Cameron Whitehead – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #26 Vegas Golden Knights – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:00:40 +0000

Björklövens Jakob Ihs-Wozniak
Photo: Johan Löf / BILDBYRÅ

Prospect System Ranking – 26th (Last Year - 30th)

GM: Kelly McCrimmon Hired: September 2019
COACH: John Tortorella Hired: March 2026

Draft capital has never been a top priority for the Vegas Golden Knights. That approach is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that they have made just four selections in each of the past three drafts. But when a franchise has reached the playoffs in eight of its first nine seasons — including two Stanley Cup Final appearances and a championship — the urgency to build through the draft becomes far less pressing.

Since entering the league in 2018, Vegas has consistently leveraged its premium picks and prospects as currency to acquire proven NHL talent. Of the organization’s eight total first-round selections, only one remains in the system: Trevor Connelly. Now beginning his professional career, the 20-year-old forward has shown early signs that his offensive production can translate to the AHL level. Despite missing time due to injury, Connelly has produced at nearly a point-per-game pace as one of the Henderson Silver Knights’ most dynamic forwards.

Between the pipes, Carl Lindbom (140th) has also turned heads during his rookie campaign with Henderson. Despite the Silver Knights struggling to remain highly competitive, the young goaltender has posted a strong 12–5–6 record, accounting for half of the club’s wins while already earning appearances with the NHL squad in Vegas. Connelly and Lindbom headline a group of young Silver Knights prospects who dominate the organization’s rankings, including Lukas Cormier (168th), Viliam Kmec, Mathieu Cataford, Tuomas Uronen, Jakub Brabenec, and Ben Hemmerling.

The reality, however, is that Vegas continues to operate with one of the league’s thinnest prospect pools. For the Golden Knights, prospects are rarely viewed as long-term cornerstones. And in Vegas, the deck can always change overnight.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
VGK	1	Trevor Connelly	LW	20	6-1/160	Henderson (AHL)	46	14	35	49	18
VGK	2	Jakob Ihs Wozniak	RW	19	6-3/190	Bjorkloven (Allsvenskan)	36	9	14	23	12
VGK	3	Carl Lindbom	G	23	6-1/165	Henderson (AHL)	35	24	5	2.16	0.926
VGK	4	Lukas Cormier	D	24	5-11/190	Henderson (AHL)	49	8	39	47	32
VGK	5	Tuomas Uronen	RW	21	5-11/180	Henderson (AHL)	57	12	8	20	34
VGK	6	Pavel Moysevich	G	21	6-7/190	SKA-VMF St. Petersburg (VHL)	10	5	3	2.41	0.917
VGK	7	Lucas Van Vliet	C	20	6-2/180	St. Thomas (NCAA)	37	14	21	35	21
VGK	8	Mateo Nobert	C	18	6-0/170	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	62	30	48	78	14
VGK	9	Matyas Sapovaliv	C	22	6-3/180	Henderson (AHL)	72	18	17	35	8
VGK	10	Ben Hemmerling	RW	22	5-10/160	Henderson (AHL)	68	21	29	50	16
VGK	11	Mathieu Cataford	C	21	5-11/185	Henderson (AHL)	59	3	10	13	24
VGK	12	Jakub Brabenec	C	22	6-1/175	Henderson (AHL)	62	12	19	31	34
VGK	13	Jozef Viliam Kmec	D	22	6-1/200	Henderson (AHL)	65	4	12	16	27
VGK	14	Cameron Whitehead	G	22	6-3/170	Tahoe (ECHL)	24	12	9	3.01	0.921
VGK	14	Cameron Whitehead	G	22	6-3/170	Henderson (AHL)	17	6	7	3.54	0.873
VGK	15	Alex Weiermair	C	21	6-1/190	Portland (WHL)	66	37	56	93	28
VGK	15	Alex Weiermair	C	21	6-1/190	Tahoe (ECHL)	2	0	1	1	0

1. Trevor Connelly, LW, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Trevor Connelly’s game is all about speed and skill. He’s an extremely quick winger who can get up to top speed in almost no time, and he can use his blazing speed to burn NHL-level defenders. Connelly is also extremely skilled with the puck; his hands are fantastic and he can make plays to his linemates that seem impossible to the naked eye. Much was made of the fact that Connelly left Providence College after one season, but he has been good this year offensively with the Silver Knights in a feature role (36GP, 11-27-38), even though he has missed time this year due to injury. Like any young player, Connelly’s defensive zone game is still a work in progress, but he’s never going to be counted upon to shut players down at the next level. Connelly ultimately projects as a top six forward who can be an offensive difference maker at the NHL level, but he still needs more time at the AHL level to grow stronger and round out his game.

2. Jakob Ihs Wozniak, RW, IF Björklöven (Allsvenskan)

Ihs Wozniak has taken an important step in his development this season through increased opportunity at the professional level. He began the year in the SHL with Luleå but moved on loan to Björklöven in Allsvenskan, where he has made a strong impact in a larger role. The move has clearly benefited his development, giving him more ice time and responsibility and allowing his game to grow in a bigger role. His overall play looks more composed, particularly in how he manages pace and makes decisions under pressure. His strengths are built around mobility, work rate, and situational awareness, with clear offensive instincts as a finisher. He has also shown flashes of the scoring touch that defined his U20 play. While that finishing ability is still developing at the professional level, his confidence attacking scoring areas and releasing pucks quickly is trending upward. Areas for continued growth include adding strength and improving shift-to-shift consistency. From a projection standpoint, Ihs Wozniak projects as a developing role player with offensive upside, with the potential to grow into a middle six scoring option if his progression continues. His most realistic path involves continued development at the professional level, with NHL consideration dependent on physical development and consistent performance over time.

3. Carl Lindbom, G, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Carl Lindbom is a decent-sized goalie with nice athleticism who has really put together some excellent play over the past couple of seasons, especially this year with the Henderson Silver Knights (35GP, 24-5-8, 2.16 GAA, 0.926 SV%), his second season in North America. Lindbom’s game is all about his athleticism in the crease; he’s fantastic at propelling his body to make those near-impossible saves, and he can extend his body to make it seem like he’s bigger in the crease than his 6-foot-1 frame suggests. Lindbom does need to continue to work on his rebound control, as he is prone to giving out juicy rebounds every now and then, but he does compete hard in the crease, especially when he has to fight through heavy net-front traffic. Lindbom needs more time to build experience in his game at the AHL level, but he is tracking well and it looks like he might have the tools to become a future starting goalie at the NHL level.

4. Lukas Cormier, D, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Lukas Cormier has really revived his status as an NHL prospect with his excellent play this season for the Henderson Silver Knights (49 GP, 8-39-47). Cormier dealt with the injury bug last season, and it really put his prospect status with the Vegas Golden Knights on hold. This season, however, Cormier has really taken off offensively as the main point man for the Silver Knights. Cormier’s game is all about his offensive awareness; he is a very smart defender who is great at shooting for rebounds, but he can also make a quick dish to set a teammate up from the flank. Cormier’s not the biggest of players, however, and there are times in his own zone when he’s too easy to knock off the puck. At the NHL level, Cormier will not be expected to play on a penalty kill, but he will need to show that he is capable of playing regular five-on-five minutes in his own zone. Cormier’s getting there, and he should get his opportunity in the NHL very soon.

5. Tuomas Uronen, RW, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Tuomas Uronen might be a bit of an unknown to many Golden Knights fans, but he has had a good rookie season so far with the Henderson Silver Knights at the AHL level (57GP, 12-8-20) in a depth role. Uronen’s game is all about his intelligence with and without the puck; he knows where to be positionally to get the puck back from the opposition, but he’s also an underrated playmaker who can create scoring opportunities out of nothing for his linemates. Uronen’s also gotten to utilize his underrated shot this season and has cashed in goals from some of the more difficult areas of the ice. Uronen does need to work on his physicality, especially in his own zone, but he is tracking well as a future depth contributor for the Vegas Golden Knights. He probably doesn’t have enough high-end skill to become an offensive contributor at the NHL level, but a long career as a middle six two-way player is not out of the question for the young player from Finland.

6. Pavel Moysevich, G, St. Petersburg (VHL)

Moysevich is back in the VHL following a disappointing season in the KHL last year. The 6-foot-7 giant has put up good numbers in limited action, as he got hurt in October, not returning till mid-January. He's gifted with a fascinating combination of size and body control, eating up the entire net when squared up or moving laterally. His massive pads cover the entire width of the crease when he's in the butterfly or hugging the post. When he is focused and able to get square to shooters, he is very difficult to beat. The problem is, Moysevich is still raw and hasn't played many games over the past four seasons. He can really struggle to track pucks and anticipate plays in some games, and when he's late to his spot, he doesn't have time to get set or adjust his angle. His reactions are also a little slow at times and pucks can bleed through him or lead to juicy rebounds for the opposition. His freakish size covers up these holes for now, but we have to see him recreate that success he had in the KHL two years ago. If he can iron out the deficiencies, there could be a solid NHL backup goalie or 1B tandem option.

7. Lucas Van Vliet, LW, University of St. Thomas (NCAA)

A product of the USA NTDP, Van Vliet had a great season at the University of St. Thomas this year, putting up 34 points in 35 games, good enough to land him a CCHA Rookie of the Year award. There is definitely some offensive potential in his game as is evidenced with the collegiate point totals, but still some other areas that need to be improved before making the pro jump. Van Vliet brings an already established good size to the table, being listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. He is an interesting prospect who brings a combination of decent scoring skills and playmaking abilities. The one area that stands out is his skating; the freshman can maneuver around the ice effortlessly and his ability to manipulate space and avoid defenders is solid. Exiting the NTDP as a draft eligible player, the biggest concern was consistency and engagement, but that was much better in the NCAA as a freshman. There is a potential bottom six forward for the Golden Knights here, as long as the development curve continues to rise moving forward.

8. Mateo Nobert, C, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

Since being drafted 85th overall in last year’s draft, Mateo Nobert has taken steps both on and off the ice in regard to his development. After seeing him in person this year a few times, Nobert has visibly added to his frame; he looks stronger and larger than a year ago, showing once again why late birthdays (August, in this case) should be factored in when evaluating prospects. With his additional strength, Nobert has been a more efficient off puck player this season, engaging in more puck battles and being very comfortable playing the screen game in front of the net. While his skill level has not taken a huge step, his overall game is rounding out, increasing his chances of reaching the NHL one day with the Flyers. Nobert exceeded his points total from last season (78) and currently has six lesser games played. He will have a key role in Armada’s post-season, who have the roster strength to potentially represent the QMJHL in the Memorial Cup.

9. Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Matyas Sapovaliv is an interesting prospect because he doesn’t seem to know what he is yet at the pro level. Sapovaliv has the size (6-foot-4, 204 pounds) to become an effective bottom six forward who can be difficult to play against at both ends of the ice, but it’s almost as if he’s afraid to really take advantage of his large frame physically against men at the AHL level. Sapovaliv has tried to be more of a skill player at the pro level with the Henderson Silver Knights (72GP, 18-17-35), but he does not have enough high-end skill to completely disregard the use of his frame at the next level. As such, Sapovaliv has to really decide what he is over the next couple of seasons at the AHL level. If he learns to take better advantage of his size and develop a mean streak, a future bottom-six contributor could be here. If not, it’s more than likely he ends up back in Europe after his entry-level contract comes to an end.

10. Ben Hemmerling, RW, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Ben Hemmerling has been one of the better players for the Henderson Silver Knights this season (68GP, 21-29-50), where he has utilized his offensive skill to create scoring opportunities despite having a slightly undersized frame. Hemmerling is always a threat to score when the puck is on his stick, but he’s also an extremely efficient passer who is very effective in short range segments with the puck. Hemmerling is more of a perimeter player, however, so it would be nice for him to really build some strength so that he can drive more of the play as an offensive contributor on his line. Defensively, Hemmerling is fine in his own zone, which shouldn’t limit his deployment at the NHL level, but he’s more of a scoring talent who will need to carve out a role in the top six at the NHL level. The debate still remains as to whether Hemmerling’s ceiling is high enough for such a role, so he may end up being an NHL-AHL tweener.

11. Mathieu Cataford, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

To call Cataford’s first pro season a disappointment would be an understatement. The former QMJHL star and Canadian WJC player has been a near non-factor at the AHL level as a rookie. He’s got a well-rounded skill set, but he’ll need to carve out a niche to be an NHL player.

12. Jakub Brabanec, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

More was expected of Brabanec this year as a third-year pro, but he’s only moderately improved his production. A talented playmaker, Brabanec has yet to find a defined role with Henderson.

13. Villiam Kmec, D, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Following a breakout offensive season in the WHL with Prince George last year, Kmec has settled into more of a defensive role as a first year AHL player. The big defender has a well-rounded skill set and could develop into a useful bottom pairing defender in the future.

14. Cameron Whitehead, G, Tahoe Knight Monsters (ECHL) (Currently with Henderson Silver Knights, AHL)

Following two solid seasons at Northeastern, Whitehead signed with Vegas last year and expectations were pretty high for him as a first-year pro. However, he’s struggled at the AHL level…although he performed well at the ECHL level.

15. Alex Weiermair, C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

An overage draft selection by the Golden Knights last year, Weiermair has continued his upward trajectory in the WHL this year by improving his consistency and production. He can really shoot the puck and is an asset on the powerplay. However, Weiermair also has a solid all-around game. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the NCAA.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #30

The McKeen's Scouting Team — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 19:58:16 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 30th (May 2025 - 28th)
GM: Kelly McCrimmon Hired: September 2019
COACH: Bruce Cassidy Hired: June 2022

In true Vegas Golden Knights fashion, the offseason headline wasn’t about building for the future, rather landing the biggest name available. The addition of Mitch Marner instantly bolstered an already potent forward group, further cementing their all-in approach.

As expected, that win-now mentality translated to a quiet showing at the draft. The Knights made just four selections, with Swedish forward Jakob Ihs Wozniak (Luleå) being the only one to crack McKeens’ top 250.

Outside the Marner splash, Vegas remained relatively low-key during the 2024-25 season, including at the trade deadline. That restraint meant 2024 first-rounder Trevor Connelly stayed put. After signing his entry-level contract, Connelly turned pro following a single season at Providence College. His shifty, dual-threat skill set makes him one of the few legitimate impact prospects in the system.

In junior, 2023 sixth-round pick Tuomas Uronen erupted for 90 points in 63 OHL games with Kingston, capping it off with an outstanding playoff performance. Over in the QMJHL, Mathieu Cataford earned a spot at the World Juniors and will finish his junior career at the Memorial Cup with Rimouski. Both are primed to make the jump to the AHL in the near future.

On defense, Lukas Cormier has been limited to just 17 AHL games this season due to injury, while Viliam Kmec joined Henderson after a productive 61-point final junior campaign.

The reality is that Vegas’s prospect pool remains one of the thinnest in the league. GM Kelly McCrimmon has never been shy about flipping young assets for proven NHL talent, and the results speak for themselves.

For the Golden Knights, prospects aren’t long-term cornerstones; they’re trade chips. And in Vegas, you never know who will still be in the deck tomorrow.

Vegas Golden Knights Top-15 Prospects

1 - Trevor Connelly

Connelly showed a mix of offensive flashes and inconsistent play last season. Playing top six minutes in games at Providence College, he was primarily deployed at even strength and on the power play. Being injured for a chunk of the season was also a challenge for him as a freshman. Early reports praised his creativity, deceptive puck skills, and offensive vision, projecting him as a potential top six NHL forward. However, as the season progressed, his inconsistency became evident. His offensive upside remained apparent, particularly in net-front situations and below the goal line, but his defensive game and compete level lagged. Connelly frequently cheated for offence and lacked defensive responsibility. While he displayed occasional physicality and board battle engagement, his low effort and poor positioning limited his overall impact. If he can improve his compete level and defensive awareness, Connelly has the tools to become a middle six NHL scoring forward, but his long-term success will hinge on addressing these weaknesses. It will be very interesting to see how he does in the AHL this upcoming season and what Vegas has planned for him.

2 - Carl Lindbom

Lindbom has transitioned smoothly into being a high level AHL goalie. His elite positioning, footwork, anticipation, tracking, and high-end athleticism have transitioned well to the North American game. The biggest concern with his game last season was how he dealt with screens, either making poor decisions with how to play it or being hesitant in making saves. He seems to have completely overhauled this aspect, learning to fight through screens more efficiently and rid himself of any hesitation. For the past two seasons, he has dealt with an injury, missing a significant portion of the season. Because of this, he has never had the opportunity to shoulder a large workload across a full season, which, if he can’t do so, will limit his capabilities as a true starter in the NHL. Nevertheless, the tools he possesses are so great and the weaknesses in his game so miniscule that he is still one of the best goalie prospects in the league with an elite ceiling if he stays healthy.

3 - Jakob Ihs Wozniak

When you draft as infrequently as the Knights, high-risk, high-reward players like Jakob Ihs Wozniak are exactly the type of prospects you should be betting on. JIW is a sniper. The quality of his shot is sensational, and he very clearly thinks the game at a higher level than his peers. He’s got high-end offensive instincts and is such a crafty passer. He’s lights out on the power play and is learning to apply the same creativity and efficiency at even strength. He probably won’t drive his line at the NHL level based on his limited pace but can complement higher octane line mates who can. Finding a way to make a consistent impact away from the puck is going to be the key hurdle to vault for Ihs Wozniak. Despite his formidable size, his physical game is still a major work in progress. There isn’t always a consistent compete level, and one does not simply learn how to compete or to hate to lose. If he wants to stick at higher levels, he’ll have no choice but to learn how to compete at the SHL level first. Provided that comes after some seasoning in Luleå, Ihs Wozniak could reach his upside as a top nine complementary goal scoring winger and power play weapon.

4 - Lukas Cormier

After missing almost most of last season due to injury, Cormier returned late in the year to AHL action. The former two-time winner of the QMJHL’s most outstanding defenceman award is a high-end offensive blueliner. He can quarterback the power play. He walks and holds the offensive blueline well. He can lead the breakout. His mobility is a major asset for him. However, after a strong rookie season as a pro, the last two haven’t exactly gone according to plan. Undoubtedly, Cormier will need to have a huge offseason and training camp if he wants to stay in Vegas’ long-term plans; he is no longer exempt from waivers next year. There’s still hope that he can develop into a quality offensive defender at the NHL level, but that hope is dwindling. Maybe the Pietrangelo injury opens up a spot for Cormier?

5 - Tuomas Uronen

Without question, the highlight of Uronen’s game is his shot. He can really rifle the puck, and he works hard to earn his chances too. When you combine that with a deceptively quick stride and a power game, you have a player who has a high chance of developing into a solid complementary piece at the NHL level. The decision to return to the OHL and the subsequent trade to Kingston really did wonders for Uronen’s game and development. The previous year, with Ottawa, was a lost year due to injury. Additionally, his draft year was a disappointing one after he entered his draft year receiving first-round hype; a poor year led to him falling all the way to the sixth round where Vegas selected him. However, he does look like he has his development back on a positive track.

6 - Mathieu Cataford

Mathieu Cataford was taken 77th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, after scoring 75 points in 68 games. He improved the following season, scoring 90 points in three fewer games, ranking him third QMJHL points per game. After an early exit in the post season, Cataford signed his entry level contract and made the jump to the AHL for four games, adding some pro-level experience to his resume and scoring two points. Last season, Cataford was traded to Rimouski in preparation for the memorial cup. Though his regular season production dipped, he scored an impressive 18 points in 12 playoff games, good for fourth QMJHL playoffs points-per-game. In the Memorial Cup, Cataford even led his team with four points in three games. Cataford’s appeal lays in his well-rounded, swiss-army-knife style. Initially seen as an energy, off-puck player who forechecks and wears down his opponents, he has shown massive improvement in his confidence when carrying the puck and in his passing skills. He will adapt his game to his linemates, showing his intelligence. Cataford will likely play a bottom six penalty killing role in the NHL, while being able to support his linemates offensively with intelligent positioning and decent puck skills.

7 - Pavel Moysevich

Moysevich is a behemoth of a goalie, standing at a staggering 6-foot-7, a two-inch increase since last year. Unfortunately, however, his sophomore season with SKA did not have that same improvement after registering just a .898 save percentage - the third-worst clip on his team. He moves pretty well, given his size, and naturally takes up a ton of space. He also has surprisingly good control over his body, which is rarely seen in a 20-year-old with this stature. What he lacks is tracking and mental processing. He can often be behind plays and struggles to constantly follow the puck with his eyes. It can easily put him out of position, and he begins to scramble, losing all composure. He’s still a very raw prospect going into his D+3, but his combination of size and solid mobility is intriguing. His concerns are valid, and it means he likely won’t hit it big in the NHL and will need lots of time to refine his craft, but he has the potential to crack an NHL roster in the future.

8 - Braeden Bowman

Not all routes to the NHL are made the same. After a strong junior career with the OHL’s Guelph Storm, Bowman signed an AHL deal with Henderson this past season. After performing well as an AHL rookie, he parlayed that opportunity into an NHL deal with Henderson’s parent club, the Vegas Golden Knights. While Bowman finished just outside the top 20 in rookie scoring in the AHL, he did so on an extremely low scoring Henderson team. In fact, his 36 points were nearly tied for the team lead. The big winger is an excellent goal scoring option thanks to his heavy shot and penchant for getting to the net. As his skating continues to improve, so has his NHL projection. Bowman has now put himself in contention for a roster spot with Vegas in the next year and he projects as a possible bottom six and secondary power play option.

9 - Cameron Whitehead

Cameron Whitehead is a decent under-the-radar goalie prospect for Vegas. His skating is very good; he keeps things precise and very quick. He does a really good job staying with the play, displaying solid play reading and tracking skills - often making the right decisions. Outside of that, nothing stands out on the positive end. Negatively speaking, how he uses his stance and operates with perimeter play is a major concern. He opts for a very tall and relaxed stance, something he would use to minimize energy expenditure. But in doing so, when shots come, his first movement will be to get into a normal set position when the puck is already coming, providing him with much less time to react and make a save. It gives him a real weakness with point shots, and with how good defencemen are at shooting in the NHL, it could very easily be exploited. He’s a nice depth prospect to have and could turn into something more if given the proper development.

10 - Trent Swick

Swick is a really interesting bottom six prospect for the Golden Knights. An overage selection last year, Vegas was impressed by the three-year progression of Swick’s game as a Kitchener Ranger. Obviously, his massive frame didn’t hurt his chances either. Returning to the OHL this past year for a final season, Swick had another strong campaign, helping to lead Kitchener to a strong showing in the Western Conference. The power winger isn’t a traditional power forward, per say. He’s not a heavy hitter and he’ll need to become an even stronger net front presence as a pro. However, he’s a hard-working two-way player who excels as a playmaker because of his ability to keep plays alive along the wall and prolong possession. He finds a way to get himself or pucks to the middle of the ice and is largely an intelligent offensive support player. If he continues to improve his skating, he could be a Marcus Foligno type.

11 - Arttu Karki

Karki has an intriguing offensive toolkit with a hard shot and playmaking ability. He enters his second season in Liiga this year and will be looking to turn a corner offensively after adjusting to the pro game last season.

12 - Abram Wiebe

A sturdy left shot defenceman, Wiebe enters his third season at the University of North Dakota with some additional help around him, including the arrival of projected 2026 first rounder Keaton Verhoeff.

13 - Mateo Nobert

A crafty playmaking forward, Nobert had a standout draft year, finishing well above a point per game for Blainville. Nobert may be a candidate to eventually make the jump to the NCAA to round out his game.

14 - Jakub Brabenec

After establishing himself as a go-to offensive option to finish his junior career in the QMJHL, Brabenec has yet to find his offensive footing in the AHL. This season should be another step in that direction for the playmaker.

15 - Jakub Demek

The sizeable 6-foot- 4 winger registered 19 points in 31 games in his second pro season, a marked pace increase from the year prior. At his size and with his compete level, he moves surprisingly well and could be the next depth player to come out of seemingly nowhere for Vegas.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sat, 17 May 2025 14:29:51 +0000

Lukas Cormier

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Vegas 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #27

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Josh Bell — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 18:00:41 +0000

_{NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 22: Vegas Golden Knights center Brendan Brisson (19) looks on during a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils on January 22, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 27th (Previous Rank - 28th)
GM: Kelly McCrimmon Hired: September 2019
COACH: Bruce Cassidy Hired: June 2022

In a system that has made a reputation off shipping out youthful assets, the Vegas Golden Knights remain in the bottom half of McKeen’s prospect rankings. Drafting just four prospects in consecutive entry drafts, combined with dealing away much of their high-end talent – David Edstrom (109th ranked) being the latest victim – has left their prospect pipeline somewhat hollow.

That said, Vegas took a high-leverage swing at the podium in this year’s draft by selecting one of the more polarizing talents available in the first round (19th overall): Trevor Connelly. While there have been concerns both on and off the ice, his upside is undeniable, with a shifty profile and knack for putting up points as a dual-threat contributor. There is a reason why he’s McKeen’s 78th-ranked prospect.

Although the Knights continue to deal prospects and top-rated draft picks – no first-round picks until 2027 – they’ve held tight on notable hopefuls like Brendan Brisson (130th), as well as defencemen Kaeden Korczak (203rd) and Lukas Cormier (96th) – all of whom are primed to step onto the roster in short order, if not already.

Additionally, they’ve seen promising development from Arttu Karki, who made nice strides as a rookie on the Soo Greyhounds’ backend. Karki will return to Liiga for the 2024-25 season, but his 45 points in 59 OHL games as a third-round, 18-year-old defender suggest he’s a prospect worth watching.

Vegas does bring in Alexander Holtz, a former New Jersey Devils graduate who finally established himself as an NHL regular. Holtz is expected to slot into the team’s top nine forward group, with hopes he can build on his 28 points in 82 games from last season.

If Kelly McCrimmon has taught us anything, however, it’s that if you don’t like Vegas’ prospect pool, just wait a few months. With eyes perpetually on the Stanley Cup, this organization refuses to sit still and is always ready to trade youth for win-now assets. As long as Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson, Shea Theodore, and Alex Pietrangelo are in town, this team will continue to push for immediate success.

Vegas Golden Knights Top-15 Prospects

1. Trevor Connelly

Trevor Connelly was one of the draft’s most polarizing players, with his final selection position shrouded in mystery before his name was called. His offensive upside is undeniable—some scouts argue he may be the 2024 NHL Draft’s most talented player behind Celebrini and Demidov. However, Connelly entered draft day surrounded by concerns both on and off the ice. His past blunders and inconsistent play, especially defensively and in off-puck engagement, were red flags. His discipline was notably lacking, exemplified by a crucial penalty at the U18s. Despite these issues, Connelly’s skill set is impressive. He’s a highly creative and elusive offensive player with excellent edgework and puck handling. His quick feet and vision can be exceptional, though his decision-making and first-step quickness need improvement. Connelly’s commitment to Providence College under coach Nate Leaman could help him become a more complete player.

2. Lukas Cormier

Despite a strong training camp showing, Lukas Cormier spent most of 2023-24 honing his skills in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights. The undersized defenceman (5-foot-10, 176 pounds) impressed with his steady defensive play. His hockey IQ and ability to avoid bad decisions in his own end were on display. His understanding of how to generate offence from the blueline is exceptional, spotting opportunities as they open up through the flow of play or activating his feet to create them himself. While not a flashy offensive producer, he chipped in with one assist in his limited NHL action (two games) and showed glimpses of offensive potential in the AHL. However, questions remain about his offensive upside. Can he translate his defensive reliability into a more complete two-way game at the NHL level? The Golden Knights likely view him as a future bottom pairing defenceman, but further offensive development could push him toward a more prominent role.

3. Brendan Brisson

Brendan Brisson is an offensively gifted forward known for his elite shooting ability and high hockey IQ. Standing at 6-foot-0 and 185 pounds, Brisson has a strong, compact frame that he uses to protect the puck and create space for himself in the offensive zone. His most outstanding asset is his shot—his release is quick, deceptive, and highly accurate, making him a constant threat on the power play and in even-strength situations. Brisson is also an adept playmaker, capable of setting up teammates with crisp, timely passes. He sees the ice well and often anticipates plays before they develop, showcasing his advanced hockey sense. While his skating is above average, with good acceleration and edge work, there’s room for improvement in his top-end speed. Defensively, Brisson is responsible and shows a commitment to his two-way game, though his focus remains on driving offence. He projects as a top six forward with significant power-play potential at the professional level.

4. Matyas Sapovaliv

Matyas Sapovaliv continued his ascent in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit last season. The Knights' second-round pick (2022) led the team in scoring (62 points in 54 games) while showcasing his well-rounded skillset. His offensive prowess is undeniable. His hockey IQ shines below the circles, where he excels at creating scoring chances for himself and his linemates. He's not just a facilitator though, possessing a strong shot and the ability to finish in tight spaces. However, there is some worry regarding his consistency. There are stretches where he dominates, but there are also lulls in his production. Despite these questions, his overall performance is a positive sign for his future. He's on track for a potential pro debut this season, likely back in the AHL. If he can refine his consistency and continue to dominate offensively, Sapovaliv could push for a quicker NHL promotion.

5. Kaedan Korczak

Kaedan Korczak is a rugged and intelligent defenceman with a well-rounded game. He excels in his own end, using his quick feet and active stick to shut down opponents' attacks and clear the zone with ease. His vision and anticipation allow him to make smart passes and spark transition play, while his physicality and competitiveness make him a difficult opponent to face in puck battles. He does a good job under forecheck pressure by being sturdy on his feet and keeping his head up to scan the play in front of him and assess his options. The challenge is figuring out whether he can be effective enough in the NHL in that kind of role. With continued development, there is the potential to become a top four defenceman and a key contributor on the Golden Knights' blue line. He shows intriguing upside and projects as a reliable, two-way defender.

6. Pavel Moysevich

Pavel Moysevich is an athletic goaltender with impressive reflexes and a strong technical foundation. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he has the ideal size for a modern netminder, covering a lot of the net while still moving fluidly in the crease. Moysevich’s quickness is a key asset, particularly his lateral movement, which allows him to make sharp, reactive saves on cross-ice plays. His positioning is sound, and he does a good job of challenging shooters, playing aggressively at the top of his crease when necessary. Moysevich tracks the puck well, maintaining focus through traffic and making key saves in high-pressure situations. While he’s strong in stopping the first shot, his rebound control is an area for improvement, as he occasionally gives up second chances. Overall, Moysevich projects as a promising goaltender with the potential to develop into a reliable starter at the professional level, particularly with continued refinement of his game.

7. Mathieu Cataford

Mathieu Cataford is a slick and skilled forward with a high ceiling. He boasts elite speed and agility, allowing him to dance around defenders and create scoring chances in the blink of an eye. His vision and anticipation are exceptional, consistently identifying soft spots in coverage and delivering precision passes to exploit them. His quick release and accuracy make him a threat from anywhere on the ice. Offensively aware, he possesses strong instincts when it comes to positioning in the offensive zone and an ability to find the open ice. Always working hard to create space and to get open, he’s shown himself to be an extraordinarily complementary player and dependable forechecker. While he needs to add strength and physicality to his game, Cataford's upside as a top six forward and a key contributor to the Golden Knights' power play is undeniable. With continued development, he could become a dynamic and electrifying player in the NHL.

8. Jakub Brabenec

Jakub Brabenec is a slick and savvy playmaker with a knack for elevating his teammates' games. He boasts exceptional vision and anticipation, consistently identifying soft spots in coverage and delivering precision passes to exploit them. He is a lanky, smooth, multifaceted forward who can play wing or center, and slot up or down a lineup. He displays an impressive proficiency for transporting the puck across zones, keeping it out in front of him in stride, while also using his frame and reach to fend off backcheckers. His agility and quick feet allow him to navigate through traffic, while his soft hands and accuracy make him a threat from the slot. He's also a reliable defender, using his active stick and positioning to disrupt opponents' cycles. With continued refinement, Brabenec has the potential to become a top six forward and a contributor to the Golden Knights' power play as a playmaking center with a scoring touch.

9. Ben Hemmerling

Ben Hemmerling is a skilled and tenacious winger with a relentless motor. He excels in tight spaces, using his quick hands and agility to create scoring chances in the phone booth areas. His hockey IQ is high, consistently identifying soft spots in coverage and exploiting them with precision passing or well-placed shots. When he gets the puck, his vision makes him a strong playmaker too. He works well from below the goal line and from the half wall, drawing in to help defenders before finding a streaking teammate. His speed and acceleration allow him to pressure defenders, forcing turnovers and generating offence. While he may not be the biggest player, his compete level and smarts make him a pesky opponent, and his upside as a top six forward is considerable. With continued development he could become a valuable asset.

10. Arttu Karki

Arttu Karki is a promising defenceman with a solid all-around game. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he offers a blend of size and skill that makes him a valuable asset on the blue line. Karki’s skating is a strong point. He moves with fluidity and can transition quickly from defence to offence, which helps him contribute to both ends of the ice. Defensively, Karki is reliable and uses his size effectively to clear the crease and win puck battles. His positioning is generally strong, and he reads the play well to anticipate and disrupt opposing attacks. Offensively, Karki has good puck-moving ability and can make precise passes to initiate breakouts. His shot from the point is a potential weapon on the power play. While he could improve his physicality and defensive consistency, Karki’s skill set and potential make him an intriguing prospect for a top four role.

11. Cameron Whitehead

Cameron Whitehead, a 6-foot-3 goaltender, is an intriguing prospect with solid technique and impressive size. His athleticism and quick reflexes enable agile movements, and he had a strong season with the Lincoln Stars before joining Northeastern. Whitehead's vision and creativity in broken-play situations stand out, but he must improve his rebound control and puck handling. As a long-term project, he needs to harness his size better for future success.

12. Jackson Hallum

Jackson Hallum is a skilled forward with excellent skating and a quick release. His offensive creativity and ability to generate scoring chances are standout features. While he could enhance his defensive game and consistency, Hallum’s dynamic play and scoring touch offer promising potential for NHL development.

13. Jakub Demek

Jakub Demek is a dynamic forward with exceptional playmaking skills and a sharp hockey sense. His ability to create scoring opportunities and read the game is impressive. While his skating could use improvement, Demek’s offensive creativity and vision make him a high-upside prospect with significant NHL potential.

14. Carl Lindbom

Carl Lindbom stands out as a reliable goaltender with impressive agility and quick reflexes. His ability to track pucks and maintain composure under pressure is notable. While he could benefit from refining his rebound control and positioning, Lindbom’s potential as a future starter is clear with continued development.

15. Daniil Chayka

Daniil Chayka is a solid defensive prospect with strong positional awareness and physicality. His skating and puck movement are reliable, contributing effectively to both ends of the ice. While he could improve his offensive instincts and decision-making under pressure, Chayka’s defensive reliability and size provide a path to the NHL.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #28 Vegas Golden Knights – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Josh Bell, Organizational Overview - Robert Howard — Wed, 29 May 2024 21:00:23 +0000

Last year’s Stanley Cup Champions bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, despite adding some very high-end pieces for the playoffs. The additions came through trading youth and picks for playoff depth, but also through once again adding players off of LTIR prior to the playoffs, including captain Mark Stone. This allowed them an additional $15.9 million in cap space to utilize at the trade deadline. They took full advantage and moved their 2025 first round pick and David Edstrom (1st round 2023) for Tomas Hertl and picks. They then moved their 2026 first rounder along with Daniil Mirimanov for Noah Hanifin. Hanifin was a potential rental, but GM McCrimmon inked him to an eight-year, contract with an AAV of $7.35 million, solidifying one of the best defense groups in the NHL. Hertl was already under contract for another six seasons at a cap friendly $6.75 million. Both players are part of a core that is entirely focused on re-capturing the cup for the foreseeable future.

Given McCrimmon’s penchant for weaponizing future assets, the organization has drafted in the first round four out of the last five drafts. The only one of those picks that hasn’t subsequently been moved is Brendan Brisson. Peyton Krebs was moved to Buffalo as a piece in the huge Jack Eichel trade, while Zach Dean was moved for Ivan Barbashev. Despite these moves, there are some excellent prospects at the top of this pool. Brisson has the potential to be a star - we’ll just have to see if it’s for the Golden Knights or another organization given their track record. Defenseman Lukas Cormier continues to impress in his development, earning him the top spot in the Vegas pipeline and a spot at 74th overall on McKeen’s list. Matyas Sapovaliv is another one that continues to outperform what’s expected of him. There’s a pretty significant drop after this, but that shouldn’t be an issue for a few more years as this core is signed for another three-plus seasons.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Lukas Cormier	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	`20(68th)	58	4	16	20	33
					Vegas (NHL)	`20(68th)	2	0	1	1	0
2	Brendan Brisson	C	22	5-11/180	Henderson (AHL)	`20(29th)	52	19	19	38	42
					Vegas (NHL)	`20(29th)	15	2	6	8	2
3	Matyas Sapovaliv	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	`22(48th)	54	19	43	62	22
4	Mathieu Cataford	C	19	5-11/185	Halifax (QMJHL)	`23(77th)	65	40	50	90	33
5	Grigori Denisenko	LW	23	5-11/185	Henderson (AHL)	W(Fla-10/23)	65	20	36	56	50
					Vegas (NHL)	W(Fla-10/23)	6	0	0	0	2
6	Kaedan Korczak	D	23	6-3/190	Vegas (NHL)	`19(41st)	26	1	8	9	8
					Henderson (AHL)	`19(41st)	26	1	8	9	28
7	Jakub Brabenec	C	20	6-1/175	Henderson (AHL)	`21(102nd)	48	6	7	13	16
8	Ben Hemmerling	RW	20	5-10/160	Everett (WHL)	`22(177th)	65	30	61	91	74
9	Arttu Karki	D	19	6-1/175	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	`23(96th)	59	21	24	45	10
10	Cameron Whitehead	G	20	6-3/170	Northeastern (HE)	`22(128th)	35	17	14	2.62	0.917
11	Jackson Hallum	LW	21	6-0/170	Michigan (B1G)	`20(91st)	9	3	5	8	0
12	Isaiah Saville	G	23	6-1/190	Henderson (AHL)	`19(135th)	22	7	12	3.27	0.893
13	Jakub Demek	C	20	6-4/195	Henderson (AHL)	`21(128th)	55	7	9	16	22
14	Carl Lindbom	G	20	6-1/165	Farjestads (SHL)	`21(222nd)	26	17	7	2.12	0.911
15	Jiri Patera	G	25	6-2/210	Henderson (AHL)	`17(161st)	25	11	10	2.99	0.903

1. Lukas Cormier, D, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Despite a strong training camp showing, Lukas Cormier spent most of 2023-24 honing his skills in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights. The undersized defenseman (5’ 0”, 176 lbs) impressed with his steady defensive play. His hockey IQ and ability to avoid bad decisions in his own end were on display. His understanding of how to generate offense from the blueline is exceptional, spotting opportunities as they open up through the flow of play or activating his feet to create them himself. While not a flashy offensive producer, he chipped in with one assist in his limited NHL action (two games) and showed glimpses of offensive potential in the AHL. However, questions remain about his offensive upside. Can he translate his defensive reliability into a more complete two-way game at the NHL level? The Golden Knights likely view him as a future bottom-pairing defenseman, but further offensive development could push him towards a more prominent role.

2. Brendan Brisson, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Fresh off a standout sophomore year at Michigan, Brendan Brisson got his first taste of pro hockey with the Knights. The 2020 first rounder impressed in limited action, notching eight points in 15 games. While the sample size is small, it showcased the offensive tools that made him a high draft pick – a lethal shot and a knack for finding teammates in scoring areas. Questions remain about his physicality and defensive awareness. At 6’, 183 lbs, he'll need to add some muscle to compete consistently in the NHL. However, his hockey IQ and ability to adapt are encouraging signs. Whether Brisson starts next season in the AHL or cracks the roster will depend on his training camp performance. Regardless, his strong showing this year suggests he's on the right track to becoming a key contributor.

3. Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Matyas Sapovaliv continued his ascent in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit this season. The Knights' second round pick (2022) led the team in scoring (62 points in 54 games) while showcasing his well-rounded skillset. His offensive prowess is undeniable. His hockey IQ shines below the circles, where he excels at creating scoring chances for himself and his linemates. He's not just a facilitator though, possessing a strong shot and the ability to finish in tight spaces. However, there is some worry regarding his consistency. There are stretches where he dominates, but there are also lulls in his production. Despite these questions, his overall performance is a positive sign for his future. He's on track for a potential pro debut next season, likely back in the AHL. If he can refine his consistency and continue to dominate offensively, Sapovaliv could push for a quicker NHL promotion.

4. Mathieu Cataford, C, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Mathieu Cataford is a slick and skilled forward with a high ceiling. He boasts elite speed and agility, allowing him to dance around defenders and create scoring chances in the blink of an eye. His vision and anticipation are exceptional, consistently identifying soft spots in coverage and delivering precision passes to exploit them. His quick release and accuracy make him a threat from anywhere on the ice. Offensively aware, he possesses strong instincts when it comes to positioning in the offensive zone and an ability to find the open ice. Always working hard to create space and get open, he’s shown himself to be an extraordinarily complementary player and dependable forechecker. While he needs to add strength and physicality to his game, Cataford's upside as a top-six forward and key contributor on the Golden Knights' power play is undeniable. With continued development, he could become a dynamic and electrifying player in the NHL.

5. Grigori Denisenko, LW, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Grigori Denisenko's 2023-24 campaign was a tale of two leagues – a cup of coffee in the NHL and dominance in the AHL. While he had a brief, scoreless stint with the Golden Knights (six games), He found his groove with the Henderson Silver Knights. He led the team in assists (36) and points (56) in 65 games, even earning a call-up to the AHL All-Star Classic. His offensive production is undeniable, with a blend of slick playmaking and a knack for finding the net (20 goals). However, questions remain about his NHL readiness. His defensive awareness needs refinement, and his impact at the highest level remains unproven. The future seems bright, however. Another year in the AHL could solidify his defensive game, while flashes of brilliance hint at NHL potential. The Golden Knights will be watching closely to see if Denisenko can translate his minor-league dominance into success on the big stage.

6. Kaedan Korczak, D, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Kaedan Korczak is a rugged and intelligent defenseman with a well-rounded game. He excels in his own end, using his quick feet and active stick to shut down opponents' attacks and clear the zone with ease. His vision and anticipation allow him to make smart passes and spark transition play, while his physicality and competitiveness make him a difficult opponent to face in puck battles. He does a good job under forecheck pressure by being sturdy on his feet and keeping his head up to scan the play in front of him and assess his options. The challenge is figuring out whether he can be effective enough in the NHL in that kind of role. With continued development, there is the potential to become a top-four defenseman and a key contributor on the Golden Knights' blue line. He shows intriguing upside and projects as a reliable, two-way defender.

7. Jakub Brabenec, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

Jakub Brabenec is a slick and savvy playmaker with a knack for elevating his teammates' games. He boasts exceptional vision and anticipation, consistently identifying soft spots in coverage and delivering precision passes to exploit them. He is a lanky, smooth, multifaceted forward who can play wing or center, and slot up or down a lineup. He displays an impressive proficiency for transporting the puck across zones, keeping it out in front of him in stride, while also using his frame and reach to fend off backcheckers. His agility and quick feet allow him to navigate through traffic, while his soft hands and accuracy make him a threat from the slot. He's also a reliable defender, using his active stick and positioning to disrupt opponents' cycles. With continued refinement, Brabenec has the potential to become a top-six forward and a key contributor to the Golden Knights' power play as a playmaking center with a scoring touch.

8. Ben Hemmerling, RW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Ben Hemmerling is a skilled and tenacious winger with a relentless motor. He excels in tight spaces, using his quick hands and agility to create scoring chances in the phone booth areas. His hockey IQ is high, consistently identifying soft spots in coverage and exploiting them with precision passing or well-placed shots. When he gets the puck, his vision makes him a strong playmaker too. He works well from below the goal line and from the half wall, drawing in to help defenders before finding a streaking teammate. His speed and acceleration allow him to pressure defenders, forcing turnovers and generating offense. While he may not be the biggest player, his compete level and smarts make him a pesky opponent, and his upside as a top-six forward is considerable. With continued refinement, he could become a valuable asset.

9. Arttu Karki, D, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

Fresh off a third-round selection by Vegas in the 2023 draft, Arttu Karki embarked on his first season in North America with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. The Finnish defenseman showcased his offensive potential, flashing a strong shot and impressive playmaking ability (21 goals, 44 assists in 59 games). However, his defensive consistency was a source of debate. He displayed flashes of strong positioning and physicality, but lapses in focus led to some struggles. This inconsistency is a familiar refrain for Karki. While his offensive upside is undeniable, his ability to translate his skills to the pro game remains a question mark. The Greyhounds leaned on him offensively, but a stronger showing in his own zone is crucial for his future success. The upcoming season will be pivotal. Can he tighten up his defensive game and solidify his status as a potential NHL contributor?

10. Cameron Whitehead, G, Northeastern University (NCAA)

Cameron Whitehead, the 6’ 3” goaltender, is a promising prospect with a technically sound game and a large frame. His athleticism and quick reflexes allow him to move swiftly from post to post. He had a solid season with the Lincoln Stars and has taken over the net for Northeastern. His vision keeps him engaged on every puck, and he’s shown the ability to scramble and get creative in broken-play situations. However, he needs to improve his rebound control and puck handling. A long-term project, he will need to use his size more effectively to succeed at the next level. Once a goaltending coach gets him to settle down and trust his size more, his consistency should improve. This is also true of his rebound control. Whitehead is a prospect to watch as he continues to develop his game.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #25

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:42:08 +0000

Top 20 Vegas Golden Knights Prospects

1. Lukas Cormier

Cormier torched the QMJHL throughout his four years with Charlottetown, and has since transitioned admirably to the AHL, including quarterbacking Henderson's top power-play unit as a rookie. His understanding of how to generate offense from the offensive blueline is exceptional, spotting opportunities as they open up through the flow of play or activating his feet to create them himself. He loves to buzz around with or without the puck, and after enough constant prodding he usually finds a weak spot. He has a knack for elevating his play at important times. Cormier's small stature is always going to be a limitation to varying degrees, and breaking up rushes or cycles going against his net will never be one of his strengths, but he's so effective offensively that coaches will shelter him if they have to, just keep his niche contributions on the roster.

2. Pavel Dorofyev

Some prospects leave their mark when they get called up to the NHL from the AHL, while others struggle to make the most of those opportunities. Dorofeyev undeniably falls into the former category. Vegas needed someone to provide a scoring spark towards the end of their regular season, and he rose to the occasion with aplomb. He has a natural knack for reading the play in the offensive zone, and when he's not anticipating scoring opportunities, he creates them himself reasonably well, both through his skating and his puck protection. He's more of a shooter than a playmaker, but he can keep opposing defenses and goalies on their toes either way. Further gains can still be made physically. Dorofeyev eventually developing into a top-line winger isn't out of the question, but it seems more likely that he will eventually settle into a comfortable middle six spot.

3. Brendan Brisson

Brisson had access to two of the best developmental programs in all of amateur hockey, first with the Chicago Steel and then the University of Michigan, so it's easy to understand why his game advanced so much over the past few seasons. That also begs the question though, whether he might have rushed things a bit by turning pro after only two collegiate seasons, as his skating, strength, and conditioning all still need to improve. He is an exceptional student of the game, and when you combine that with his elite ability to manipulate and move the puck you get a potential offensive focal point. His best work, unsurprisingly, comes on the power play. Brisson is the only first-rounder in the organization's history (prior to the 2023 draft) who hasn't been traded yet, so the need for him to pan out is high.

4. David Edstrom

Edstrom’s transformation from relative depth player and secondary offensive option to primary offensive weapon and first line center within the Swedish U18 program, all within the 2022-23 hocke calendar, was impressive and led to his first round selection by Vegas. With a strong athletic profile and a drastically improving game, Edstrom was one of our favourites heading into the draft. His skill, creativity, and overall playmaking ability improved drastically over the course of the season, which shifted the perception of his overall ceiling. At worst, with his size, improving skating ability, improving physical play, and effectiveness as a defensive forward, he could become a very good shutdown center at the NHL level even if his offensive development stagnates. On the other side of the coin, Edstrom could continue to progress and become much more than that. He has both a high ceiling and a high floor. He should continue to build up confidence playing in the SHL with Frolunda and will probably only need another year or two overseas before he is ready for AHL duty.

5. Daniil Miromanov

To say that Miromanov's career thus far has been a whirlwind would be an understatement. Not only did he bounce around North America and Eastern Europe chaotically for a number of years, but he was also originally a winger and only recently switched fulltime to defence. Despite some expected growing pains, the returns to date have been very impressive overall, and you can tell that he's still just scratching the surface of how good he can become once he fully adjusts to his new position. His heavy shot is a serious weapon, especially with the offensive instincts that carried over from his time as a forward, and he uses his strength and reach well to win defensive battles. Miromanov has an abundance of remaining unmined upside, and it's exciting to think of how good the final product could be after a few more years of stable, focused growth within the same organization.

6. Mathieu Cataford

An allrounder with exciting offensive possibilities, Cataford can rightfully be considered one of the most enticing 3rd round draft picks from the 2023 draft. After kicking off his season with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, picking up one assist in his five games en route to a gold medal, he ended up taking on a huge role for his QMJHL club, the Halifax Mooseheads, scoring at over a PPG pace in the regular season, only to add another 13 points in 21 postseason games. Offensively aware, Cataford possesses strong instincts when it comes to positioning in the offensive zone and an ability to find the open ice. Always working hard to create space and get open, he’s shown himself to be an extraordinary complimentary player and dependable forechecker. Physicality, a strong, hard shot, and well-roundedness without the puck fill out a solid player package. Without that one outstanding trait and featuring generally average size, Cataford’s trek to the NHL will be one of hard work, which has never been a problem for him, and a need to overcome the inconsistency that was seen throughout his draft year. Continued development is key.

7. Kaeden Korczak

Korczak's game is about as simple and straightforward as it gets, and while it's not necessarily a bad thing to be a specialist, success is dependent on how good a player is at that special niche. A defensive defenseman who plays with sandpaper and makes a competent first pass out of his zone, he does a good job under forechecking pressure by being sturdy on his feet and keeping his head up to scan the play in front of him and assess his options. The challenge is figuring out whether he can be effective enough in the NHL in that kind of role. None of his physicality, reach, or mobility are especially high-end, which makes it questionable how well he will be able to shut down the biggest, strongest, and fastest players in the sport. A ceiling higher than a third-pair defender seems unlikely.

8. Matyas Sapovaliv

Sapovaliv is highly effective even though he's not particularly exciting to watch. He's strong as an ox and a sharp, methodical thinker, and it's almost funny watching him play because you can see opponents recognize his intentions but still fail miserably at trying to stop him. There is a near inevitability to how he drives pucks to the net in the offensive zone, slowly but powerfully. While he's good across all 200 feet of ice, he is most effective defensively, utilizing his best attributes to be a masterful defensive pivot and penalty killer. He can hold his own in matchups against the top opposing centers in his age group, even the ones who hold a significant skating advantage, and he should continue being able to handle that usage as he moves up levels.

9. Jiri Patera

Patera is the type of goaltender that teams draft because they like his tools, even if they know that it's going to take him a while to learn how to use them all in a cohesive way. The good parts of his game, which have always been there, include his quickness, flexibility, and bravado. The bad parts of his game are his leaky form, excessive crease movement, and frustrating inconsistency. But just like the Golden Knights hoped, those issues have been largely smoothed over and he is now on the cusp of the NHL. He even won his first two starts in the league. Vegas likely prefers that Patera cook for at least one more season in the AHL, but if they decide to promote a goalie from within their system any time soon, he is the obvious candidate.

10. Jakub Brabenec

Brabanec is one of the most underrated prospects out there. He is a lanky, smooth, multifaceted forward who can play both wing and at center, slot up or down a lineup, and fill a role on the power play as well as the penalty kill. He displays an impressive proficiency for transporting the puck across zones, keeping it out in front of him in stride while also using his frame and reach to fend off backcheckers. While he hasn't produced a ton of points anywhere, all he needs to do to be a contributor at the NHL level is to keep leaning on his tools to routinely drive pucks to the net with momentum. He projects better as a specialized support player than a true focal point.

11. Jonas Rondbjerg

The big Danish winger has been solid thus far as a pro but has yet to solidify a roster spot with the Golden Knights. If he can improve the consistency of his physical game, he could become a permanent fourth line option for Vegas this year.

12. Carl Lindbom

2022-23 was a breakout year for Lindbom as he was named the Allsvenskan’s (Sweden’s second division) goaltender of the year as a 20-year-old. This year he is moving to the SHL with Farjestad, where he will look to continue his positive development.

13. Daniil Chayka

A former high pick of the Golden Knights, Chayka’s development since being drafted appears to have stalled. His first pro year with Henderson was proof of that. Does Chayka skate well enough or think the game well enough to be an NHL defender?

14. Arttu Karki

A recent draft pick, Karki is an exciting offensive defender with significant upside. His play in the defensive end will need to improve, but he can be a difference maker as a transitional leader. Look for him to suit up for OHL Sault Ste. Marie this season.

15. Ivan Morozov

Vegas isn’t closing the book on Morozov yet. After a disappointing first year in the AHL, he’s headed back to the KHL this season to help develop his offensive tools. What the future holds remains a mystery, but it’s too early to give up on the big center.

16. Jordan Gustafson

Injury issues forced Gustafson down the lineup for a tremendous Seattle team in his post draft year. He should take on a much larger role this year, but the focus will be on improving his skating to help increase his consistency.

17. Isaiah Saville

Saville has a good chance of playing in the AHL full time this year after splitting last season between the AHL and ECHL in his first pro season. The former UNO product isn’t the biggest netminder, but his quickness gives him an edge in the crease.

18. Jackson Hallum

A highly skilled offensive player, Hallum is also tenacious and aggressive in looking to drive to the middle. Despite playing more of a depth role for Michigan as a freshman, his production was still solid. He will be an interesting player to track over his NCAA career with a strong program.

19. Cameron Whitehead

Whitehead has big shoes to fill at Northeastern this season as he sets his sights on replacing Devon Levi as the team’s starter. Whitehead is a solid play tracker who squares to shooters well. His play with USHL Lincoln last year was probably better than the stats indicate.

20. Christoffer Sedoff

One of the top undrafted free agents coming out of the WHL last year, Sedoff was signed by Vegas over the summer. A mobile puck mover, his offensive upside for the pro level is solid. The question is, can Sedoff defend well enough to be an NHL player? He’s likely a long-term project at the pro level.

2022 NHL DRAFT: SECOND CHANCES, PART 3 – NHL Draft Re-Entry Candidates from the USA

Brock Otten with Contributions from Will Scouch and Sam Happi — Sat, 28 May 2022 11:30:38 +0000

In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year high end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind does. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).

This year, it feels like we are playing catch-up because of how disjointed last year was in the scouting community. The OHL did not play. Other leagues played only partially. How much was development stunted? Better yet, how many players have surprised this year with their progression given that they were not able to show said progression last year (such as the OHL players). Will we see an extraordinary number of “re-entry” players selected this year as NHL scouting teams gobble up all of these players who slipped through the cracks of the pandemic scouting year?

North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th, will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st, will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. Recently, NHL scouts have increased the rate with which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European based players especially attractive. However, these players have had a lot of success in recent years too. Look around the league and you see these players everywhere. For example, Florida Panthers standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Standout Arizona Coyotes rookie Janis Moser was one last year.

Speaking of last year, ten “re-entry” candidates went in the Top 100; Ryker Evans, Josh Doan, Janis Moser, Carter Mazur, Alexei Kolosov, Taige Harding, Andrei Buyalsky, Josh Lopina, Ville Ottavainen, and Jakub Malek In our “second chances” article last year (Part 1:) (Part 2: )( Part 3) we wrote about eight of these ten. In total there were 34 taken, actually below the trend of over 40 being selected in other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected). Additionally, of those 34, we identified and wrote about 17 (half of them) in our aforementioned second chances series. Just like in previous editions of this annual report, we aim to identify more.

In 2022, we have some very interesting candidates. Lucas Edmonds of the Kingston Frontenacs was near the top of OHL scoring all season. Stephen Halliday of Dubuque had one of the best statistical seasons in the history of the USHL. Dmitri Buchelnikov completely obliterated the MHL, a year after being passed over as one of the youngest eligible players in 2021. This article intends to highlight them and many other candidates who could be part of that 20% (if the average is restored) this year.

Stephen Halliday. Photo by Hickling Images.

USHL

Stephen Halliday - Center - Dubuque (USHL)

It is not that often you see a high-level player spend four years in the USHL. A big and skilled forward, and a former highly touted prospect, Halliday has improved every year in the league, culminating with a dominating breakout performance this season. The Ohio State commit was the USHL’s scoring leader thanks to improvements made to his explosiveness and conditioning. Halliday is also now the USHL’s all-time leading scorer (passing Sean Farrell). In his final year of eligibility, it seems likely that Halliday will finally hear his name called at the draft. He has certainly earned it.

“You really have to commend Halliday for putting in the work to improve his skating. The improvements made to his first step quickness and his overall agility are extremely noticeable and really helped him to dominate shifts on the regular. Halliday was just an absolute beast at the USHL level this year. His combination of power and skill at the center position is not common on draft day. Ohio State is a really good spot for him too, as he’ll be able to go in there and be an immediate top six forward for them on a quality up and coming team. If I was an NHL team, I wouldn’t be letting him slip through a third NHL draft.” - Brock Otten

Connor Kurth - Wing - Dubuque (USHL)

A breakout star in the USHL, Kurth has paired with Stephen Halliday to form one heck of a dynamic duo. Passed over last year, Kurth has returned to the USHL with a vengeance, improving all facets of his game. The Minnesota commit has consistently been one of the USHL’s highest scoring players this year and his goal scoring ability, combined with his low center of gravity and desire to play through the middle, will make him one of the most coveted re-entry candidates from the United States region this year.

“Pretty much every time I watched Kurth this year (be it with Dubuque or the BioSteel game), he was noticeable for all the right reasons. He’s your classic high energy winger who seems to get better as he initiates and plays through traffic. He skates well. He opens up space and has an attacking mentality. He plays a 200-foot game. However, he also has great scoring instincts and enough skill, as well as a good enough shot to finish off the chances he earns. If an NHL team doesn’t draft Kurth now, they’ll be kicking themselves later when he becomes one of the top NCAA free agents on the market after a few years at Minnesota.” - Brock Otten

Quinn Hutson - Wing - Muskegon (USHL)

The brother of 2022 draft eligible defender and NTDP member Lane Hutson, Quinn is an elusive and skilled winger with a commitment to Boston University. We ranked him late last year (#208) after a very strong rookie year in the USHL, however he progressed even further this year. In his final year of draft eligibility, it is easy to see him attracting attention given his ability to push pace and create in transition. He also had a great performance in the Clark Cup playoffs.

“Everyone enjoys watching Lane, but his older brother Quinn is a player that’s caught my eye since the beginning of the season, and more so in the last few weeks after tracking games with Muskegon as the opponent. Quinn Hutson may be a D+2 in the USHL, but we’ve seen players with that profile turn out well before, and I absolutely love the skill and speed Hutson plays with. He can drive defenses deep in the defensive zone, swing pucks around the boards, fake out defenders with his body weight, pass pucks through seams, and he can certainly score his fair share as well. Hutson is a player I may rather see how he plays in college, but as a re-entry, he’s been exciting, skilled, and fun to watch with a diverse range of offensive talents.” - Will Scouch

Jeremy Wilmer - Center - Tri-City (USHL)

Wilmer’s original draft year (last season) did not go according to plan. A highly touted prospect coming out of his U17 year with the NTDP, Wilmer was surpassed by other players in the lineup eventually and then missed the IIHF U18’s. As a massively undersized forward, this was a death blow for his draft chances. However, Wilmer has returned to the USHL for another year and was sensational for Tri-City, as one of the league’s highest scoring players. The 5’7, Boston University commit can do it all offensively and he has shown that he can be the offensive leader of his team. Will that be enough for an NHL team to overlook his lack of stature?

“The two best players in the USHL are on sharply different ends of the height spectrum. Stephen Halliday, with 1.51 points per game, is 6’4”; Jeremy Wilmer, with 1.50 points per game, is 5’7”. You have to be quite the offensive talent to make the NHL when you’re as small as Wilmer– who is listed at 141 pounds– but an offensive resumé that he’s building may just about force an NHL team to take a flyer on him. Trey Fix-Wolansky, also 5’7”, has six NHL games under his belt as a 22 year old after the Blue Jackets used a seventh-rounder on him after a stellar 19-year-old season in the WHL. Wilmer might be taking the first steps down a similar path with the season that he has had this year. The important distinction between the two right now is that Fix-Wolansky currently has about 40 pounds on Wilmer. A few years in the NCAA with Boston University should help Wilmer get to work on that gap. Skill-wise, Wilmer has what it takes. He was just under a point per game last year for the NTDP U18s and likely would have been a top 100 selection if he brought the same skillset to a more typical frame. He’s a very creative passer and an adept finisher– he just desperately needs to add weight.” - Sam Happi

Lukas Gustafsson - Defense - Chicago (USHL)

A favourite of many video scouting teams last year, Gustafsson played a limited role on a Clark Cup winning Steel squad. Our video team loved his ability to lead the breakout with his feet and create offense by walking the line. However, the sample size was just too small, given his undersized frame and late birthday. This year, Gustafsson has taken on a larger role with Chicago and has thrived, among the leading defenseman scorers in the USHL. The 5’10 defender has a commitment to Boston College next year and should be on the radar of many NHL teams again.

“Gustafsson definitely made the most of increased ice time this year with the Steel. He is a really fun player to watch. His four-way mobility and edgework is among the best of any defender in the USHL. This really helps him to be elusive, especially as he starts the breakout. Gustafsson is just near impossible to pin down. But he’s also a better defensive player than people might think after looking at his size. He defends aggressively and will take away space to make up for his lack of reach, knowing that his four-way quickness gives him the ability to recover and cover ground. I know our video scout team loves him even more this year, so I took the time to watch him a little more closely based on their recommendation.” - Brock Otten

Kenny Connors - Center - Dubuque (USHL)

One of the most improved players in the USHL this season, the 6’1 pivot essentially tripled his production in his second year with Dubuque. As a result, he was rewarded with a spot in the BioSteel All American game. A UMass commit, Connors is the kind of hard working and pace pushing center that could carve out a long NHL career with continued development at the NCAA level.

“Dubuque has been a lot of fun to watch this year, with two electric scoring lines anchored by several players on this list like Halliday, Kurth, Connors, and Vegas draft pick Jackson Hallum (whom they added at the trade deadline). Connors is not the most creative or individually skilled player on the ice. Sometimes his feet move a little too quick for his hands. However, he is an intelligent playmaker who is a consistently hard worker. He finishes his checks. He backchecks hard. He wins races to loose pucks and wins battles along the wall. He can drive the net. He also has a solid top speed that allows him to impact the game in a lot of different ways. By improving his confidence with the puck and in his shooting ability, he has really rounded out his game offensively this season. There is definitely a projection here as an NHL role player and he is the kind of hard-working player that UMass has developed very well in the last decade.” - Brock Otten

Luke Mittelstadt - Defense - Madison (USHL)

The brother of Buffalo’s Casey Mittelstadt, Luke came into the 2020/21 season with a fair amount of draft hype. Early on, he was considered one of the top high school options for the draft. But his disappointing showing in the USHL (split between Lincoln and Eden Prairie) really caused scouts to re-evaluate his potential to be an impact offensive defender. Fast forward to this year. A move to Madison has completely re-invigorated Mittelstadt as he was consistently near the top of the defenseman scoring race (behind Mitchell Miller) all season. In fact, his 19 goals were the most by a U19 defender in the league since Matt Donovan scored 19 in 2009. The University of Minnesota commit has certainly put himself back on the scouting radar.

“One of the main concerns with Mittelstadt’s game last year at the USHL level was a lack of killer instinct. There was a real complacency at that level that prevented him from being a standout at either end. This year, he looks like a totally different player. He is consistently looking to jump up in the play or play aggressively high in the offensive zone. His four-way mobility is still an asset and his edge work and lateral quickness is a major reason why he has scored so many goals this year. Not only does he have a howitzer, but he walks the line so well. Composed with the puck, Mittelstadt is great at starting the breakout too. Defensively, there is still a need to get stronger and the physical intensity still wavers a bit, but progress has been made in all facets this year and he should be a slam dunk pick in this draft.” - Brock Otten

Damien Carfagna - Defense - Sioux City (USHL)

Last year with Green Bay, Carfagna’s original draft year, the late born ‘02 defender certainly flashed some projectable skills. In particular, his skating ability always stood out and he showed great potential as a puck mover because of it. However, a lack of production as an older first-time eligible defender really caused doubts about his NHL ceiling. From opening puck drop this year to the end (Clark Cup playoffs), Carfagna has emerged as one of the top defenders in the USHL. His offensive production dropped a bit after a deal to Sioux City, however his overall play and versatility has made him a likely re-entry selection. The University of New Hampshire commit also made waves by scoring the OT winner in the BioSteel All American game this year.

“I remember pushing for us to list Carfagna late last year in our rankings because he was someone who always stood out for Green Bay despite limited ice time and production. Now that he’s playing a ton, we’ve seen him transform into one of the best defenders in the USHL. His skating is a major asset. His quickness allows him to be an entry machine and he has gained the confidence to be more aggressive using his feet to help him exit the zone. Additionally, Carfagna has improved in the defensive zone. He’s not the biggest, strongest, or most physical, but his positioning and awareness are terrific. His quickness laterally and in transition allows him to take great routes to loose pucks and defend pace well too. After a few years at the NCAA level, he could turn into a very solid NHL defensive prospect.” - Brock Otten

Jack Harvey - Wing/Center - Chicago (USHL)

Last year, Harvey was consistently listed as everyone’s favourite diamond in the rough from the USHL. He found ways to standout despite receiving limited ice time on a stacked Chicago team. But given his lack of size/strength, limited production did not do him any favors at the draft. Now an integral part of Chicago’s offense, the Boston University commit has emerged as a serious draft candidate again thanks to a strong offensive season. This is especially true of his late season play, as Harvey finished the year on a high note as one of the hottest players in the USHL. Although Chicago disappointed in the playoffs, Harvey had a solid year.

“I believe Harvey’s best asset is his brain. He is a highly intelligent player. It is why he is such a versatile player too. Not the biggest or most physical, but Harvey is a strong penalty killer and defensive presence because of his awareness in all three zones. Harvey also has great vision and is a quick thinker/problem solver with the puck on his stick. With strong straight-line speed, he can push pace and lead the attack, but he rarely misses the mark on a pass in transition. The key for Harvey at Boston University will be continued growth physically. I’m not sure there’s a true projection as a scoring line player at the next level, so Harvey will need to continue to get stronger, quicker, and more tenacious to play through the middle six at the NHL level. I think he’s done enough to be drafted this year though.” - Brock Otten

Garrett Schifsky - Center - Waterloo (USHL)

Waterloo was not terrific this year, but one standout was this USHL rookie (essentially since he only played eight games last year), who led the team in scoring and in goal scoring by a significant amount. The undersized forward (5’9) is a commit to the University of Michigan and his breakout season as an offensive leader is likely to have drawn some attention.

“This young man can absolutely wire the puck. His shot is a major asset for Waterloo on the powerplay. I also love how fearless he is. He plays through contact well and consistently finds his way to the net despite being a smaller player. This competitiveness serves him well as a penalty killer too. The only thing you’d love to see is for Schifsky to improve his quickness. For a smaller player, he’s not the world’s most dynamic skater. There is room for him to improve his stride length as his use of shorter, choppy strides prevents him from being a truly dangerous transitional attacker. Yet, because of his strong puck control, use of linear crossovers, and vision, he does manage to find a way to be the lead in counter attacks. I wonder if someone throws a late round pick at him this year in hopes that his physical tools continue to improve to better support his skill and finishing ability.” - Brock Otten

Carter Schade - Defense - Lincoln (USHL)

One of the most competitive physical defenders in the USHL, Schade, a Penn State commit, also happens to be one of the most improved players this season too. Playing a ton for Lincoln and in all situations, Schade has also doubled his offensive production. The stocky defender (at 5’11, 200lbs) is going to be a terrific NCAA defender and should be the radar of NHL scouts this year.

“I absolutely love how Schade plays. I don’t necessarily believe the offensive upside is significant, although he is a strong skater. However, he absolutely suffocates in the defensive end. He makes up for his lack of reach by consistently keeping tight gaps and he makes opposing forwards earn every inch of ice against him. A feared hitter, you could make a great highlight package of his open ice hits this season. Players with Schade’s profile typically get drafted. He is only one year out of being passed over at the draft and he has made positive strides in nearly every area. Sure you’d love him to be bigger, but you can’t overlook the positive impact he has at the defensive end.” - Brock Otten

Tyler Haskins - Center - Madison (USHL)

Speaking of improved players in their second year of eligibility, insert Madison center Tyler Haskins. The former Chicago Mission standout used a move from Sioux Falls to Madison to take that next step as a USHL player this season. A University of Michigan commit, Haskins is that rangy, playmaking pivot that all NHL scouts are drawn to.

“Haskins is a player who is at his best near the goal line. He is tough to handle behind the net as he works the cycle and spins off checks and has the vision to find open teammates in the slot as he draws extra attention. He also camps out near the net and shows strong finishing skills through traffic. There is some James Van Riemsdyk to his game, at least in terms of a stylistic comparison. Next steps would include further improvement to his explosiveness and more consistent physical intensity in all three zones. But there is some raw potential here for Haskins to develop into a quality middle six player at the next level. If he does not get drafted, he could be the type of player who plays four years at Michigan and turns himself into a quality free agent signing by the time he graduates. The raw tools are impressive.” - Brock Otten

Jacob Guevin - Defense - Muskegon (USHL)

Our 220th ranked player for last year’s NHL Draft, Guevin has picked up right where he left off last year. Once again, he was one of the highest scoring defenders in the USHL. Will it be enough for the University of Nebraska-Omaha commit to get selected this year?

“I think you need to commend Guevin for coming back to the USHL this year and putting in the work to improve some of the areas that prevented him from being drafted last year. He has dialed up the physical intensity. He has improved his ability to defend in transition. He is taking the bull by the horns more offensively in transition, standing out at five on five and not just on the powerplay. His skating also looks more explosive. He is still not the biggest defender, and he will probably never be a defensive standout (there are still lapses of focus/attention). However, he has probably done enough to prove that he can be a competent play driver. His vision as an offensive player really stands out.” - Brock Otten

Cameron Whitehead - Goaltender - Lincoln (USHL)

A lot has been written about how weak this year’s goaltending crop is. Because of that, NHL scouts are going to really need to dig deep to find talent. Insert USHL rookie Cameron Whitehead. The former Ottawa area netminder has taken a long road to relevance, but he has the size and athleticism package that NHL scouts are looking for these days. He also has committed to Northeastern, a school which has developed netminders well in recent years (like another diamond in the rough out of Eastern Canada, Devon Levi).

“There are some real standout qualities here and raw athletic potential. Whitehead moves well laterally, and it allows him to track the play effectively. He looks poised and confident in the crease, challenging shooters and cutting down angles. With good size, he fights through traffic well and can be a real wall when he is dialed in. However, it is clear that he is still learning how to properly use his size in the crease. He has some scrambling tendencies that cause him to be out of position, as he drops down too early or over commits to play too far in one direction. Once a goaltending coach gets him to settle down and trust his size more, his consistency should improve. This is also true of his rebound control. Whitehead is very much a pure stopper right now who simply tries to get his body in front of pucks. He struggles to secure initial shots, especially when fighting through traffic. I love the fact that he has chosen Northeastern as a strong goaltending development program could really bring out the best in Whitehead’s raw athletic tools.” - Brock Otten

Brendan Fitzgerald - Defense - Cedar Rapids (USHL)

The youngest of the three Fitzgerald brothers, Brendan is just finishing his first season in the USHL with Cedar Rapids. The New Hampshire commit plays a similar game to Casey and Ryan, both of whom were drafted. The 5’11 defender also improved over the course of the USHL season, after playing prep in Massachusetts last season.

“As you might expect from a Fitzgerald, Brendan’s IQ/sense is his best asset. His positioning and awareness in the defensive end is an asset. He defends in transition well with quick feet, and he leads the rush efficiently with a solid top speed. Inside the offensive zone, he holds the line well with good lateral quickness and has become a real asset for Cedar Rapids on the powerplay as the season has gone on. Not a big defender, Fitzgerald tries to make up for that by being aggressive. He will step up early on attackers and plays assertively in the defensive end. This same aggressive mentality is applied in the offensive zone, where he will pinch to keep pucks in or even rotate deep, down low in the offensive zone to keep the cycle going. The next steps for Brendan would be learning to pick his spots better offensively, as he can get caught up ice. His puck skill would best be classified as average, so when pressured, turnovers can be an issue. Keeping things simple and moving the puck quickly are necessary for him. I think his pedigree and progression over the course of the year could be enough to get him drafted.” - Brock Otten

MADISON, WI - JANUARY 14: Michigan State defenseman David Gucciardi (7) during a college hockey match between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the Michigan State University Spartans on January 14, 2022 at the Kohl Center in Madison, WI. (Photo by Lawrence Iles/Icon Sportswire)

NCAA

David Gucciardi - Defense - Michigan State (NCAA)

Gucciardi was a surprising no draft last year after a strong year in the USHL. However, after playing for four different USHL teams over two seasons, perhaps scouts had more questions about him than answers. Our 111th ranked prospect for the 2021 draft just finished his freshman year at Michigan State and he was one of the most impactful freshman defenders in the NCAA this year. He was one of Michigan State’s main powerplay quarterbacks and finished inside the top 20 of U20 defenseman scoring, while playing 17+ minutes a night on most occasions.

“The Michigan State program is not the powerhouse that it once was, but Gucciardi had a solid freshman year for them. He showed that he can use his plus mobility and big shot to quarterback the powerplay and he continued to be a factor physically in the defensive end. There are still some things to shore up in the defensive end, but I continue to like his potential as a two-way defender because of his combination of physicality, mobility, and offensive skill set. I thought he should have been drafted last year and should go this year.” - Brock Otten

Hunter Strand - Center - Notre Dame (NCAA)

A former member of the U.S. NTDP, Strand had a strong season in the USHL last year with Tri-City, but ultimately went undrafted. The late born 2002 and Alaska native was our 126th ranked prospect last year. Strand just finished up his freshman year at Notre Dame and was an impressive role player for the Fighting Irish.

“Strand is kind of a jack-of-all-trades kind of center. Sometimes that can be a bit of a kiss of death for prospects, but in Strand’s case, his versatility makes him valuable. You’d probably still like to see him become a more dynamic player moving East/West given his average size, but his straight-line speed looks improved, and he is still a skilled finisher in tight. Notre Dame has a pretty deep team, but Strand has already carved out a role and was impressive as a freshman in all three zones. On a team full of NHL draft picks, one has to think that Strand has a chance to be another in that group, in his final year of draft eligibility. Of course, there’s also a chance that teams take a wait and see approach with him too, to see if his offensive game can be taken to that next level as he matures further.” - Brock Otten

Ryan Kirwan - Wing - Penn State (NCAA)

A former highly touted prospect, Kirwan’s development stalled at the USHL level and it ultimately led to him going undrafted to this point. The big winger, however, silenced a lot of critics with his terrific freshman season for Penn State in 2022. The only undrafted player inside the top 20 of U20 scoring in the NCAA this past season, Kirwan was a fixture on the Penn State powerplay and finished the year as the team’s third leading scorer.

“Kirwan’s game is not perfect. You’d love to see him use his size a little more consistently away from the puck. He could also stand to improve the explosiveness of his first few strides. However, you can’t argue with the results he achieved in his first NCAA season. He drives the middle and plays with skill. Big wingers who can finish and make skilled plays through traffic do not grow on trees. I believe that there is a real chance that an NHL team looks at Kirwan as a draft selection this year. If he continues to blossom, he will be a highly coveted free agent given his pro frame and ability to work in the slot. So why not secure his rights now with a later pick?” - Brock Otten

Hunter McKown - Wing - Colorado College (NCAA)

A former role player with the U.S. NTDP, McKown’s first season with Colorado College last year was not great. However, he returned for his sophomore season and improved greatly for a Colorado College program that is trying to rebuild itself. Already a strong two-way forward, the added offensive element to his game this year, when combined with his size, could be attractive to NHL teams this year.

“McKown has emerged as Colorado College’s top scorer as a sophomore, adding an offensive element to a game that was strictly oriented around responsible defensive play up to this point. His offensive contributions in two years with the NTDP were limited to just 20 points in 82 games, with McKown serving as the lowest-scoring regular forward on his team in both years with the program. He’s flipped that script in 2021-22, largely relying on a much-improved shot for his new production. A sluggish release and ineffective shot limited McKown in the past, but his shot appears overhauled from his NTDP days: an increase in strength has produced significant power, while McKown’s much-quickened release has proved to be a problem for opposing goaltenders. McKown’s one-timer has made him a central figure on Colorado College’s powerplay, where a focus is working the puck through the slot and into McKown’s wheelhouse. Increased opportunity and confidence have also unveiled a nice set of offensive instincts, as McKown often places himself in the right spot at the right time to collect rebound and tap-ins. The expansion of McKown’s scoring game has elevated him from an almost strictly defensive forward to his team’s top offensive weapon and his expanded offensive skillset, in addition to his pre-existing defensive game, could finally catch the eye of an NHL team this time around.” - Sam Happi

Dominic James - Center/Wing - Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

It seems like every year a player comes out of nowhere to make the U.S.’ squad for the World Junior Championships. This year, that player was Dominic James. Even though the tournament was short lived, James had a very strong freshman year for a terrific Minnesota-Duluth team as their third line center. His competitive two-way game is likely to have caught a few eyes this season.

“Tough luck for James that the World Juniors got canceled because he seemed to be firmly in the lineup as a third liner in a shutdown role. He even scored in a pre-tournament game. But James was also impressive for a Minnesota-Duluth team that lost a tight game to Denver in the regional finals of the NCAA tournament (of which James had a strong game). He’s definitely not a high skill guy. His ceiling at the NHL level will be as a bottom six forward. However, he is a very impressive skater. When you combine his quickness with his tenaciousness and intelligent two-way game, you have someone built perfectly for a checking line role in today’s NHL. I have no doubt that James will be a draft pick somewhere this year.” - Brock Otten

Owen Gallatin - Defense - Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Speaking of Minnesota-Duluth, another freshman who had a very strong year was undersized defender Owen Gallatin. Much like Michigan State’s David Gucciardi, Gallatin was among the NCAA’s highest scoring freshman defenders. As the season went on, the former U.S. NTDP defender’s ice time increased considerably and by year’s end, he was firmly in the Bulldog’s top four and leading the team’s top powerplay unit. He finished only two points behind highly regarded defensive prospect Wyatt Kaiser for the team lead in defensive scoring.

“It is easy to see why Gallatin has had instant success at the NCAA level for a strong program. He doesn’t back down from anyone despite being 5’8. There is a lot of a guy like Jared Spurgeon in him. He’s not a dynamic offensive defender in the sense that you will consistently see him leading the charge out of the defensive end with his feet. He is more likely to make a quick stretch pass. However, he is such an intelligent defender at both ends. He quarterbacks the powerplay because of how efficiently he moves the puck inside the zone and how he can break down coverage with his four-way mobility. He defends well because of excellent anticipation and stick placement, in addition to a tenacious attitude. An argument could be made that Gallatin was Minnesota-Duluth’s best defender this year, even ahead of Wyatt Kaiser. That’s impressive given that the Bulldogs were one of the top teams in the country, especially defensively.” - Brock Otten

Ty Mueller - Wing/Center - Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA)

Even though he battled through some injuries, it was an impressive freshman season for Mueller, who played for Nebraska-Omaha as an 18/19 year old. Passed over last year after an abbreviated AJHL season, Mueller was one of the highest scoring U19 players in the NCAA this season. His 0.54 points per game was sixth in the country this year among U19 players, ahead of many NHL draft selections, and ahead of fellow ‘03 Jack Hughes (of Northeastern) who is considered a possible top 50 selection as a first time draft eligible (due to a later birthday).

“Mueller entered the AJHL season last year as a possible draft candidate after a terrific preseason and start, but the pandemic pauses just disrupted play too much. This year with UNO, I think we got a pretty good indication that if it were a normal year (a full AJHL season with a World Junior A Challenge), he likely would have been selected. Mueller’s production this year was no fluke. He is a tenacious, yet skilled player. He does most of his damage within that home plate area by outworking defenders, but he also has the speed to be an impactful player in transition. He needs to get stronger to be more consistent. He can be easily outmuscled at times, but the potential is great, and UNO is a great spot for him.” - Brock Otten

Bennett Zmolek - Defense - Minnesota State (NCAA)

Zmolek’s playing time this year was certainly up and down, but you can’t overlook the fact that he was a near regular rotation player (and consistent penalty killer) on one of the NCAA’s top teams this season. The 6’3, right shot defender combines strong four way mobility with excellent reach to be a potential shutdown defender at the NCAA level and beyond.

“Zmolek didn’t play the final couple of months (including during Minnesota State’s run in the NCAA tournament), but he made a big enough impact when he did play to warrant a look from an NHL team. 6’3, right shot defenders with sound defensive instincts and good mobility do not grow on trees. He is never going to be an impactful offensive defender. His skill set is limited in this regard. He is also more of a positional, stick on puck defender, rather than an intense physical defender. But with his quickness and reach, he closes quickly and defends pace well. The upside in the defensive end as he adds strength is significant. If an NHL team loves the program and Zmolek’s place within it (he will move up the depth chart next year with Minnesota State losing its captain and alternate captain on the backend, in addition to their only NHL drafted blueliner), he could be someone drafted late this year.” - Brock Otten

Cameron Whitehead – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #26 Vegas Golden Knights – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 26th (Last Year - 30th)

GM: Kelly McCrimmon Hired: September 2019 COACH: John Tortorella Hired: March 2026

1. Trevor Connelly, LW, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

2. Jakob Ihs Wozniak, RW, IF Björklöven (Allsvenskan)

3. Carl Lindbom, G, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

4. Lukas Cormier, D, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

5. Tuomas Uronen, RW, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

6. Pavel Moysevich, G, St. Petersburg (VHL)

7. Lucas Van Vliet, LW, University of St. Thomas (NCAA)

8. Mateo Nobert, C, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

9. Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

10. Ben Hemmerling, RW, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

11. Mathieu Cataford, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

12. Jakub Brabanec, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

13. Villiam Kmec, D, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

14. Cameron Whitehead, G, Tahoe Knight Monsters (ECHL) (Currently with Henderson Silver Knights, AHL)

15. Alex Weiermair, C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #30

Vegas Golden Knights Top-15 Prospects

1 - Trevor Connelly

2 - Carl Lindbom

3 - Jakob Ihs Wozniak

4 - Lukas Cormier

5 - Tuomas Uronen

6 - Mathieu Cataford

7 - Pavel Moysevich

8 - Braeden Bowman

9 - Cameron Whitehead

10 - Trent Swick

11 - Arttu Karki

12 - Abram Wiebe

13 - Mateo Nobert

14 - Jakub Brabenec

15 - Jakub Demek

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #27

Vegas Golden Knights Top-15 Prospects

1. Trevor Connelly

2. Lukas Cormier

3. Brendan Brisson

4. Matyas Sapovaliv

5. Kaedan Korczak

6. Pavel Moysevich

7. Mathieu Cataford

8. Jakub Brabenec

9. Ben Hemmerling

10. Arttu Karki

11. Cameron Whitehead

12. Jackson Hallum

13. Jakub Demek

14. Carl Lindbom

15. Daniil Chayka

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #28 Vegas Golden Knights – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Lukas Cormier, D, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

2. Brendan Brisson, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

3. Matyas Sapovaliv, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

4. Mathieu Cataford, C, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

5. Grigori Denisenko, LW, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

6. Kaedan Korczak, D, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

7. Jakub Brabenec, C, Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)

8. Ben Hemmerling, RW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

9. Arttu Karki, D, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

10. Cameron Whitehead, G, Northeastern University (NCAA)

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #25

Top 20 Vegas Golden Knights Prospects

1. Lukas Cormier

2. Pavel Dorofyev

3. Brendan Brisson

4. David Edstrom

5. Daniil Miromanov

6. Mathieu Cataford

7. Kaeden Korczak

8. Matyas Sapovaliv

9. Jiri Patera

10. Jakub Brabenec

11. Jonas Rondbjerg

12. Carl Lindbom

13. Daniil Chayka

GM: Kelly McCrimmon Hired: September 2019
COACH: John Tortorella Hired: March 2026