Spokane Chiefs win 2015 WHL bantam draft lottery, thanks to the Saskatoon Blades

The Saskatoon Blades’ 2013 Memorial Cup push just keeps on getting worse. For the second consecutive year, the Blades won the WHL bantam draft lottery without holding the pick because of prior trades. The Spokane Chiefs benefited from the last-place club's wheeling and dealing this year.

At the 2013 trade deadline, Chiefs architect Tim Speltz swapped Collin Valcourt for a 2015 first-round pick and a 2013 fifth-round pick, which happened to be invested in rookie sensation Kailer Yamamoto. It looked like a lopsided deal at the time, but has evolved into one of the worst trades in the history of the WHL.

It’s important to take the Valcourt deal into context before putting all of the onus on former Blades GM Lorne Molleken. He had orders from his boss, ex-owner Jack Brodsky, to do whatever it took to give the Bridge City Boys a shot at the Memorial Cup, regardless of how it affected the club’s future. Brodsky had no issue completely emptying the team’s cupboard because he knew he wasn’t going to have to help replenish it. The plan was in motion to sell the Blades (now owned by Edmonton native Mike Priestner) in the offseason before the Memorial Cup was even completed.

At the 2013 bantam draft, the Brandon Wheat Kings chose Stelio Mattheos first overall with Saskatoon’s draft lottery winning pick. Kelly McCrimmon traded Brendan Walker to the Blades in the 2012 offseason for two second-round picks and the right to swap 2014 first-round picks. The Wheaties then swapped selections with the Vancouver Giants because Saskatoon traded their top 2014 pick to them prior to the 2013 trade deadline.

If the Chiefs draft the best player available, it will be Delta Hockey Academy’s Ty Smith. The Lloydminister, Alta., native’s superb play this season has led to scouts praising him as the best blueliner to come out of Western Canada since former Moose Jaw Warrior and current Toronto Maple Leaf Morgan Rielly.

“Smith is easily the consensus No.1 pick for this year’s draft,” says Tyler Neisz, head scout and owner of Western Elite Hockey Prospects. “He played this past season for Delta Hockey Academy in the CSSHL and dominated each tournament he played in and also in league play.  Smith also was one of just two underage players to take part in the Canada Winter Games in Prince George as he suited up for Team Alberta and was used on the top power play and penalty kill units. He is a special player and easily the best defenseman to come along since Morgan Reilly.”

The Lethbridge Hurricanes, Giants, Warriors and Prince Albert Raiders round out the top five picks in that respective order. Moose Jaw’s fourth overall draft choice was acquired from the Kamloops Blazers in a 2013 trade that sent St. Louis Blues pick Joel Edmundson the other way. The Warriors' own top pick ended up being the sixth selection.

Beyond Smith, North Shore Winter Club products Luka Burzan and Jackson Leppard have established themselves as elite forwards. They are both believed to be in the running to be selected with top five draft choices.

“After Smith, NSWC should see a couple high end forwards go with the likes Luka Burzan and big winger Jackson Leppard,” says Neisz. “Both players have won several awards at major tournaments and both players will be at the Western Canada Bantam Championships in Winnipeg. They are consensus top five picks at this point as Leppard has really risen to the task this year.”

Manitoba followed up producing Mattheos with a handful of bluechip prospects such as Brandon Wheat Kings (bantam team) defender Calen Addison, Winnipeg Warriors rearguard Jeff Woo and Winnipeg Monarchs forward Riley Stotts. The Keystone Province has the potential to lead the way in top 10 selections.

“Calen Addison scored a mind-numbing 45 goals and 76 points to lead the WPG AAA league in both categories,” adds Neisz. “He is the best skater in the draft but some scouts are of the opinion that he may make a better centerman than a defenseman due to his generous listing at 5-foot-9, 165-pounds…. Jett Woo and Riley Stotts are a couple other players who belong in the consideration to be lottery picks. Woo was the other player who was part of the Canada Winter Games as an underage player with Manitoba. Woo has a bit of a mean streak and has a solid all-around game. Stotts is one of the better pure scorers in the draft and it is highly unlikely he will fall out of the top six picks.”

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