The Golden Knights’ prospect pool has been starting to look a little barren over the course of the last few seasons. With the departures of multiple 1st round picks from the first five drafts and a host of players getting their opportunity in the NHL this season, there’s not a ton to get excited about.
However, two recent middle-round prospects are teammates and are both tearing up the QMJHL. 3rd round pick in 2020 Lukas Cormier and 4th round pick in 2021 Jakub Brabenec each had standout regular seasons for the Charlottetown Islanders and they are continuing on the success in the Q’s playoffs.
Cormier was named Defenseman of the Year and Brabenec took home both the Offensive Rookie of the Year and the overall Rookie of the Year awards.
This is the second consecutive year Cormier has claimed the Émile-Bouchard Trophy becoming the first player in league history to do so. The award’s history is full of standout NHL defensemen including Kris Letang, Thomas Chabot, Sam Girard, David Savard, and Keith Yandle.
The rookie awards won by Brabenec come with impressive alumni too. Sidney Crosby, Jakub Voracek, Nico Hischier, Alexis Lafreniere, and Nikolaj Ehlers have all claimed both of the awards in their first seasons in the QMJHL also. Former VGK waiver claim Valentin Zykov also won both awards back in 2012-13.
The smooth-skating offensive defenseman Cormier once again was a point-grabbing machine this season amassing 81 in 62 regular season games. He took a major step forward in the goal-scoring department this year more than doubling his career-high with 33 goals. In the playoffs, Cormier has not slowed down a bit tacking on four more goals and 12 points in nine postseason games.
Meanwhile, the high-IQ, creative, and skinny Brabenec, playing in his first season in North America, surpassed the point-per-game mark by tallying 64 in 58 contests. Like Cormier, his success has continued on into the playoffs where he has 10 assists in the Islanders’ nine games.
The Charlottetown Islanders currently lead their semifinal series 2-1 over the Sherbrooke Phoenix with Game 4 coming up tonight at 4 PM. You can stream the game live using the CHL’s official streaming site.
If Cormier and Brabanec’s Islanders win tonight or Wednesday, they’ll head to the QMJHL finals where they can earn a trip to this year’s Memorial Cup in late June.
Tim
Jason you rightfully mentioned all the first round picks we gave away but failed to mention the many second round picks we threw in the ocean. Hard to have a productive farm system when your not able to pick players. This year once gain no first round pick and no second round next year in the Jack Eichel fiasco. Will he be worth what we gave up plus a 10 million contract only time will tell. A thought on the Trotz signing he was let go in New York because he held back scorers from scoring sacrificing offense for defense. Obviously Barzel won and Trotz lost now he brings his boring style of play to Vegas. I find it ironic that we had Gallant who tonight may or may not go to the next round, Replaced by DeBoer our hated rival who now has been canned for the man who beat us in the Stanley Cup. When you think about it with all the teams and all the coaches how can these three men be our only connection in our history. Is it eerie, or karma, or just another strange saga to the history of The Vegas Golden Knights. Like I said a movie could be made on the Knights although true most people would think it was fiction because this much craziness could not happen to one team in there 5 years of existence.
Julie
Looks like Gallant is headed for the next series. Good for him.
Ann
I agree
Tim
Yes like most Vegas fans were happy for Gerard Gallant a coaches coach. Were still looking and we had the best and they just didn’t see it. I wonder what management is thinking tonight after another of there many blunders. Bill with each body blow you take sooner or later you’ll be down for the count. Bill has to be thinking how did things go so bad so fast. Answer piss poor management has sunk this team into oblivion. You won’t worry to much until your not selling out the area then you’ll take action.
THE hockey GOD
most savvy NHL fans don’t follow or root for ex coaches of their teams (most unsophisticated fan based in history of NHL.)
Meanwhile in real news
With New York #NYR moving on to the 3rd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 2022 2nd round pick sent to the Winnipeg #GoJetsGo in the F Andrew Copp trade has now upgraded to a 2022 1st round pick.
Tim
THG, for sure I’m not a Savvy NHL fan but I do enjoy people who’ve been railroaded come back and stick it to there former team. I see Gallant on the bench I see a coach who’s played the game at a high level and now has proven to coach at a high level. You can blow it off if you like but for me I’ll be cheering for him against Tampa and enjoying every minute.
VGK Fan
Most coaches don’t lead a team to the SCF in the 1st season of existence!
I guess us rooting for a coach who was wrongly fired just show how much class we have in Vegas. I’m really not sure how you can’t understand that.
THE hockey GOD
I am sure panthers fans are not “rooting’ for him.
And if he does lead Rangers to SCF in his first year, good for him. That doesn’t mean I am rooting for him.
VGK got lucky in first year, that is very obvious at this point in time.
Tim
OK THG, Lets get a couple of things straight. Did Florida make the NHL finals when Gallant coached I don’t think so. Did he take the VGK to the finals I do think so, so you don’t see the difference? You have your way of looking at it be it fucked up as it is but that’s your trip we all walk to the beat of a different drummer.
TS
Thg, why NOT root for a familiar coach, If we didn’t make it? Ya gotta root for SOMEONE, right? I’m enjoying the playoffs, esp the Rangers!
THE hockey GOD
Finland wins gold in men’s Olympics and Worlds in 2022. Sakari Manninen scores the golden goal on home ice on the power play.
Meanwhile in the STATES // PrOviNCES we have hockey and 90F temperatures. Bettman’s NHL is freaking joke. Hockey was not meant to be played in summer time weather !!
THE hockey GOD
@ tim “people who’ve been railroaded ”
GG wasn’t “railroaded”, anyone who believes that is koo koo for cocoa puffs.
KOO
KOO
like in the KOO KOO clock.
IF that were case, then every time an NHL coach gets canned is another case of being railroaded.
KOO
KOO
KOO
KOO
KOO
KOO
Tim
THG, Once again you write a check you can’t cash. Gallant went from the penthouse to the outhouse in less then 2 1/2 years and I’m koo koo. You better look in the mirror my friend. No one said you have to like him we all have our opinions but for a guy who’s down to the final 4 again I personally like to give him some credit. You’ve got tunnel vision it’s your way or the highway that’s a bad trait to have. Growing up we’ve all had that one guy who in his mind had all the answers but used his bullying tactics to intimidate people but I don’t intimidate easy so keep you Koo Koo and cocoa puffs comments for someone who really gives a shit.
knights fan in minny
tim he is the king of the site just ask him everything he says is right just ask him he thinks were all suppose to take his word as golden
THE hockey GOD
@ Tim NHL coach shelf life is 2 1/2 years. Coaches are dime a dozen.
Get over it.
And Minny , if I am king what does that make you ? Queen ?
BTW
it’s good to be the king.
knights fan in minny
it makes me not nauseating like you cotton ball king you dont have to many fans on here
knights fan in minny
the king of bullshit
Tim
THG, Tampa coach has been in Tampa how long 9 Years. Once again the fake news leader comes to the front of the line with more bullshit.
knights fan in minny
well said tim call out the fraud
Person Commenting
Why can’t people just enjoy hockey without people having to attack them and their way of enjoying the sport? Like, really?!? How does it affect you that people pay attention to GG? Why do you have to be so negative every single time? Every post on this website you are here, bashing everyone. It’s a form of entertainment, let people be entertained. You don’t need to be so upset at random internet strangers all the time for enjoying things in a different way than you.
THE hockey GOD
minny you haven’t posted anything on hockey in the last month
and you are talking about bull shit ??
ROFLMAO
you have no sense of humor !! You can give it out, but you can’t take.
relax dude, I have nothing against you !
knights fan in minny
the only person i give it to is you because you ridicule anyone who does not agree with you like tim said its your way or the highway you are the bully of this site you punk
knights fan in minny
i can take anything you have boy