What I'm Looking For From The Golden Knights At The 2023 Rookie Faceoff
For the first time since Vegas hoisted the Stanley Cup on June 13, Golden Knights players will step on the ice to play a hockey game against players from another team.
Yeah, that’s a stretch, but hey, real hockey is so close, just let me get away with this one.
Tonight is the first of three games for the Golden Knights at this year’s Rookie Faceoff taking place in Vegas and Henderson. VGK’s rookies will take on the Anaheim Ducks tonight and the San Jose Sharks tomorrow at the Dollar Loan Center, and the Colorado Avalanche on Monday at City National Arena.
Vegas’ roster includes 17 draft picks including 1st rounder Brendan Brisson and 2nd round picks Matyas Sapovaliv and Daniil Chayka. Here’s what I’m hoping to see from the team this weekend.
Time for the Jakubs to really make a name for themselves
In the 2021 Draft the Golden Knights used back to back selections in the 4th round on players with the first name Jakub. The first Jakub picked was Jakub Brabenec from Czechia. He showed out well in his first few camps with the Golden Knights but was a bit underwhelming in Development Camp this summer. The other Jakub, Jakub Demek has not had a ton of time on the ice in Las Vegas. He has missed several camps with injury including this summer’s Dev Camp. However, when he has been on the ice either in the WHL or for Team Slovakia, he’s been excellent. The powerful forward should finally get a real chance to assert himself in a VGK jersey and it could catapult him up the prospect list. A point-per-game is the minimum expectation for both Jakubs in these three games.
Lukas Cormier’s chance to show his maturity
When it comes to the diminutive 3rd round defenseman, skating and offense are never a question. He could step on the ice in the NHL tomorrow and he wouldn’t look out of place with the puck on his stick. However, the 2022 preseason was a bit of a horror show defensively for Cormier, which was to be expected. Now, after a full season in the AHL followed by an extended stint as a Black Ace, Cormier needs show what he’s learned in these games. There shouldn’t be positional issues, there shouldn’t be strength issues, and there shouldn’t be decision making issues. Do it all, and Daniil Miromanov’s spot as the first offensive-minded defenseman call-up will be in jeopardy.
Standouts in the next wave
Unfortunately, the only 1st round pick for the Golden Knights in the past two drafts, David Edstrom, will not be on the ice with the team this week (he’s back in Sweden preparing for his upcoming season in the SHL). However, there are a bevy of players who could use this weekend to make a statement about their futures. Seven players drafted in 2022 and 2023 will suit up for the Golden Knights and while nothing is truly expected out of any of them, succeeding as a younger player has a huge impact. The most likely to take that step is 2nd round pick Matyas Sapovaliv. He told us yesterday that he’s added a lot of weight which has made him a much better player in every area on the ice. A defensive stalwart already, if Sapovaliv can show he’s a physical presence now too, it would be a massive step in his development. Jordan Gustafson, Patrick Guay, Ben Hemmerling, Mathieu Cataford, Thomas Uronen, and Arttu Karki are the other six. Hopefully we’re talking about a few of them by Monday night.
Don’t get skunked
Typically, I do not care in the least about the results of these games. However, as the reigning Stanley Cup champs, it wouldn’t be a good look for a group including 17 draft picks to go out and lose three straight games to conference rivals. Obviously, it won’t mean much in the long term, but there’s no question the VGK prospect pool looks a bit bare and losing these games would further prove it. People around the world are waiting on the Golden Knights’ demise, a trio of losses will make it much easier for them to project it in the near future. Just win a game and shut all that down.
