Trouble in Hawkey Land

Today, the Western Hockey League has handed down some serious sanctions to the Portland Winterhawks that will greatly affect their ability to acquire new talent for the next five years.  In a statement released by the WHL, the following will happen:

As a result of a series of player benefit violations which have occurred over the past four seasons, WHL Commissioner Ron Robison has suspended the Portland Winterhawks from participating in the first five rounds of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft and the forfeiture of their first round selections in the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 WHL Bantam Drafts. Should the first round selection in 2014 not be available due to a conditional trade, Portland will surrender their second and third round picks in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. The WHL also announced the Portland Winterhawks have been fined $200,000 and Winterhawks General Manager and Head Coach Mike Johnston has been suspended for the balance of the 2012-13 season, including the 2013 WHL Playoffs.

Now, while none of the sanctions will affect the Winterhawks' ability to participate in the 2013 WHL playoffs, which seems almost like a foregone conclusion, even after only two and a half months into the season, their ability to make the playoffs in the following seasons will be affected.  The Bantam Draft is a team's chance to stock up on incoming talent, particularly the 16 year olds and imports.  Since the Winterhawks will be without a pick in the first five rounds of next year's draft, that means the Winterhawks will have a harder time replacing the likes of Troy Rutkowski, Taylor Leier, and Mac Carruth, all of whom are over-aged players.  Also an issue is how to replace the likes of Derrick Pouliot and Brendan Leipsic, both of whom will likely make the jump to the pros next year.  As for what effects this decision will have right now, the Winterhawks will be without the head coach for the rest of the season, and either Travis Green or Kyle Gustafson, both of whom are assistant coaches, will likely fill in for the rest of the season.  Leadership is important, and it will be interesting to see how the players will react to a different voice behind the bench.