The chance of Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Max Wanner and forward Martin Rysavy returning to the Western Hockey League team this season was already small, but has now become almost nonexistent.
Both overage players were assigned to their respective American Hockey League clubs on Thursday and Friday, making it extremely unlikely they’ll be back with the Warriors this season.
Wanner is a signed prospect with the Edmonton Oilers after being selected in the seventh round, 212th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He received rave reviews from onlookers throughout training camp and continued to cement his status as a future professional player in the NHL preseason.
The former Prairie Hockey Academy standout played in one exhibition contest, a 5-0 split-squad loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, Sept. 25, and was held without a point while finishing minus-one and seeing 16:49 of ice time.
Heading into the campaign it was expected he would start the season with the Bridgeport Islanders and that will now be the case after he was sent to the Oilers’ AHL affiliate on Thursday.
Rysavy was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round, 197th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft but remains unsigned and will be trying to crack the Cleveland Monsters line-up as a free agent.
The Prerov, Czechia native played in the Jackets' 4-3 split squad overtime win on Sunday, Sept. 24 and hit the scoresheet in the process, drawing an assist on Carson Meyer’s first-period goal. He also recorded a hit and took a minor penalty while seeing 6:28 of ice time.
Seeing as both Wanner and Rysavy are 20-year-olds, they can be assigned to any level of minor league hockey and don’t have to be returned to the Warriors.
That’s not to say that can’t happen, though -- one just has to look back to last November when the New York Rangers decided to return overeager Ryder Korczak to the Warriors after a short stint in the AHL. Korczak would go on to put up 28 goals and 69 points in 48 games with Moose Jaw.
The Warriors are currently at the three-overager limit with forward Atley Calvert, forward Eric Alarie and defenceman Lucas Brenton.
A Rysavy return would also hit the Warriors’ import player situation, with 17-year-olds Andrej Tomasec and Patrick Kral currently with the club.
Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk remains the lone player in NHL camp as he continues to skate with the Blue Jackets.
The Warriors are back in action with pair of games this weekend as they take on the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Moose Jaw Events Centre on Friday night before travelling to Regina to face the Pats on Saturday.
