Kailer Yamamoto is currently in his third season with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League and it will most likely be his last. The 18-year-old forward is 2017 draft eligible and was ranked as the No. 19 skater by Craig Button back in September. Since then, he has moved up five spots to No. 14 on his list.
Through 25 games this season, the Spokane, Washington native has 19 goals and 39 points, and is most likely going to earn a spot on USA’s World Junior team this year. In a recent game against the Kootenay Ice, Yamamoto showed everyone exactly why he’s projected to go in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
If he can pull off moves like that at the NHL level then this kid is going to be a huge asset to whichever team ends up drafting him next summer. As of right now he’s just outside the Top 10, but there’s still plenty of time for that to change.
Through 150 career games in the WHL, Yamamoto has scored 61 goals and totaled 167 points. Last year, he finished with 19 goals in 57 games. This year, he already has 19 goals through the first 25 games of the season.
(H/T YouTube/NHL Prospects)
