2026-27 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Vegas Golden Knights’ Top 10

Credit: Steven Ellis

Welcome back.

It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

Here are the criteria for being labeled a prospect: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games. Players over 23 years old are not included. Goaltenders are a bit more subjective, but they must be 25 or under and have played fewer than 20 games in the past season or fewer than 30 games over their career.

Today, we’re breaking down the Vegas Golden Knights.

I won’t bore you with the usual “Vegas’ pipeline stinks” shtick.

You know that already. They’re a team that’s built around winning now and worrying about future problems another time. The Golden Knights have made it to the Stanley Cup final three times already, so it’s clearly working to an extent. It was actually impressive to watch them go as far as they did this year without having to move the 2026 first-round pick to bring in a star talent.

So it’s not a situation of Vegas struggling to build a pipeline because all their prospects fizzle out. Instead, it’s that they’ve literally traded away basically anybody of note the team already had.

One question I had last summer was whether Trevor Connelly – the team’s undisputed top prospect – was being rushed out of college early after a quiet freshman season. Fortunately, he was one of the better young wingers in the AHL and looks destined to be one of the team’s top developed prospects in franchise history. I also liked what I saw from Carl Lindbom and Ben Hemmerling in the AHL, and can’t wait to see their continued evolution. On the flip side, scouts aren’t in love with Mathieu Cataford or Matyáš Sapovaliv anymore.

Connelly and Juho Piiparinen are the only prospects in this system I have full faith will become full-time NHLers. I still believe in Lindbom, and I’ve liked the high-bet plays on Jakob Ihs-Wozniak and Jonah Sivertson over the past two years. If we’re being realistic, though, they’re all trade bait, so don’t get too attached to them, VGK fans.

Biggest Strength

The Golden Knights have solid winger depth, with five players appearing on this list. Connelly is the lone left winger, with the other four occupying the right side. As always, it’s not difficult to shift these guys around, but it’s never a bad thing to have quality options up front – especially with many being solid offensive threats, too.

Biggest Weakness

Overall depth, really. I actually had some tough decisions to make around the 8-10 mark, but not because there were so many high-end talents to choose from. It was more just figuring out which future AHLer was going to be better than another future AHLer. Like I said earlier, there aren’t many prospects in this system I truly believe in. Connelly will be a top-six winger, while Piiparinen could max out as a second-pair defender. Beyond that, we’re looking mostly at guys who can occasionally fill in at best.

Fast Facts:

NHL GM: Kelly McCrimmon
Dir. of Amateur Scouting: Raphael Pouliot
Dir. of Player Development: Wil Nichol
AHL Affiliate: Henderson Silver Knights
ECHL Affiliate: Tahoe Knight Monsters
Recent NHL Graduates: Braeden Bowman, RW

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Trevor Connelly (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

1. Trevor Connelly, LW, 20 (Henderson Silver Knights, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 19th overall, first round in 2024

Injuries impact Connelly’s rookie pro season, which included preventing him from a second go-around with USA’s World Junior team. but the offensively minded winner still finished with 49 points in 46 games and would have absolutely eclipsed the 60-point mark as a 19 year old had he not missed time. Connelly’s backchecking continues to improve, and he seems to never give up on a play. For a team who has rarely held on to their prospects, Connelly looks like a legitimate top-six scoring threat for Vegas. He can shoot, make quality passes and fly around the ice. His hockey IQ is tremendous, too. I’m glad the Golden Knights didn’t rush Connelly to the big club last year so he could focus on getting better in small-area situations. If he doesn’t make the Golden Knights out of camp, I imagine it won’t be long until he forces his way into an NHL call-up.

2. Juho Piiparinen, RHD, 18 (Tappara, Liiga)

Acquired: Drafted 29th overall, first round in 2026

Can you believe it? The Golden Knights actually kept their first-round pick this year. Now, whether Piiparinen sticks around or not is a topic for another day… maybe in March. Piiparinen is a high-IQ defender who rarely commits puck-handling errors. While he thrives on keeping his game simple, he also possesses the ability to jump into the rush and deliver a heavy physical presence when necessary. He has already proven he can hold his own at the professional level against men, and his international performances have been consistently solid. Though not a flashy player, his calm, collected demeanor makes him a highly reliable shutdown presence in his own zone. I would have liked to see a bit more offensive production from him last season, but his true value lies in using his mobility to neutralize opposing attackers. I am highly confident he has the tools to be a reliable bottom-four NHLer.

3. Carl Lindbom, G, 23 (Henderson Silver Knights, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 222nd overall, seventh round in 2021

*Carl Lindbom (Robert Edwards-Imagn Images)*

Lindbom had his best pro hockey season to date, posting a 24-5-8 record with three shutouts and a .926 save percentage. In fact, his pro career has been very productive as a whole, which is what helped earn him an eight-game run with Vegas this past year. I was excited to see what he was going to be able to do, but unfortunately he really struggled for consistency. Granted, the same can be said about pretty much any goalie who played for Vegas this season, but the surface-level stats – a 2-4-2 record with a .873 save percentage – weren’t particularly exciting. Goaltending has never really been a strong point for this franchise, but Lindbom could become the first goalie developed by the franchise. There’s still a bit of a log jam with the big club with Carter Hart and Adin Hill signed on, but look for Lindhom to get another chance once injuries arise. I think we’re talking about a guy who might still have a future as a backup.

4. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, RW, 19 (Luleå HF, SHL)

Acquired: Drafted 55th overall, second round in 2025

I know it was just a summer tournament, but JIW’s World Junior Summer Showcase should excite VGK fans. I thought he was one of Sweden’s better players throughout, which is something that the team has become accustomed to internationally the last couple of years. He didn’t make the main squad when they won gold last winter, but that’ll change in the team’s title defense this year. Ihs-Wozniak put up some decent numbers in the second-tier Swedish league and is ready for full-time top over action this time around. The 6-foot-3 forward has a solid frame, even if he’s not overly physical. He’s a deceptive playmaker with a good shot, and he’s always thinking about offense all the time. Consistency is still a bit of an issue, but when Ihs-Wozniak is at his best, you definitely notice him.

5. Jonah Sivertson, RW, 18 (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)

Acquired: Drafted 113th overall, fourth round in 2026

Sivertson is coming off a solid 24-goal, 53-point campaign with Prince Albert. He’s a big, 6-foot-3 forward who doesn’t get pushed around easily. His consistency is still a work in progress, but his skating has taken nice steps forward over the past year. I also like how intense he made every single shift during the WHL playoffs. There’s a solid power forward build here, and I think the Golden Knights got some excellent value from him in the fourth round. Some scouts saw him as a potential second-rounder, which is why I was surprised to see Vegas take Ben Wilmott and Sean Burick ahead of him.

6. Ben Hemmerling, RW, 22 (Henderson Silver Knights, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 177th overall, sixth round in 2022

*Ben Hemmerling (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)*

Hemmerling was a highly productive WHLer with Everett, but an injury limited him to just one goal and two points in 17 games in his first AHL campaign in 2024-25. So it would have been easy to forget about the late-round pick, but Hemmerling exploded for 50 points this past season to finish fourth in scoring for the Silver Knights. He hasn’t gotten a taste of the NHL yet, but it feels like it’s only a matter of time until the productive winger makes it happen. I’m not sure what type of role he’ll end up getting if he ever makes the NHL – he’s very energetic and moves well, but lacks the ideal frame for a checking line forward. That being said, I love that he was able to bounce back so effectively last year, and I can’t wait to see him evolve.

7. Mathieu Cataford, RW, 21 (Henderson Silver Knights, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 77th overall, third round in 2023

The QMJHL has built a reputation of sometimes being a bit too easy to produce in, and, thus, many of the top players can’t translate their game to the NHL. Cataford had 275 points over 249 games, with his 90-point campaign in 2023-24 being a bright point in his development. But Cataford was nearly invisible offensively as an AHL rookie, scoring just three goals and 13 points in 59 games. It felt like he struggled to keep up the pace and just couldn’t create much on the rush. Once viewed as one of Vegas’ top prospects, it feels that Cataford has an upward climb ahead of him to make the NHL. He’s still just 21 and plays a strong two-way game, so I’m not going to write Cataford off yet. But without some improved production, it’s going to be hard to warrant a promotion to the NHL any time soon.

8. Matyáš Sapovaliv, C, 22 (Henderson Silver Knights, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 48th overall, second round in 2022

I’ve definitely cooled off on Sapovaliv a bit, but I’m not ready to give up on him. He’s a huge 6-foot-4 center who can be an immovable object near the net. I like his two-way game, and how he acts as a facilitator under pressure. He was never going to be mistaken for a high-end producer, so 18 goals and 35 points in Henderson is honestly what I expected. But it feels like his game hasn’t really evolved since his last junior season in 2023-24, leaving some to wonder if he has the tools to establish himself as a bottom-six NHLer. I think the details in his game are good, but he’s still a lackluster skater who, maybe a bit more often than he should be, is the third best player on his own line. I think he’ll get into NHL games over the next few years, but I’m not sure he’ll be a full-timer.

9. Sean Burick, RHD, 18 (Penticton Vees, WHL)

Acquired: Drafted 95th overall, third round in 2026

The Vees built a reputation of unrelenting pressure and physical dominance. Burick was one of the biggest reasons for that thanks to his massive 6-foot-8 frame. As expected, his reach is incredible, so you’d better find a way to chip the puck past him if you’re going to have any chance. The University of Denver commit also started to impress scouts with his puck-handling and decision-making down the stretch, too. I don’t expect that to be a major part of his game once he turns pro, but I like him as a prototypical, big, defensive defender who won’t make many stupid mistakes in his own zone.

10. Mateo Nobert, C, 19 (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)

Acquired: Drafted 85th overall, third round in 2025

Nobert is a noted goal-scorer, having tallied 58 over the past two years with Blainville-Boisbriand. Now set to join Halifax, Nobert should be one of the QMJHL’s most lethal forwards. He always puts out a strong two-way effort. The name tends to exploit open space quite well. One of the concerns I’ve had about Nobert’s game is that while he typically gets the puck on target, it feels like he’s a bit too passive under pressure, and can be lulled into making a mistake. That being said, it feels like Nobert’s physical game has improved, which is nice to see given he’s not a big guy. I’m not sure what type of role he’s going to be able to have at the next level, but he’s toolsy and can play a variety of different roles.

Other Prospects: Alex Weiermair, C (21), Jordan Gustafson, C (22), Kai Uchacz, C (23), Jakub Demek, C (23), Benjamin Wilmott, C (19), Lucas Van Vliet, C (20), Jackson Hallum, LW (23), Trent Swick, LW (22), Noel Pakarinen, LW (18), Tuomas Uronen, RW (21), Joe Fleming, RW (23), Bronson Ride, LHD (21), Viliam Kmec, RHD (22), Will Mclaughlin, LHD (18), Gustav Sjöqvist, LHD (20), Arttu Karki, LHD (21), Pavel Moysevich, G (21), Cameron Whitehead, G (23), Matthew Minchak, G (19)

PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF NEWSLETTER

Your daily hockey fix, delivered straight to your inbox. Get connected to every NHL storyline with breaking news, lineup updates, trade buzz, and expert analysis—delivered every morning. Sign up for the Daily Faceoff newsletter and don’t miss a beat!