The Golden Knights have participated in simply three drafts, however they’ve positive made probably the most of them.
The Knights have made 28 picks of their transient historical past and so they’ll begin with a further 5 when the 2020 NHL draft begins Tuesday. It’ll give the workforce the possibility to spice up an already strong secure of prospects.
Who stands out among the many franchise’s earlier alternatives? Right here’s the Knights’ all-drafted workforce, that includes the gamers with the brightest futures nonetheless within the group:
Forwards
Peyton Krebs-Cody Glass-Lucas Elvenes
(Alternate: Jack Dugan)
The Knights must be excited concerning the forwards coming by means of the pipeline.
Glass, the workforce’s first-ever draft decide, acquired his toes moist within the NHL final season. He had 12 factors in 39 video games whereas spending loads of time at proper wing as a substitute of middle. If he will get extra of an opportunity within the center subsequent 12 months, it may actually showcase his imaginative and prescient and passing.
The 21-year-old is rehabbing a late-season knee harm however must be prepared for coaching camp.
Krebs additionally acquired a style of the NHL, however in a a lot completely different style. The 17th general decide in 2019 earned a spot on the Knights’ postseason taxi squad and joined the workforce in Edmonton, Alberta. He even warmed up a couple of instances, displaying how a lot religion the group has in him.
The 19-year-old will probably return to junior hockey subsequent season as a result of he can’t be despatched to the American Hockey League. The pure middle, who performed some left wing in coaching camp, had 60 factors in 38 video games final 12 months within the Western Hockey League after rehabbing a pre-draft Achilles harm.
Elvenes, in distinction to Glass and Krebs, was not a first-round decide. He was taken 127th general in 2017, 121 picks after Glass. He’s actually outplayed that draft slot to date.
The 21-year-old left-shot wing — who can play on both facet of the ice — had 48 factors in 59 video games for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and completed fourth amongst rookies in scoring. He’s a pass-first playmaker with nice persistence, however he must hold bettering his play away from the puck.
Dugan’s trajectory has been much like Elvenes’. Taken 142nd general in 2017, Dugan had an amazing sophomore season at Windfall and was one in every of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award for the highest faculty hockey participant.
The 22-year-old led Division I gamers in factors (52) and assists (42). He signed his entry-level contract in July, so he’ll compete in coaching camp to be both a Golden or Silver Knight.
Defensemen
Nic Hague-Kaedan Korczak
(Alternate: Peter DiLiberatore)
To borrow a phrase from president of hockey operations George McPhee, the Knights have many various “flavors” of defensemen of their system.
Hague, a 2017 second-round decide, is huge and expert. He performed his first 38 NHL video games final season and had ups and downs. The 21-year-old stayed within the AHL after the All-Star break however nonetheless gained expertise as a part of the postseason taxi squad.
The important thing to Hague’s future is bettering the subtleties of his defensive recreation. He’s by no means going to the quickest skater so his hole management, anticipation and in-zone consciousness must be sharp.
Korczak additionally was a second-round decide, in 2019, however his recreation isn’t the identical. The proper-handed defenseman is strong in all areas with out possessing a flashy, standout trait. He’ll as a substitute be somebody who coaches will be capable to belief to play reliable minutes every night time.
The 19-year-old additionally expanded his recreation offensively a bit final season with 49 factors in 60 video games within the WHL.
DiLiberatore brings his personal type as nicely. The 2018 sixth-round decide is a easy puck mover and has been a breakout machine for Quinnipiac. The 20-year-old determined to remain in faculty one other 12 months after scoring 21 factors in 34 video games as a sophomore.
Goaltender
Isaiah Saville
(Alternate: Jiri Patera)
The Knights don’t have a surefire future No. 1 goaltender of their group and haven’t chosen one greater than 96th general.
Saville, nevertheless, has loads of potential.
The 20-year-old had a .907 save share and a couple of.85 goals-against common in 28 video games as a freshman for Nebraska-Omaha. The 2019 fifth-round decide additionally represented the U.S. on the 2020 World Junior Championship.
Patera, a 2017 sixth-round decide, earned a contract after a robust junior season with the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The 21-year-old was the Western Hockey League’s Jap Convention goaltender of the 12 months. He set a franchise report for goals-against common (2.55) and led the convention in wins (24) and save share (.921).
Contact Ben Gotz at [email protected] Observe @BenSGotz on Twitter.
