What Does the WHL Have That the NHL Doesn’t? A Season.

As the NHL and NHLPA continue to toil and barter – whether it’s successful or a bust, we’ll soon know – the WHL is ramping up for another year, with the preseason well underway and coming to a close.

St. Croix signs with New York Rangers

Michael St. Croix was a stud for the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2012, helping the team to a first overall finish in the regular season, a WHL championship, and a Memorial Cup birth.

On Friday, the kid (St. Croix is 19 years old) signed a three-year NHL entry level deal with the New York Rangers, the team that drafted him with the 106th overall pick in 2011.

St. Croix led the Oil Kings with 45 goals and 60 assists for 105 points in 2011/12. All three of those were Oil Kings records, as were his 18 power play goals.

Ryan Murray re-joins Everett Silvertips

Murray is the most touted player in the Western Hockey League. Why?

He was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. He played for Canada at the 2012 World Championships – the only non-NHL player to do so. And, he’s an all-around monster on the back end.

On Thursday, the Colubmus Blue Jackets announced they were sending Murray back to the Everett Silvertips, at least for the time being.

It’s true. The longer the NHL holds out, the better for the WHL.

Colton Sissons signs with Nashville Predators

While one captain heads back to Everett, Kelowna Rockets captain Colton Sissons has inked his future, signing with the Nashville Predators on Thursday, Sept. 12.

Sissons led the Rockets to a sixth place finish in the 2012 regular season, although Kelowna lost to Portland in the first round of last year’s WHL playoffs.

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*videos by Kolby Solinsky / footage courtesy of SendToNews