WHL East Division preview: Will anyone challenge the Brandon Wheat Kings?

Yahoo’s Buzzing the Net will preview the upcoming 2014-15 WHL season, going division by division and asking the biggest question of each team. Here is the East Division preview.

Teams here are listed in predicted order of finish, from first to last.

Brandon Wheat Kings – 2013-14 record: 34-29-6-3 for 77 points; division finish: third; result: lost to Edmonton in second round.

Can the Wheat Kings take a run at the Ed Chynoweth Cup this year?

Brandon is built for next year, but like the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2011-12, they have the potential to win it all a year early. They proved they’re on the fast track last year when they swept the Regina Pats in the first round.

It’s a given that the Wheat Kings will be able to lean on New Jersey Devils first-rounder John Quenneville, Florida Panthers prospect Jayce Hawryluk, top 2015 NHL draft prospect Ryan Pilon and 18-year-old goalie Jordan Papirny to help them take the division. The real question is will prized pick Nolan Patrick, esteemed blueliner Kale Clague and Russian import Ivan Provorov make big enough impacts as rookies to make Brandon a contender? If so, the word dynasty may be used to describe Manitoba’s only major junior team about three years from now.

Swift Current Broncos – 2013-14 record: 38-25-3-6 for 85 points; division finish: second; result: lost to Medicine Hat in first round.

Will the Broncos get enough help beyond their back end to do some damage in the playoffs?

Even if Dallas Stars first-rounder Julius Honka doesn’t return from the NHL or jets to Finland, Swift Current will have one of the top bluelines in the entire league this season with Columbus Blue Jackets second-rounder Dillon Heatherington, Buffalo Sabres prospect Brycen Martin and Montreal Canadiens prospect Brett Lernout in their arsenal. Not to mention, 16-year-old rookie defender Max Lajoie has stood out in pre-season action. This is impressive on its own, but even more so considering Broncos GM-head coach Mark Lamb has managed to put together a bolstered back end in the WHL’s smallest market.

Swift Current’s defence should ensure they make the playoffs, especially since only the Wheat Kings appear to have a step on them in the East Division, but how far they go in the second season will depend on where their offense and goaltending situations stand. They lost their No. 1 netminder, Eetu Laurikainen, and top forward, Devils prospect Graham Black, in the offseason. Therefore, they’re counting on last year’s backup Landon Bow to step up in net and a couple forwards such as Glenn Gawdin and Jay Merkley to elevate their games.

Regina Pats – 2013-14 record: 39-26-4-3 for 85 points; division finish: first; result: lost to Brandon in first round.

Can Morgan Klimchuk and Sam Steel carry Regina back into the playoffs?

It’s beginning to be a trend for the Pats to count on two star forwards. They went from Jordan Eberle and Jordan Weal to Weal and Chandler Stephenson to Stephenson and Morgan Klimchuk to now Klimchuk and Steel. So it’s the same old game plan in Regina this year.

Klimchuk, a Calgary Flames first-round pick, comes as advertised as an elite star forward. It isn’t, however, as cut and dry when evaluating Steel. Based on his previous year in midget and outstanding pre-season stats, six goals and 10 points in four games, he should without question be an impact player this season, but whether he just hits around the 40-point mark or goes over 60 points is up in the air. The answer to that question could determine whether the Pats move on to the post-season.

It seems Regina’s defence will be a work in progress yet again this year. The play of Russian import Sergey Zborovsky and 17-year-old Brady Reagan will ultimately sink or swim their blueline. Daniel Wapple, who will likely be their No. 1 goalie, will need it to be the latter to post above-average stats.

Moose Jaw Warriors – 2013-14 record: 21-43-3-6 for 51 points; division finish: fifth; result: missed the playoffs.

Will the Warriors get back into the second season?

The Warriors are due to make the playoffs after missing out the last two seasons. Moreover, in the third year of a rebuild, the expectations should be nothing less under new head coach Tim Hunter.

Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Brayden Point gives the Warriors hope, but they’ll need more offensive help than him to bounce back from their 51-point season. Forwards such as offseason acquisition Kolten Olynek, 2012 first-rounder Jayden Halbgewachs and 16-year-old Brett Howden will be counted on to take some pressure off his shoulders.

Justin Paulic didn’t live up to expectations in net last year with a .891 save percentage throughout 56 games. It’s key for the Warriors for him to take a couple strides forward in his game. If that doesn’t happen, 17-year-old Zachary Sawchenko is waiting in the wings.

Prince Albert Raiders – 2013-14 record: 35-32-3-2 for 75 points; division finish; fourth; result: lost to Edmonton in first round.

Will Josh Morrissey return for his 19-year-old season?

Taking into account reports have surfaced that Leon Draisaitl will head to Europe if he doesn’t crack the Edmonton Oilers, it seems unlikely that Prince Albert will see the German native in a Raiders sweater again.

That leaves the question: Will Morrissey crack the Winnipeg Jets as a 19-year-old? If he doesn’t, there’s hope that the Raiders could make the playoffs if some players such as 17-year-old goalie Nick McBride and 18-year-old forward Reid Gardiner step up. But if Morrissey sticks in Winnipeg, which at this point is the consensus prediction, don’t expect to see Prince Albert in the post-season.

What’s interesting about this year in Prince Albert is that GM Bruno Campese and head coach Cory Clouston are on their last years of their contracts. It appears that after a handful of disappointing seasons, Campese, along with his hire Clouston, will be shown the door unless the Raiders manage to pull a rabbit out of the hat this year.

Saskatoon Blades – 2013-14 record: 16-51-2-3 for 37 points; division finish: sixth; result: missed the playoffs.

Do the Bridge City Boys have a shot at the post-season?

The Blades’ immediate future really depends on Canadiens first-rounder Nikita Scherbak. It seems like a safe bet that he won’t crack the NHL this year, but there has been speculation that Saskatoon may trade him for some future assets. If that’s the case, Jim Mora’s famous quote will be a good description of their chances of making the playoffs. If Scherbak sticks in Saskatoon, though, they may have a shot at sneaking into the second season.

The main reason why the Blades have the potential to rebound from their 37-point season with a playoff berth is a trio of key trades. The acquisitions of 19-year-old centre Alex Forsberg, 18-year-old defender Jordan Thomson and 17-year-old forward Wyatt Sloboshan sped up their rebuild process in a major way. If all three players make notable impacts and overage goalie Troy Tremblay stands tall in net, it’s possible the Blades could outperform two of their division rivals.

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