate. “I try to beat guys with my speed – that’s what has worked for me.”

In addition to his skill set, Yamamoto points to how having his brother, second-year and 18-year-old Keanu Yamamoto, by his side has helped him adjust to the WHL this year.

“He has been a huge support here,” he says. “He has helped me get comfortable here and has given me tips. I probably wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for him.”

The icing on the cake for Yamamoto’s rookie success is that he has had the privilege of playing in front of family and friends on a nightly basis in his hometown in Spokane.

“It has been a dream come true,” says Yamamoto. “I was happy they drafted me and probably wouldn’t want to play anywhere else. It is great to be here and play here.”

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen