In the SinBin.vegas Prospect Rankings, goalies are always listed last. So, today we decided to bring the new goalie rankings to the forefront by giving them a post of their own. So, here goes.
Criteria to qualify for rankings:
- Must be younger than 23 years old
- Cannot have played more than 10 NHL games
- Must be either under contract or drafted by the Golden Knights
Players are ranked based on value to the organization. The most important factor is the player’s ceiling, or how good they can eventually become, but also taken into consideration is how close they are to playing in the NHL and how likely they are to play in the NHL. This is NOT a ranking of which players are the best if a game were to be held today.
Recently Removed: Maxim Zhukov (forfeited rights)
GOALIES
1) Isaiah Saville
Acquired: 2019 Entry Draft, 5th Round, #135 overall
Age: 18 (September 21, 2000)
Most Recent Team: Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Previous Ranking: N/A
Saville has been by far the most impressive goalie in his first appearance with the Golden Knights. He looked incredibly confident in the goal and his technique was terrific for an 18-year-old. Dave Prior is constantly working with goalies to try and make minor changes to their game, often times throwing them off a bit, but with Saville that wasn’t the case. Prior wanted Saville to challenge shooters further out of the goal cutting down angles. He did it, and it seemed to make him even better as the week went on. Of the goalies remaining in the Golden Knights system, he’s the highest draft pick and he looks like he’s on the right path to becoming a solid prospect.
2) Dylan Ferguson
Acquired: via Trade from Dallas Stars with 2020 2nd Round Pick for Marc Methot (selected in 2017 Entry Draft, 7th Round, #194 overall)
Age: 20 (September 20, 1998)
Most Recent Team: Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Previous Ranking: #2
The one aspect of Ferguson’s game that shows up the most when watching him is his compete level. He looks like he wants to save every single shot, no matter the situation or likelihood he should actually save it. In the scrimmage that he was able to play in Development Camp (he was hurt and missed the final two), it appeared like he was planning on winning the game singlehandedly for his team. The intensity is there, his style is aggressive, and he’s getting more and more consistent. For a smaller guy, his ability to look big inside of the goal is impressive and his athleticism is exciting. It appears like the Golden Knights’ plan for Ferguson is to hand him the reigns as the backup in Chicago, which says a lot about what the organization thinks of him as well.
More on Ferguson9/12/18 – Ferguson didn’t play in any of the rookie games, which in theory should be a bad thing. Instead though, it indicates the Golden Knights rank him the highest, by giving him the first preseason game rather than a rookie game. We’ll heed VGK’s rankings and leave him atop the list.
7/28/18 – You might remember young Dylan from his short stint with the Golden Knights, but you should remember him from his solid showing at Development Camp. He looked confident in the goal, something he didn’t look while in the net in Edmonton or even at Development Camp in 2017. Ferguson has a little bit of an edge to him, and it seems to translate to confidence and swagger on the ice. Plus, he’s awesome interacting with kid fans when he comes off the ice.
3) Jordan Kooy
Acquired: 2018 Entry Draft, 7th Round, #208 overall
Age: 18 (April 30, 2000)
Most Recent Team: London Knights (OHL)
Previous Ranking: #1
Kooy was solid once again between the pipes at Development Camp making all the saves he was supposed to. However, there weren’t many moments with him in goal in which he stopped shots that should have been goals. Instead, he just stopped all the ones he should. That’s not necessarily a problem, but as he gets older, he’s going to have to start doing it a bit more. He did, however, look much more comfortable in camp this year than he did a year ago. Dropping down to 3rd is much more a reflection of how good Saville looked as opposed to Kooy doing anything wrong.
More on Kooy9/12/18 – The final score didn’t look great when Kooy skated off the ice, but he flashed some brilliance between the pipes in his rookie game. Being a year younger than Patera and Zhukov yet looking as good if not better than both of them is saying something. His size is exciting too, he’s a big guy and seems to know how to use it to his advantage.
7/28/18 – Kooy had an incredibly rough first scrimmage at Development Camp, but quickly turned it around and may have even been the most impressive goalie in the second and third scrimmages. He appears to be a guy who has excellent upside and a year or six of working with Dave Prior never hurt anybody.
4) Jiri Patera
Acquired: 2017 Entry Draft, 6th Round, #161 overall
Age: 20 (February 24, 1999)
Most Recent Team: Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Previous Ranking: #4
He dropped down to 4th on the list last time due to a shoddy performance at World Juniors. He stays at #4 now because the guys in front of him all look very good. As a whole, the goaltenders had their best camp yet, with all four of them looking good for the most part. Patera definitely seems to be progressing and is starting to track the puck a bit better than he had the previous times we’ve seen him. I was down on the goalie prospects in the system, but after doing this exercise again, ranking Patera 4th, and realizing how good he was in camp, the depth in the system actually looks pretty good.
More on Patera9/12/18 – Despite having the best stat line of any of the three goalies, he was the least impressive. It may have a lot to do with the fact that the Kings rookies did not generate much offense, but Patera seemed to lose track of the puck quite a bit. It’s important to note though that the gap between #1 to #4 is fairly slim here. Couple good periods and Patera could be first.
7/28/18 – Patera was selected by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the CHL Import Draft and is looking forward to trying his hand against better competition this season. He made a couple of incredible reactionary saves during 2018 Development Camp, one in particular that still boggles the mind as to how he kept the puck out. He seems to have quick reflexes and is a fairly large guy for his age.
(The full SinBin.vegas Prospect Rankings, including all 26 skaters, can be found here.)
vgk2019
good article. the prospects are developing. But let’s hope they don’t trade away their top older prospect of all, GUSEV.
but after reading the tweets of Gary Lawless, he does not sound very positive about Gusev, and since he works for the team, that is not a good sign.
in fact, there is a column today by Mark Easson that quotes Edm beat writer
Jim Matheson: “Eight to 10 teams have shown interest in Vegas Golden Knights RFA Nikita Gusev.
Can bet that the Colorado Avalanche are one of those teams. They were in on Artemi Panarin and have around $27 million in cap space. The Avs could trade their 2020 first and third-round picks to Vegas who could use the cap space.”
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OT, one minor correction Ken. In the Adam Kutner report in the upper right column, they have Pirri with a 1 year contract, but it should say 2 years. thnx
vgk2019
btw, that would be a crappy return for Gusev. The Avs added Kadri, Burakovsky, Donskoi, Bellemare, and now maybe Gusev to their already stacked top line. so, their first round pick would be 20th or worse.
no way, any first round pick must be in the top 5 to do any near term good.
But the best return would be a top prospect who is nhl-ready and on an entry level contract, such as Brannstrom or Suzuki, plus another pick in round 1 or 2….so they should not trade with Colo, who are their conference competitors….
but it appears that McPhee is hellbent on sullying the end of his gm tenure
Bottom line best option= keep Gusev, and open cap space by dumping Holden and a 4th line player.
Mike StG
Any return less than a decent LW point-producing RFA with current contract <2mil is a loser. And an East team. Someone similar to a Tyler Bertuzzi (DET) 21G/26A, 1.4mil, RFA next year. Vegas needs 3rd line scoring now, not in 1-2 years.
Mike StG
Salient points in this article on possible Gusev trade.
https://t.co/JTmMl1rodg
"DOC"
About Gusev …….. This guy is gonna be a tremendous player, in my opinion. Watching him in the world championships, his talent just stood out. Add all the things has done and been recognized the past 5 + years in the Russian leagues, it is obvious the Knights need to do whatever is needed to keep this player … PERIOD!
the ulimate Hockey God
He didn’t impress me much when he was practicing with knights at the end of the season, he didn’t do much of anything; Perri clearly out played him during the practice sessions. If , as he said, he liked Vegas as much as he says he does, then he should tell his agent to STFU and lower his demands. Otherwise he will go the same route as previous hypocrites (aka Valery Kutznurnutzof, I mean shipashev, James the unReal Deal Neal, and David “we owned the town” Perron).
Signing off for now,
the “Ultimate” Hockey God
Yondu Udonta
PS “hey y’all I’m Frkcing Marry Poppins”
PPS that scene/ line cracks me up.
Kirk
yep, trading Gusev will be Forsberg all over again for GM
did he learn nothing the first time? apparently not, cuz Tatar is really part 2, and Gusev will be part 3.
fool him once, fool him twice , and now fool him thrice
when a bad trade is to be made, let George do it
vgk2019
here is a tweet from a Knights fan and Gary Lawless’s response on his account
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gary lawless 43m
A lot of assumptions there. Haven’t heard George or Kelly state their intentions. Part of this business is not letting very many know what you’re truly thinking or planning.
Sean Bates
@garylawless So if Gusev lights it up on another team, you don’t think GMGM is going to look foolish for hanging on to Reaves/Holden instead? What compensation will be enough to lighten the pain of watching him put up 60+ points on a rival team?
vgk2019
I wonder what Gallant told them. He probably does not like his defensive play, and is no fan. I make that assumption based on him not using Gusev in the playoffs when he had the chance.