Now it’s up to the National Hockey League scouts and general managers to decide their professional hockey future.
Tracey, the Moose Jaw Warriors standout rookie, and Newkirk, who suited up for the Portland Winterhawks but hails from Moose Jaw, are both ranked by the Central Scouting Bureau heading into the draft this Friday and Saturday in Vancouver.
The reigning Western Hockey League rookie of the year, Tracey could hear his name called as early as Friday afternoon during the nationally televised first round. That’s because the 18-year-old Calgary product is the 21st ranked North American skater in the CSB final ranking, a dramatic rise from his spot at 73 when the midterm rankings were released in January.
And for good reason – Tracey capped the campaign with 36 goals and 81 points to lead all rookies and finish 16th overall in WHL scoring.
Based on past NHL Draft results, a first round selection from Tracey’s position would require some moving up the board, but early second round is a distinct possibility -- the 21st ranked skater in 2018, Mattias Samuelsson, ended up going to the Buffalo Sabres as the first pick in the second round, 32nd overall.
Newkirk will likely have a bit of a longer wait. He’s ranked at 81st overall among North American skaters after scoring 23 goals and 59 points in 68 games this season, placing him in the third round. While the 81st ranked player in the 2018 Draft, Vladislav Kotkov, went undrafted, the 80th overall player, Riley Sutter, was selected in the third round 93rd overall and the 82nd ranked player, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, moved up to third round 76th overall.
Newkirk’s selection would mark the first Moose Jaw player drafted since Rhett Gardner was chosen in the fourth round, 116th overall by the Dallas Stars in 2016.
