WHL Eastern Conference preview: Brandon Wheat Kings heavily favoured to come out on top

The WHL’s Eastern Conference can be summed up in two different categories: the Brandon Wheat Kings and everyone else.

Albeit the Red Deer Rebels, who are hosting the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup, and the John Paddock-led Regina Pats have solid rosters, the Wheat Kings are above and away the top team in the conference. They clearly have what it takes to make a second-straight appearance in the championship series.

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

East Division

Brandon Wheat Kings – 2014-15 record: 53-11-4-4 for 114 points; division finish: first; result: lost to Kelowna in the championship series.

Who is going to play on Brandon’s back end?

Just to be clear, regardless of how their blueline plays out, the Wheaties are still the top team in the conference because they have a loaded offense consisting of three NHL draft picks (Reid Duke, John Quenneville and Jayce Hawryluk), 2014 first-overall bantam pick Stelio Mattheos, top 2017 NHL prospect Nolan Patrick and star overage Tim McGauley. Not to mention, Jordan Papirny has proven himself as a reliable goaltender.

Nevertheless, how their back end plays out will dictate whether they are simply an elite team or a squad that will be remembered for decades to come. It seems New York Islanders draft choice Ryan Pilon is gone, as he stepped away from the game for personal reasons. The immediate futures of Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick Ivan Provorov and Calgary Flames second-round pick Oliver Kylington remain up in the air, though. There’s a chance Provorov could stick with the Flyers while Kylington is eligible to play in the AHL.

Regina Pats – 2014-15 record: 37-24-5-6 for 85 points; division finish: second; result: lost to Brandon in the semi-finals.

How far off is Regina from Brandon?

Unless they get plagued with injuries, all signs point to another Pats vs. Wheat Kings showdown in the semi-finals. They seem to have a step on the rest of the East Division teams when it comes to a complete roster.

Brandon’s offense is clearly head and shoulders above Regina, especially with the Pats trading Boston Bruins pick Jesse Gabrielle to the Prince George Cougars in the offseason, but it had to be done for dressing-room morale reasons. On the defensive side of the puck, however, there’s a chance the Pats could have the edge on them if Provorov stays in the NHL and Daniel Wapple outplays Papirny in net.

Moose Jaw Warriors – 2014-15 record: 32-35-4-1 for 69 points; division finish: fourth; result: missed the playoffs.

Where will Point finish his WHL career?

Warriors architect Alan Millar will have a tough decision to make with Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Brayden Point, 19, before the Jan. 10 trade deadline. He could set his team up for the future by landing some enticing picks and prospects for the veteran in a trade; however, in doing so, the move could cause his club to miss the playoffs for the fourth-straight year. Trading him is the smarter long-term decision of the two, but playoff patience might be running out in Moose Jaw.

Swift Current Broncos – 2014-15 record: 34-33-1-4 for 73 points; division finish: third; result: lost to Regina in the quarter-finals.

Is Swift Current capable of winning a playoff series?

The Broncos haven’t won a playoff series since star alumni Cody Eakin was a rookie in 2007-08. They have been knocked out in the first round five times and missed all together the other two years since then.

When taking into account Columbus Blue Jackets defender Dillon Heatherington has departed to the pros and their poor effort against the Pats last playoff, it’s hard to imagine how they will win a series this year. But with Landon Bow in net and Boston Bruins first-round selection Jake DeBrusk up front, anything is possible.

Prince Albert Raiders – 2014-15 record: 31-37-2-2 for 66 points; division finish: fifth; result: missed the playoffs.

Can Habscheid pull off a playoff season?

Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid finds a way to get it done. He managed to nab a playoff spot in his three years with the Chilliwack Bruins/Victoria Royals organization and led the Rockets to a WHL championship in 2003.

That said, he will have his work cut out for him in Prince Albert this season. The club has some talent to work with like Buffalo Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle and 19-year-old veteran Reid Gardiner, but they appear to be a step behind at least three of their division rivals.

Saskatoon Blades – 2014-15 record: 19-49-2-2 for 42 points; division finish: last; result: missed the playoffs.

How much fruit will they bear?

Despite entering their third year of a major rebuild, the Blades still don’t appear to be ready to take a run a playoff spot. It’s not a testament to any hiccups in their rebuild, but rather how empty the old ownership group (Jack Brodsky and company) left the cupboard when they sold the team to Mike Priestner.

Nonetheless, the Blades are expected to bear some fruit this season from the new ownership group’s moves on the 2014 draft floor. Second-round bantam picks Jake Kustra and Josh Paterson are two of the most notable players to keep an eye on.

Central Division

Red Deer Rebels – 2014-15 record: 38-23-5-6 for 87 points; division finish: third; result: lost to Medicine Hat in the quarter-finals.

Can Red Deer score enough goals to beat the best?

The Rebels simply didn’t find the back of the net enough last year to compete with the top teams in the conference. They netted 240 goals in the regular-season (100 less than Brandon) and only mustered nine in five playoff games.

They are desperately counting on Winnipeg Jets pick Michael Spacek, whom they selected in the recent CHL import draft, to produce and Colorado Avlanche first-round pick Conner Bleackley to improve on his previous 49-point season. It could be 2013 all over again for the WHL’s Memorial Cup host team if that doesn’t happen.

Medicine Hat Tigers – 2014-15 record: 45-23-2-2 for 94 points; division finish: second; result: lost to Calgary in the semi-finals.

How many points will Cox and Sanford produce?

It seems the sky is the limit for Trevor Cox and Cole Sanford in their 20-year-old seasons this year. They appear to have good odds of finishing at the top of the WHL’s scoring race following combining for 79 goals and 204 points last season. It will be interesting to see if NHL deals follow their expected success, or whether only AHL teams will knock on their doors because of their smaller statures.

Calgary Hitmen – 2014-15 record: 45-22-1-4 for 95 points; division finish: first; result: lost to Brandon in the conference finals.

Will Virtanen return to Cowtown?

The numbers, 21 goals and 52 points in 50 games, Jake Virtanen produced as an 18 year old don’t exactly imply he’s ready for The Show. But since he can play up and down a lineup because of his tenacity, elite skating ability and solid two-way game, he has a shot at sticking with the Vancouver Canucks this season. The outcome will greatly affect where the Hitmen stand in the Central Division.

Edmonton Oil Kings – 2014-15 record: 34-31-4-3 for 75 points; division finish: fifth; result: lost to Brandon in the quarter-finals.

How will Edmonton fare without Jarry in net?

Moving on from the Tristan Jarry era won’t be easy for the Oil Kings. The Pittsburgh Penguins second-round pick was the club’s top talent and backbone last year.

In saying that, the pressure is on recently signed Los Angeles Kings prospect Alec Dillon and/or last year's backup Patrick Dea. The club's play between the pipes could be the difference in Edmonton making the second season or falling short for the first time in five years.

Lethbridge Hurricanes – 2014-15 record: 20-44-5-3 for 48 points; division finish: last; result: missed the playoffs.

Is a playoff spot in the cards?

With Peter Anholt in the GM chair and Brent Kisio behind the bench, there’s hope that the organization will return to the post-season for the first time since 2009. The odds are against them to make that happen this year, but sophomore goalie Stuart Skinner has the potential to flip the script. He was phenomenal last season, posting a .909 save percentage in 43 games on a troubled team and appearing as one of the best 16-year-old netminders to play in the WHL since Montreal Canadiens star Carey Price.

Kootenay Ice – 2014-15 record: 37-31-1-3 for 78 points; division finish: fourth; result: lost to Calgary in the quarter-finals.

Will Kootenay’s playoff streak finally end?

The Ice have yet to miss the post-season in the organization’s 17 years in Kootenay. It almost seems asinine to predict the streak will end; however, with Buffalo Sabres first-round pick Sam Reinhart, Canadiens prospect Tim Bozon and Toronto Maple Leafs pick Rinat Valiev no longer with the team, it’s hard to fathom how they will be able to crack the conference’s top eight. Moreover, it appears like a good time for general manager Jeff Chynoweth to sell at the trade deadline in order to build for the future.

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