u/grypas15

"The 2026 WHL Preseason will feature a pilot project aimed at enhancing the fan experience of three-on-three overtime.

Under the ‘No Return’ three-on-three overtime format, once a team has gained the blueline, a player cannot deliberately carry, pass, or shoot the puck outside the blueline. Should this occur, play will immediately be whistled down (unless the opposing team collects the puck first) and the resulting face-off will occur in the defensive zone of the offending team with no line change permitted. The team benefitting from the offensive zone faceoff will have the opportunity to select which circle the faceoff occurs in.

‘No Return’ three-on-three overtime has been contemplated in early anticipation of changing coaching strategies during three-on-three overtimes that are highly conservative and may potentially reduce the excitement of the extra period. Key measures for this pilot will include the number of shot attempts and scoring chances in overtime and the percentage of game outcomes determined by overtime prior to a shootout.

All 2026 WHL Preseason games, regardless of final score, will feature ‘No Return’ three-on-three overtime to allow all Clubs the opportunity to pilot the rule.

Following the 2026 WHL Preseason, WHL General Managers will vote on the implementation of ‘No Return’ Three-on-Three Overtime for the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season."

https://chl.ca/whl/article/state-of-the-western-hockey-league-june-2026/

Rule Changes for the 26-27 Season.

1. The Season has been extended to allow for more rest time for players
2. The First Round of the WHL Playoffs will be a Best of 5 to accomodate for the extension of the season
3. Teams will be allowed to travel by air for One (1) set of Out of Conference Road Games that would be a greater than 10 Hour bus ride
4. The Preseason will Pilot a 3-on-3 Overtime "No Return" rule, where teams will not be able to retreat from the Offensive Zone into the Neutral Zone while in possession of the puck. Committing this infraction will case a faceoff in that team's Defensive Zone.

Click here more information and for more on the "State of the Western Hockey League"

https://chl.ca/whl/article/state-of-the-western-hockey-league-june-2026/

Melicherik is a big forward at 6'2" and 190 pounds. Last season as a 15 year old playing in the Liiga U18 league he totaled 55 points (29 goals, 26 assists) in just 43 games. He also represented Slovakia at the U18 World Cup (the youngest player in the tournament), where he played in 10 games picking up 2 points, 1 goal and 1 assist on the way to a silver medal. Melicherik is a shoot-first forward and is a highly touted prospect. The biggest question is whether or not he will choose to be in Portland for his Junior career.

The Portland Winterhawks are trading defenseman Griffin Darby (08) to the Moose Jaw Warriors for a 1st Round 2027 CHL Import Draft pick, 2nd Round 2028 pick (via LET), 5th Round 2027 pick, and a 6th Round 2028 pick.

This is probably the best Franchise I've done. Players have developed like crazy. King went from Franchise Low to Franchise High. Kuznetsov went from Elite Med to Franchise Low. Antilla went from Franchise Med to Franchise High, Wescott is and was Franchise Med. DuPont is still a Franchise Med. I drafted all of them. For a few seasons I had for Gavin McKenna, (the team that drafted him offered him to me) but I couldn't re-sign because he wanted too much money, flipped him for Murata who was an Elite Med and is now Franchise Low (gonna have to trade him after next season too, unfortunately).