Lukas Cormier – 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

2025 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects (Top 50 Free) – Biggest fallers in 2024-25

Brock Otten — Tue, 13 May 2025 12:37:04 +0000

You will find at the bottom of this article a chart with the top 50 prospects in the NHL currently. Comparing the current ranking of prospects in our report to their previous ranking in our summer yearbook (which is a top 300), these are the affiliated prospects who have seen their stock fall the most this season. Subscribers can access the top 200 prospects with links to the players page here.

Jesper Wallstedt - Goaltender - Minnesota Wild

Previous Ranking: 11, New Ranking: 46

We are releasing our team rankings in descending order from the worst prospect pool to the best on our site over the next few weeks. Subscribers can read the full profiles and the team overview and learn about the future stars of your favourite team. If you would like to subscribe you can link here.
Wallstedt is still ranked inside our top 50, but he’s barely hanging on after a very poor season in the AHL and a couple of bad NHL appearances. He’s gone from being in that top tier of NHL netminding prospects to the second tier.

Joakim Kemell - Wing - Nashville Predators

Previous Ranking: 52, New Ranking: 81

Yes, Milwaukee of the AHL has been a low scoring team this year, which helps to explain Kemell’s lack of offensive progress this year as a second-year pro. However, he also hasn’t shown significant development as a player, both on, and off the puck. He has that big shot, but what else?

Thomas Bordeleau - Center - San Jose Sharks

Previous Ranking: 75, New Ranking: 177

The Sharks continue to stockpile young talent as part of their rebuild. After a stagnant development year, he’s running the risk of falling out of favor with the organization. The fact that he hasn’t played NHL games this year (as of writing this) is proof of that.

Lukas Cormier - Defense - Vegas Golden Knights

Previous Ranking: 97, New Ranking: 141

Known primarily for his offensive from the blueline, Cormier has struggled to be a consistent facilitator the last few seasons in the AHL. Granted, this year his season was plagued by injuries, but his status as a bluechip defensive prospect is becoming suspect.

Ville Heinola - Defense - Winnipeg Jets

Previous Ranking: 119, New Ranking: Outside the Top 200

One of five players to fall from inside our top 150, to being unranked. A former hyped first round selection, Heinola just hasn’t made that leap to full time NHL player yet. This season, he has struggled with injuries, but when healthy, he’s been a healthy scratch. Not ideal for development.

Corson Ceulemans - Defense - Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous Ranking: 128, New Ranking: Outside the Top 200

A former first round selection by the Jackets out of Wisconsin, Ceulemans has had trouble finding a specific role that he excels at as a pro through two seasons in the AHL. Did he leave college too soon, preventing his game from truly developing an identity?

Brendan Brisson - Wing - New York Rangers

Previous Ranking: 130, New Ranking: Outside the Top 200

Can a new organization breathe new life into Brisson’s status as an NHL prospect? Another disappointing offensive season led to his trade to the New York Rangers. He has offensive tools, but the lack of skating development has hindered him from being able to utilize them.

Xavier Bourgault - Wing - Ottawa Senators

Previous Ranking: 135, New Ranking: Outside the Top 200

The Ottawa Senators took a chance on the former first round selection when they acquired him from Edmonton in the offseason. Bourgault continued to disappoint and may be a candidate to be non tendered this offseason.

William Dufour - Wing - Colorado Avalanche

Previous Ranking: 143, New Ranking: Outside the Top 200

A former QMJHL star, Dufour’s pro career got off to an amazing start in the Islanders organization. But since that great rookie pro season, his numbers have steadily declined. This led to a trade to the Avalanche, who will look to re-invigorate him.

Filip Mesar - Wing - Montreal Canadiens

Previous Ranking: 165, New Ranking: Outside the Top 200

Sometimes first round selections just don’t work out and it’s beginning to look that way for Mesar. Two disappointing OHL seasons with Kitchener were followed up by a lacklustre first pro year with Laval. He’s still young and there’s still time. But with Montreal’s prospect depth, can he earn the ice time he needs?

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	Acquired	TM - 2024-25 Stats	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Ivan Demidov	Mtl	RW	19	5-11/180	`24(5th)	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	65	19	30	49	22
2	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	20	5-11/190	`23(8th)	Boston College (HE)	37	30	19	49	46
3	Sam Dickinson	SJ	D	18	6-3/205	`24(11th)	London (OHL)	55	29	62	91	39
4	Artyom Levshunov	Chi	D	19	6-2/205	`24(2nd)	Rockford (AHL)	52	5	17	22	59
5	Berkly Catton	Sea	C	19	5-10/175	`24(8th)	Spokane (WHL)	57	38	71	109	30
6	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	23	6-4/215	`20(69th)	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	61	17	29	46	32
7	Yaroslav Askarov	SJ	G	22	6-3/175	T(Nsh-8/24)	San Jose (AHL)	22	11	9	2.45	0.923
8	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	20	5-11/170	`22(15th)	Abbotsford (AHL)	36	19	9	28	0
9	Beckett Sennecke	Ana	RW	19	6-2/175	`24(3rd)	Oshawa (OHL)	56	36	50	86	66
10	Zeev Buium	Min	D	19	6-0/185	`24(12th)	Denver (NCHC)	41	13	35	48	44
11	Zayne Parekh	Cgy	D	19	6-0/180	`24(9th)	Saginaw (OHL)	61	33	74	107	96
12	Anton Silayev	NJ	D	19	6-7/210	`24(10th)	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	63	2	10	12	37
13	Tij Iginla	Uta	C	18	6-0/190	`24(6th)	Kelowna (WHL)	21	14	18	32	13
14	Daniil But	Uta	LW	20	6-5/203	`23(12th)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	54	9	19	28	16
15	Axel Sandin-Pellikka	Det	D	20	5-11/180	`23(17th)	Skelleftea AIK (SHL)	46	12	17	29	22
16	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	21	6-1/175	`22(24th)	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	46	13	12	25	10
17	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	19	6-1/200	`23(10th)	Springfield (AHL)	61	21	24	45	22
18	Matthew Savoie	Edm	C	21	5-9/180	T(Buf-7/24)	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	19	35	54	28
19	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	21	6-0/180	`22(30th)	Manitoba (AHL)	61	7	28	35	28
20	Scott Morrow	Car	D	22	6-2/195	`21(40th)	Chicago (AHL)	52	13	26	39	47
21	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	19	5-10/165	`23(30th)	Chicago (AHL)	64	32	26	58	36
22	Dmitri Simashev	Uta	D	20	6-4/198	`23(6th)	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	56	1	5	6	4
23	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	19	5-11/165	`23(23rd)	Boston College (HE)	37	16	32	48	25
24	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	`23(5th)	Laval (AHL)	10	2	3	5	10
25	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	21	6-1/200	`22(19th)	Iowa (AHL)	41	19	18	37	10
26	Carter Yakemchuk	Ott	D	19	6-3/200	`24(7th)	Calgary (WHL)	56	17	32	49	82
27	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	22	6-6/229	`21(15th)	Grand Rapids (AHL)	41	21	15	2.45	0.911
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	20	6-1/180	`23(11th)	Boston University (HE)	39	2	22	24	8
29	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	19	5-10/170	`23(28th)	London (OHL)	46	29	40	69	41
30	Calum Ritchie	NYI	C	20	6-2/185	T(Col-3/25)	Oshawa (OHL)	47	15	55	70	50
31	Cayden Lindstrom	CBJ	C	19	6-3/215	`24(4th)	Medicine Hat (WHL)	0	0	0	0	0
32	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	21	6-1/195	`22(53rd)	San Diego (AHL)	59	9	43	52	21
33	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	20	5-11/190	`22(12th)	Columbus (NHL)	45	4	9	13	20
34	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	20	6-1/215	`23(69th)	Boston College (HE)	35	25	7	1.63	0.940
35	Liam Greentree	LA	RW	19	6-3/215	`24(26th)	Windsor (OHL)	64	49	70	119	59
36	Michael Hage	Mtl	C	19	6-1/190	`24(21st)	Michigan (B1G)	33	13	21	34	23
37	Konsta Helenius	Buf	C	18	5-11/190	`24(14th)	Rochester (AHL)	65	14	21	35	28
38	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	20	6-2/185	`22(23rd)	Minnesota (B1G)	40	24	27	51	29
39	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	20	6-6/233	`22(18th)	Dallas (NHL)	38	4	5	9	41
40	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	19	6-2/200	`23(26th)	Sudbury (OHL)	33	30	29	59	14
41	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	21	6-0/190	`21(150th)	Laval (AHL)	47	20	15	35	10
42	Jett Luchanko	Phi	C	18	5-11/185	`24(13th)	Guelph (OHL)	46	21	35	56	46
43	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	21	5-9/165	`22(46th)	Utica (AHL)	30	3	15	18	8
44	Cole Hutson	Wsh	D	18	5-10/165	`24(43rd)	Boston University (HE)	39	14	34	48	64
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	22	6-3/215	`21(31st)	Laval (AHL)	63	12	21	33	74
46	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	22	6-3/215	`21(20th)	Iowa (AHL)	27	9	14	3.59	0.879
47	Cole Eiserman	NYI	LW	18	6-0/195	`24(20th)	Boston University (HE)	39	25	11	36	27
48	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	21	6-1/185	`22(20th)	Hershey (AHL)	53	23	19	42	28
49	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	21	6-4/180	`22(21st)	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	47	2	11	13	10
50	Nate Danielson	Det	C	20	6-2/185	`23(9th)	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	12	27	39	33

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Goaltending issues – Favourable schedules and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 16:22:53 +0000

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 14: San Jose Sharks goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) doesn’t see a rebound in front of him during the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks Tuesday January 14, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

When you’re early in a season, there is always the fear of overreacting to small sample sizes, but sometimes early success or failure really is an indication of what’s to come. That holds true when it comes to two goaltenders who struggled in the opening weeks of the 2024-25 campaign -- Tristan Jarry and Alexandar Georgiev.

Jarry and Georgiev started in the Penguins’ and Avalanche’s season opener, respectively, but neither is even on that team anymore and a failure in between the pipes is the cause in both cases. Georgiev had a disastrous start, going 0-3-0 with a 5.79 GAA and an .802 save percentage across his first four games. He didn’t even post a start in which he allowed fewer than three goals until Nov. 7. In the end, he had an 8-7-0 record, 3.38 GAA and .874 save percentage in 18 outings before the Avalanche cut him loose, packaging him with Nikolai Kovalenko and two picks to get Mackenzie Blackwood from San Jose.

We can’t fully judge the trade yet until we know what becomes of those draft picks -- it will take a while because it’s a 2025 fifth-round selection and a 2026 second-round pick that went San Jose’s way -- but Colorado has plenty of reason to be happy. Blackwood has been brilliant between the pipes for the Avalanche, while Georgiev has done no better in San Jose than he had for Colorado in 2024-25.

Colorado’s situation can be considered lucky compared to Pittsburgh’s. Georgiev is in the final season of his three-year, $10.2 million contract anyway, so putting together an offering with some sweeteners to a rebuilding squad was perfectly feasible. Jarry is in just the second season of his five-year, $26.88 million contract, so finding a taker for him would be far more difficult.

No one wants that contract, and I can say that without any reservation because it’s been proven. Jarry was put on waivers Wednesday, giving the other 31 teams to take over his contract without giving up any assets and every squad passed on the offer. With that, Pittsburgh sent Jarry to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Similar to Georgiev, Jarry had a terrible start to the 2024-25 campaign, allowing 12 goals on 73 shots (.836 save percentage) over his first three appearances. Jarry then spent time in the minors on a conditioning stint and seemed to stabilize, posting a 2.16 GAA and a .926 save percentage in five AHL outings, but that didn’t translate into NHL success. After rejoining the Penguins, he allowed five goals on 38 shots to Columbus in his first start back and has continued to struggle, posting an 8-8-4 record, 3.31 GAA and .884 save percentage through 22 NHL outings this campaign.

Given that Jarry floundered even after a strong showing in the minors, it’d be hard to trust him even if he shows promise again in the AHL, especially because the 18-20-8 Penguins have very little margin for error left in their fight to stay in the Wild Card picture. There’s always the chance that injuries or a trade will change things, but for now, Pittsburgh seems set to spend the final months of the season with the goaltending duo of Alex Nedeljkovic and Joel Blomqvist, the latter of whom was called up in a move corresponding with Jarry’s demotion. Blomqvist is just 23 and someone the Penguins hope will be a significant part of the team long-term.

Speaking of the future, there are likely no good solutions when it comes to Jarry. Barring a comeback for the ages, the Penguins will likely look to part ways with him over the summer. They could try bundling draft picks to trade him but at $5.375 million through 2027-28 for a goaltender struggling to stay in the NHL, finding a suitor would be a challenge. Maybe a combination of the Penguins’ offering a really nice sweetener -- Penguins GM Kyle Dubas showed during his time in Toronto that he’d willingly sacrifice a first-round pick in exchange for cap savings -- and retaining some of his remaining salary would be enough to make it happen, but the Penguins would have to decide if they’re really that desperate to move him.

An alternative would be to buy out his remaining term, which would leave Pittsburgh with a cap hit of roughly $1.75 million in 2025-26 for a saving of roughly $3.63 million, but the dead cap would increase to $5.05 million in 2026-27 and be $4.55 million in 2027-28. The Penguins would then have $797,222 of dead cap space in each campaign from 2028-29 through 2030-31. In other words, they’d have a meaningful amount of extra wiggle room next season, but after that, any benefit to buying him out is basically over.

Still, the Penguins might be uniquely positioned for that arrangement to make sense. Erik Karlsson is 34, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are 37 and Evgeni Malkin is 38. Realistically, Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup window has already closed, but the franchise is reluctant to start a rebuild while the old guard is still playing good hockey. So how about this: The Penguins make the 2025-26 the last dance with this group and then embrace the rebuild. Yes, Crosby and Karlsson are signed through 2026-27 and Letang through 2027-28, but by that point, Crosby and Letang will be approaching 40 while Malkin, whose contract expires after 2025-26, might be gone. Unless something major changes, it seems hard to see how the Penguins will be competitive by that point anyway, so they’ll likely be in rebuild mode regardless of what they want.

So perhaps that’s what will end up happening. In the meantime, though, Jarry will report to the minors while Crosby and Co. will chase a return to the playoffs.

Boston Bruins (Mon vs SJS, Wed @ NJD, Thu vs OTT, Sat vs COL)

The Bruins stopped a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime victory over Florida on Jan. 11 and put more distance on that slump by besting Tampa Bay 6-2 on Jan. 14. Still, the Bruins have no breathing room in the battle for a Wild Card spot, so they need to stay strong. They’ll host the Sharks on Monday, play in New Jersey on Wednesday and then spend their final two games of the week at home, facing Ottawa and Colorado on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

With over half the campaign in the bank, Boston is still searching for offense up the middle. Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha kept the Bruins afloat in that regard last season, providing 60 and 59 points, respectively, but Boston believed it could do even better by signing Elias Lindholm to a massive seven-year, $54.25 million contract.

That hasn’t worked out. Lindholm has just seven goals and 22 points in 46 appearances this year. What makes that more troubling is it comes after he was limited to 15 goals and 44 points in 75 outings in 2023-24. Boston clearly felt that down campaign was an anomaly for Lindholm, who has surpassed the 60-point milestone on three occasions, but perhaps the back half of his career won’t be filled with offensive accomplishments.

Making matters worse is the lackluster production from Zacha (10 goals, 24 points) and Coyle (10 goals, 15 points) this campaign. At least Brad Marchand (16 goals, 35 points) and David Pastrnak (20 goals, 48 points) are still doing well, but the Bruins’ scoring depth beyond that is looking rather bad.

Although it would be awkward to add yet another center when Coyle, Zacha and Lindholm consume a collective $17.75 million in cap space, that might be the play that would improve the Bruins the most. Then again, perhaps the Bruins won’t be buyers at the deadline.

“We’ll see where we’re at,” Bruins president Cam Neely recently said, per Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com. “I think right now, we’ve got to look at two paths: one that we’re buying and one that we may be retooling a little bit.”

In other words, these next few weeks are all the more important. Perhaps that will provide Boston with extra motivation, especially from the team’s core.

Carolina Hurricanes (Mon @ CHI, Tue @ DAL, Thu vs CBJ, Sat @ NYI)

The Hurricanes got off to a 20-10-1 start but went just 6-6-2 from Dec. 20-Jan. 15, so they have some work to do. They’ll start on the road next week with matches in Chicago on Monday and Dallas on Tuesday before returning home to host the Blue Jackets on Thursday. The Hurricanes will conclude the week with a road tilt versus the Islanders.

Carolina got some good news with the activation of Frederik Andersen (knee) off injured reserve. Although Andersen started the campaign with a 3-1-0 record, 1.49 GAA and .941 save percentage in four outings, he hasn’t played since Oct. 26. Rust might be a factor, but he still should have the edge for the starting gig ahead of Pyotr Kochetkov, who has a 16-9-2 record, 2.54 GAA and .901 save percentage in 28 appearances. It seems extremely likely that Kochetkov will see his workload diminish but given Andersen’s age (35) and injury history, Carolina might hesitate to lean on him too much even if he produces good results. Despite the Hurricanes’ mediocre play of late, Carolina’s position is still strong enough to prioritize making sure Andersen will be optimal for the playoffs.

Andersen isn’t the only veteran of importance for the team. The 36-year-old Jordan Staal is a valued member too, though the team captain’s contributions typically aren’t in the offensive zone. One notable exception to that was from Jan. 5-10 -- a stretch in which Staal collected five goals and eight points over four games. That stretch included a hat trick on Jan. 9, the fifth of his career and second since joining Carolina in 2012.

The good times are probably over, though. He had no points and no shots for Carolina on Jan. 12 and Jan. 15, so if you picked him up for the hot streak, it’s time to move on. On the plus side, Brent Burns is still hot. He has five assists over his past five appearances and nine points (two goals) across his last 11 outings. Burns has taken a step back offensively in 2024-25, largely due to his diminished power-play role, but his recent success has pushed him up to four goals and 18 points in 45 outings in 2024-25. Who knows, maybe he’ll have a strong second half, though I’d feel more confident about suggesting that if he was on the top power-play unit. As it is, Burns has just one assist with the man advantage this season, down from 20 power-play points in 2023-24.

Minnesota Wild (Mon @ COL, Thu vs UTA, Sat vs CGY, Sun @ CHI)

The Wild are enduring about as close as they get to a cold spell with three defeats over their past four games, dropping them to 27-14-4. Things won’t get any easier Monday in Colorado, but the rest of the week looks favorable. Minnesota will host Utah on Thursday, Calgary on Saturday and play in Chicago on Sunday.

The Wild's biggest issue is the absence of star forward Kirill Kaprizov (lower body). He was moved to long-term injured reserve Thursday, and although it’s retroactive to Dec. 23, they probably wouldn’t have done that if he was expected back soon. Minnesota will also miss Marcus Johansson (head) next week after sustaining the injury Wednesday.

Those absences have opened the door for Liam Ohgren, who was recalled from AHL Iowa on Thursday and will presumably play regularly next week. The 20-year-old was taken with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft and has shown promise in the AHL, supplying 12 goals and 23 points in 25 outings this season. He hasn’t recorded a point in eight games with Minnesota in 2024-25, but he’s also averaged just 9:53 of ice time over that stretch. It’ll be interesting to see if he plays a bigger role than he did during his stint in October, both because he’s gotten some seasoning in the minors and the fact that Kaprizov and Johansson were eating big minutes.

Then again, Jakub Lauko is also in the mix. He hasn’t played since Dec. 14 due to a lower-body injury, but he’s off IR now, setting the stage for his return. Before the injury, he had two goals and four points across 24 appearances with the Wild in 2024-25 while averaging just 10:00. Lauko is more of a gritty forward without Ohgren’s offensive upside, but perhaps that’s what the Wild want to help fill out the minutes lost, especially given Lauko’s edge in NHL experience.

That aside, Minnesota has to be happy that Ryan Hartman has stepped up in the face of those injuries, providing three goals and seven points across his past eight appearances, especially after struggling up to that point with four goals and seven points across his past 32 outings. Hartman hasn’t seen consistent use on the power play in 2024-25, but his recent play might lead to Minnesota reevaluating that. Although he hasn’t come close to replicating his 34-goal, 65-point showing in 2021-22 since that campaign, Hartman can still be an effective secondary scorer under the right circumstances and did provide 10 power-play points -- 45 overall -- in 2023-24.

Nashville Predators (Tue vs SJS, Thu @ SJS, Sat @ ANA)

This has been a miserable season for the Predators, but they’ve won their last two games and do have some favorable matchups ahead. They’ll play a home-and-away series against San Jose on Tuesday and Thursday before facing the Ducks in Anaheim on Saturday.

There’s not much in the way of silver linings for Nashville this campaign, but at least Steven Stamkos has gotten better as he’s settled in with the club. He has an impressive 11 goals and 21 points across his past 26 appearances, a stark change from his opening eight games in which he was limited to just one point (a goal). There were plenty of assessments that Tampa Bay was right to cut him loose when the squad did, and while the Lightning certainly have to be happy with how things are working out with Jake Guentzel, it seems Stamkos has something left in the tank.

Jonathan Marchessault has also hit his stride. He had five goals and 13 points over his first 28 outings with the Predators, but he’s been one of the league’s top players dating back to Dec. 10 with nine goals and 20 points across 16 games.

That begs the question, though: If Nashville’s big free-agent signings are paying off after all, then why is Nashville still just 15-22-7? Sure, the Predators have looked better from Dec. 12 onward with an 8-6-1 record, but even that stretch doesn’t align with the team’s high offseason expectations.

Part of the problem is secondary scoring. In addition to Stamkos and Marchessault, the Predators do have Filip Forsberg (13 goals, 38 points), Ryan O’Reilly (13 goals, 26 points) and defenseman Roman Josi (eight goals, 30 points), but no one else has reached the 20-point mark. That gives Nashville five players who have passed that milestone while the average team has 7.17. The average team also has 5.56 players with at least 10 goals while Nashville has four.

The fall of Gustav Nyquist, who recorded 75 points last campaign but has just 18 points (seven goals) in 43 appearances in 2024-25, is a big factor in that, and unlike Stamkos and Marchessault, Nyquist doesn’t seem to be getting meaningfully better as the campaign progresses. It’d also have been nice if the 22-year-old Luke Evangelista built off his 2023-24 39-point showing, but instead, he has four goals and 14 points in 39 appearances this season.

The other factor is the defense. Nashville is tied for 21st in xGA/60 with 3.07, per Moneypuck. Juuse Saros has held his own with a plus-2.5 goals saved above expected, but that just suggests he’s been average rather than exceptional and on a team with as leaky a defense as the Predators’, they really do need the Saros of old. Instead, the current version is 10-18-6 with a 2.75 GAA and a .903 save percentage. He continues to be consistent too, supplying a 4-5-1 record, 2.80 GAA and .889 save percentage across his past 10 games.

Ottawa Senators (Tue @ NYR, Thu @ BOS, Sat vs TOR, Sun vs UTA)

Ottawa is 22-18-4 and in the mix for a playoff spot, but the Senators have to be nervous given the recent success enjoyed by Detroit and Montreal. The pressure is on Ottawa going into its road tilts against the Rangers on Tuesday and the Bruins on Thursday. The Senators will then play in Toronto on Saturday and Utah on Sunday.

Ottawa’s forwards have been going through a quiet stretch with Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk each recording three or fewer points over Ottawa’s past four games. Shane Pinto is enjoying some success, though, supplying two goals and four points over his past four games.

Pinto hasn’t been great overall in 2024-25 with eight goals and 14 points in 36 appearances. He showed offensive potential over his previous two campaigns with 29 goals and 62 points across 123 outings, but the 24-year-old hasn’t taken the next step yet, despite averaging a healthy 17:40 of ice time in 2024-25.

It’d help if he shot the puck more. He’s averaging just 6.1 shots/60, down from 8.9 last year, which is why he’s been limited to eight markers despite a healthy 12.3 shooting percentage (his career average is 10.9). He’s showing no signs of doing that, though, managing just six shots over his past four games. Unless that changes, Pinto likely won’t be a long-term play.

Things have looked better in goal, though. Linus Ullmark (back) is still out and probably won’t return next week, but his continued absence has been made tolerable by the rise of Leevi Merilainen. The 22-year-old rookie has a 5-2-1 record, 1.84 GAA and .930 save percentage in eight outings in 2024-25. He’s made four consecutive starts for Ottawa, allowing a mere three goals on 106 shots (.972 save percentage).

It’s inevitable that he’s going to have bad games, but if his overall level of play remains high, then Ottawa will have a near impossible time justifying sending him down after Ullmark returns. Instead, Anton Forsberg, who is 4-8-1 with a 3.10 GAA and an .883 save percentage, might find himself on waivers, which would allow Ottawa to go with an Ullmark-Merilainen combo. There’s also a chance that Forsberg might be traded or even claimed because he’s in the final season of a three-year, $8.25 million deal, which makes him a tolerable rental from a cap perspective but given his lackluster play over the past three years (30-31-3, 3.21 GAA, .894 save percentage), the other team would need to be fairly desperate.

Tampa Bay Lightning (Mon @ TOR, Tue @ MTL, Fri @ CHI, Sat @ DET)

Tampa Bay has played in just 43 games through Friday’s action, the second least in the league, so the Lightning are going to have a bit of a busier schedule than most for the remainder of the campaign. The Lightning will experience that in the upcoming week during their four-game road trip with stops in Toronto on Monday, Montreal on Tuesday, Chicago on Friday and Detroit on Saturday.

The Lightning are fortunate to be healthy in goal and up front, but blueliner Erik Cernak did sustain an undisclosed injury Thursday and is day-to-day as of the time of writing. Tampa Bay was already missing J.J. Moser (lower body), so that brings Tampa Bay down to five healthy blueliners if Cernak is unavailable.

Nick Perbix might see an increase in playing time from his season average of 15:28. He has four goals, 11 points, 14 PIM, 28 hits and 40 blocks in 38 appearances in 2024-25, so he’s only a factor in the deepest of fantasy leagues. The 23-year-old Emil Lilleberg getting a bigger role would be more interesting. Lilleberg ranks second among all defensemen with 72 PIM, and he has 71 hits. If an increase in playing time leads to even a modest uptick in offensive production -- he has nine assists in 40 appearances while averaging 15:43 of ice time -- then that would be interesting in leagues that also use penalty minutes.

Regardless of what happens on defense, though, Tampa Bay has a forward group to be envious of. The Lightning have five forwards with 37 or more points compared to the league average of 1.59. There’s also Nick Paul, who is a solid secondary scorer with 11 goals and 25 points in 37 appearances. He’s on a bit of a roll right now with two goals and five points over his past six games, so he’s worth consideration as a short-term grab, especially given Tampa Bay’s packed upcoming lineup.

Meanwhile, Nikita Kucherov remains as dominant as ever. He’s on a seven-game scoring streak in which he’s provided three goals and 11 points, giving him 20 markers and 65 points in 41 outings overall. He ranks third in the scoring race behind Nathan MacKinnon (17 goals, 72 points) and Leon Draisaitl (31 goals, 67 points) and just ahead of Connor McDavid (20 goals, 64 points). It wouldn’t be surprising to see those four compete for the Art Ross Trophy for the remainder of the season.

Vegas Golden Knights (Mon vs STL, Thu @ STL, Fri @ DAL, Sun vs FLA)

Vegas is cruising towards the playoffs with its 29-12-3 record, though it has hit a speed bump, dropping three of its past four games. It wouldn’t be surprising to see better results next week, though. The Golden Knights will start with a home-and-away series against St. Louis on Monday and Thursday. Vegas will then play in Dallas on Friday and host the Panthers on Sunday.

I’m so used to the Golden Knights having injury problems, that it’s weird to see the team basically healthy. Lukas Cormier is on the season-opening injured reserve list, but he’ll probably be sent to the minors once he’s ready to return.

That gives us a glimpse of how this team assembles at full strength. Presently, the forward talent is spread out nicely. Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone make for a strong first line while Tomas Hertl and William Karlsson each center one of the other two scoring lines -- it's debatable which of those is second and which is third. Presently, Karlsson has Brett Howden on his wing while Hertl has Pavel Dorofeyev.

Then there’s the 23-year-old Cole Schwindt, who doesn’t have much of a role when everyone is healthy. He averaged just 8:24 of ice time from Dec. 19-Jan. 12 and typically doesn’t get consistent linemates. He was then a healthy scratch Tuesday but is projected to draw back into the lineup Friday with the 22-year-old Alexander Holtz resting instead. Holtz also doesn’t have a consistent role when the team is at full strength.

Nicolas Roy is technically the fourth center, but he’s playing more than that role implies, averaging 15:59 per game. He also brings more to the table offensively than someone with the “fourth-line center” label. He had 13 goals and 41 points in 70 outings in 2023-24 and is at six goals and 14 points across 33 appearances this season.

Combine that with the ability to utilize Noah Hanifin, Brayden McNabb, Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore as the squad’s top-four defensemen, and it’s not hard to see why this group is enjoying so much success. There aren’t any glaring needs that they even have going into the playoffs, though it can usually never hurt to have too much depth, so maybe Vegas will look to add a complementary piece or two as some injury insurance.

Winnipeg Jets (Mon @ UTA, Wed @ COL, Fri vs UTA, Sun vs CGY)

Winnipeg has won its past three games, bringing it up to 31-12-3 in 2024-25. That puts them on a 55-win pace, which would be the most in franchise history -- the Jets’ previous best was 52 in 2017-18 and 2023-24. We’ll see if the Jets can continue their smooth performance this campaign next week. They’ll play in Utah on Monday and Colorado on Wednesday before returning home to host Utah on Friday and the Flames on Sunday.

Connor Hellebuyck remains the backbone of their success. He’s allowed just four goals on 93 shots (.957 save percentage) over his past four starts and now has a 28-6-2 record, 1.97 GAA and .929 save percentage in 36 outings. Like the Jets, it’s entirely feasible that he’ll surpass his career high in wins. His current best is 44, which he set in 2017-18. Assumingly, that wasn’t one of the two times he won the Vezina Trophy, finishing second that year to Pekka Rinne with both of those netminders getting similar results -- Hellebuyck was 44-11-9 with a 2.36 GAA and a .924 save percentage in 67 appearances while Rinne was 42-13-4 with a 2.31 GAA and a .927 save percentage in 59 starts.

This season, Hellebuyck is looking like a heavy favorite in the Vezina Trophy race. In addition to dominating the win category (the next best goaltender is Jake Oettinger with 22), he also leads in save percentage (Hellebuyck’s .929 narrowly beats Anthony Stolarz’s .927, though Stolarz has been limited to 17 starts due to injury) and GAA (his 1.97 tops Darcy Kuemper’s 2.06, and again, Hellebuyck has a huge edge in starts compared to Kuemper’s 22) among those with at least 10 appearances.

In a different year, I think there’d be a strong Hart argument to be made for Hellebuyck too, but that would require the top of the scoring leaderboard to be less impressive. We’re probably going to see one or more forwards top 120 points, so odds are one of them will get the Hart. Still, Hellebuyck’s dominance this campaign is remarkable.

We shouldn’t sell the offense short, though. The Jets do rank second in goals per game with 3.57. The top line of Kyle Connor (26 goals, 60 points), Mark Scheifele (27 goals, 53 points) and Gabriel Vilardi (19 goals, 41 points) have led the charge in that regard, but Nikolaj Ehlers’ contributions shouldn’t be overlooked either. He has 14 goals and 38 points across 37 outings in 2024-25, including five goals and 13 points in 13 games since returning from a lower-body injury. Ehlers numbers become more impressive when you consider he’s averaging a somewhat modest 15:37. No player has more points than Ehlers while averaging under 16 minutes (Jason Zucker is next with 33 points), and that’s despite Ehlers missing nine games due to his injury.

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 PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

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).

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

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.

Lukas Cormier – 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

2025 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects (Top 50 Free) – Biggest fallers in 2024-25

Jesper Wallstedt - Goaltender - Minnesota Wild

Joakim Kemell - Wing - Nashville Predators

Thomas Bordeleau - Center - San Jose Sharks

Lukas Cormier - Defense - Vegas Golden Knights

Ville Heinola - Defense - Winnipeg Jets

Corson Ceulemans - Defense - Columbus Blue Jackets

Brendan Brisson - Wing - New York Rangers

Xavier Bourgault - Wing - Ottawa Senators

William Dufour - Wing - Colorado Avalanche

Filip Mesar - Wing - Montreal Canadiens

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Goaltending issues – Favourable schedules and players to target

Boston Bruins (Mon vs SJS, Wed @ NJD, Thu vs OTT, Sat vs COL)

Carolina Hurricanes (Mon @ CHI, Tue @ DAL, Thu vs CBJ, Sat @ NYI)

Minnesota Wild (Mon @ COL, Thu vs UTA, Sat vs CGY, Sun @ CHI)

Nashville Predators (Tue vs SJS, Thu @ SJS, Sat @ ANA)

Ottawa Senators (Tue @ NYR, Thu @ BOS, Sat vs TOR, Sun vs UTA)

Tampa Bay Lightning (Mon @ TOR, Tue @ MTL, Fri @ CHI, Sat @ DET)

Vegas Golden Knights (Mon vs STL, Thu @ STL, Fri @ DAL, Sun vs FLA)

Winnipeg Jets (Mon @ UTA, Wed @ COL, Fri vs UTA, Sun vs CGY)

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 PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

Risers

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

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