Top Prospects: The NHL System Rankings

#27: Vegas Golden Knights

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Number of Ranked Prospects: 22

Number of Forwards in the Top 50: 1

Number of Defensemen in the Top 50: 0

Average Rank of Top 10 Prospects in Pool: 136th

Top Forward Prospect in The System: Trevor Connelly (19th)

Top Defenseman Prospect in The System: Arttu Karki (67th)

System Score: 2

The first NHL for the Vegas franchise was in 2017, in which the Golden Knights held three first-round picks and two seconds. The team hit on four of the five picks, who have combined for a total of over 1,100 NHL games so far. Unfortunately, only Nic Hague (te 6'6 defenseman they selected 34th) plays for the Golden Knights. Instead, the Vegas front office used the blue chip prospects to trade players the team thought could help generate immediate success. Out were Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki and Eric Brannstrom. In came Patrick Nolan, Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone.

Since that initial draft success, Vegas has been able to pick in the first round of five of the subsequent seven drafts. Only one of those picks--Peyton Krebs, 17th overall in 2019--has become an NHL player, but like the top picks in 2017, Vegas used Krebs as a part of a deal to bring in experienced help. In this case, Krebs was moved to Buffalo in part of a deal that brought back Jack Eichel. 

However, despite having moved multiple mid-round picks in recent years which has left the prospect pool rather shallow (only 22 currently-ranked prospects is fewer than all but one other team), but maintaining top-end picks has allowed the system to have some true quality players at the top of the system.

The Top of The Pool:

Vegas selected left winger Trevor Connelly 19th overall in the 2024 draft, bringing the talented, creative offensive forward who fell further than he would have based on talent alone. Hoping that Connelly's alleged use of slurs and behaviors are truly well behind him, Vegas took a chance on a forward who plays with exuberance and flair. He has excellent vision and a hard, accurate shot, and he uses his above average skating with constant movement that keeps the opposition unsteady and often chasing him as he creates open space. As long as Connelly continues to work some of the mental errors out of his game and work on being a good human being off the ice (and if Vegas holds on to him), he has the talent to be a top-six winger on a championship team.

Brendan Brisson (ranked 85th) looks to be on verge of a full-time role with the big club. The former Michigan Wolverine standout played in 15 NHL games for Vegas last season, in which he scored two goals and six assists in fairly limited ice time. Brisson's skill set starts with his feet. He is a highly agile and mobile skater and he combines his skating with tireless effort and excellent puck skills. He works the high-danger areas, generates chances and get involved in the play on every shift. His biggest obstacle to full-time NHL play right now are the All-Star Golden Knights players ahead of him on the depth chart.

Behind those two top forwards are Matyas Sapovaliv (107th) and Mathieu Cataford (121st), selected 48th (2022) and 77th (2023) respectively. Sapovaliv is a big, forceful center who drives play via his strength of will, crafty playmaking and all-around abilities. He is effective in any game situation, kills penalties, can run the powerplay off the boards, and plays sound defense utilizing his size and positioning. Cataford plays a much more skills-based game, leaning heavily on his skating and playmaking abilities to create offense. He is not the type of player to dazzle with an array of eye-popping moves, but he gets into the open spaces and works the game to his advantage. Cataford is coming off a great year with Halifax in the QMJHL, one in which he was named the QMJHL's most valuable player after leading the Mooseheads in total points (90 in 65 games, from 40 games and 50 assists) and was third overall in QMJHL scoring. He was moved to Rimouski in the offseason, and will look to move on to the professional hockey ranks beginning in the 2025-2026 season.

On the defensive end of the prospect system, the Golden Knights are much thinner. They have a quality prospect in Arttu Karki (ranked 67th and a Hockey Prophets favorite) and a high-draft pick Daniil Chayka (taken 38th overall in 2021, currently ranked 84th). Karki is a 6'2, 181-pound Finnish offensive-minded defenseman who played last season in the OHL. He scored 21 goals with 24 assists for the Soo Greyhounds, and ended the season 5th overall in OHL goal scoring from the blue line. Karki will play in Finland's Liiga this season to further hone is game, but he looks like a future NHL powerplay quarterback. Chayka is also 6'2 and 181 pounds, but the similarities between he and Karki end just about there. The Russian defender is much more the type of player who does what it takes to protect his own net rather than fill the opponents' with pucks. 

Return to the Team System Rankings

Below is the full list of Vegas' ranked prospects.

Top Forwards 

Top Defensemen