After winning the first pick in the lottery, the Regina Pats hold the No. 1 overall pick in the WHL Prospects Draft. Regina star Maddox Schultz is the favourite to be selected first overall.
“We know the direction we want to go. We knew for a long time that we were going to be in the lottery,” Millar told the SportsCage. “The first communication I'm going to have to tell someone who we're taking as number one is going to be the player and his family. We'll work with the WHL on that process over the next couple of weeks and that's where we're at."
Schultz plays for the Regina Pat Canadians and was named the 2024-2025 Canadian Elite Hockey Lague Player of the Year. Regina won the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League title and the Western Regional tournament. That put the Pat Canadians in the Telus Cup under-18 national championship tournament in Chilliwack, B.C from April 21-27.
"I can't mention Maddox without congratulations to the Pat C's, the run they're on and the impressive showing at Western Regionals," Millar said. "We wish them all the best in getting ready for the Telus Cup and trying to win a national championship."
The Pats currently hold five draft picks in the first two rounds in the 2025 WHL Prospect Draft.
"I think we're open to anything. When we built the foundation with the young group we have now and the draft capital we have, we wanted to look at it to see if it gave us options to improve our team, whether it's this summer, a year from now or whenever," Millar said.
"If there's an opportunity to be aggressive and move up, we'll consider it. If we take the first four picks, use them and feel we want to push our third, second-round pick into future years to utilize it differently down the road, we're preparing for an important offseason. This draft, the draft capital, making any moves to improve our team, the import draft, all those things are important to us. We want to take a good step next year. Everything's on the table to consider what we need to do to get better."
The Pats did not make the WHL playoffs for the second straight year. During the 2023-2024 season, Regina finished with 22 wins and 40 losses; the following season, 16 wins and 44 losses. The last time the Pats made the WHL playoffs was in 2022 when the team finished sixth in the East with 34 wins and 30 losses. In a seven game series, the Pats lost in the first round against the Saskatoon Blades.
Millar's career in hockey management dates back to 1989, working for the American Hockey League's Newmarket Saints now known as the Toronto Marlies. Prior to his time with the Pats, he spent time with the Moose Jaw Warriors first as a director of hockey operations from 2010-2012, then as the team's general manager from 2012-2021.
"I've never had that many picks -- the draft capital is important. You want to draft well, you want to develop, that's the model. Teams that grow up together have success together," Millar said. "Teams that win championships traditionally have 15-plus players that have been drafted and grown up in your own organization.."
Pats fans will find out what the team does with the No. 1 overall pick on Wednesday, May 7 when the 2025 WHL Prospect Draft takes place.
