With a new crop of draft picks in the system, along with an unexpected 1st round pick following the trade of Pavel Dorofeyev, there’s been a lot of movement in the Golden Knights prospect pool.
Unsurprisingly, Trevor Connelly remains atop the list, but the Top 10 has five players who were either not in the system or outside the Top 15 last time we updated the rankings. Also, a few promising prospects from the past have dropped significantly.
Here’s the Top 5 skaters in the system. Click through to see the full set of rankings including goaltenders.
Criteria to qualify for rankings:
- Must be younger than 23 years old for skaters, 25 years old for goalies
- 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.
Removed since last update: Christoffer Sedoff (Traded), Braeden Bowman (NHL experience), Kai Uchacz (Age), Lukas Cormier (Age), Jakub Demek (Age), Jackson Hallum (Age), Abram Wiebe (Traded), Joe Fleming (Age), Noah Ellis (Age), Jesper Vikman (Traded)
SKATERS
1) Trevor Connelly (F)
Acquired: 2024 Entry Draft, 1st Round, #19 overall
Age: 20 (February 28, 2006)
Most Recent Team: Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)
Previous Ranking: 1
Clearly still the crown jewel of the VGK prospect pool, Connelly will have a legitimate chance to make the roster out of camp. Even if he doesn’t, he’s going to be one of the first options to be called up when the Golden Knights need a forward this season. He’s done pretty much everything he needs to do before reaching the NHL, now he just needs to do it at the highest level.
More on Connelly8/12/24 – Ranking: 1 – On the ice, Connelly looks every bit the part of a 1st round pick. He was terrific in his single scrimmage at Development Camp before picking up an injury that kept him out of the second one. His speed is noticeable in all three zones, he has poise with the puck, and his playmaking ability both shooting and passing, is excellent. Supposedly, there was some discussion of signing an ELC and heading to the WHL this season, but instead, he’ll go to Providence College. He is the clear blue-chip prospect in the VGK system at the moment; it’ll be up to him to continue on that path.
2) Juho Piiparinen (D)
Acquired: 2026 Entry Draft, 1st Round, #29 overall
Age: 17 (August 10, 2008)
Most Recent Team: Tappara (Finland)
Previous Ranking: N/A
Already playing professional hockey at the age of 17, Piiparinen is physically already at a place where he’s ready for big-boy hockey. The next step for him will be to adjust to the speed of the North American game. He’s expected to stay in Finland for one more season and should have a big year.
3) Jakob Ihs-Wozniak (F)
Acquired: 2025 Entry Draft, 2nd Round, #55 overall
Age: 19 (February 1, 2007)
Most Recent Team: IF Björklöven (Sweden)
Previous Ranking: 4
His offensive numbers were not overwhelming as a 19-year-old in the Swedish second tier (HockeyAllsvenskan) but he earned plenty of ice time on a team that was promoted to the SHL. The hope was that there’s be more scoring touch, and maybe that will still come, but it appears the rest of his game is already pretty mature.
More on Ihs-Wozniak
4) Ben Hemmerling (F)
Acquired: 2021 Entry Draft, 6th Round, #177 overall
Age: 21 (April 21, 2004)
Most Recent Team: Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)
Previous Ranking: 17
There’s an argument he was the breakthrough star of the 2025-26 season in the VGK prospect pool. He was never the best player on the Silver Knights, but as a rookie he more than held his own, including being named Rookie of the Month in March. His trajectory is on the upswing more than anyone else on this list.
More on Hemmerling8/12/24 – Ranking: 10 – The offensive breakthrough that was necessary for Hemmerling happened in a big way in his overage year in the WHL. He posted a massive 30 goals and 61 assists in 65 games and then was nearly a point-per-game player in the postseason as well. He’s become a shoot-first player who has gotten stronger and faster making him more dominant in Juniors. Now, heading into the AHL ranks, will the success continue. If it does, Hemmerling has a shot to be a late-round gem.
10/5/23 – Ranking: 13 – An alternate captain for the Silvertips, Hemmerling is clearly a leader on the ice. The challenge so far though has been his inability to make a truly consistent offensive impact. He was not great offensively in the rookie games despite playing in a place in the lineup that was enviable.
2/11/23 – Ranking: 11 – Despite being physically small, Hemmerling plays a fairly strong style of hockey. He’s able to hang onto the puck in the offensive zone and he’s quick enough to make defenders miss if he gets a head of steam. He’s continuing to score goals as an 18-year-old in the WHL and he’ll be one to keep an eye on when the prospects return to Vegas this summer.
8/16/22 – Ranking: 17 – Hemmerling had a nose for the front of the goal in Development Camp which is a welcome sign for those wearing a Golden Knights uniform. He also popped in many of the drills at the beginning of camp.
5) Ben Wilmott (F)
Acquired: 2026 Entry Draft, 3rd Round, #92 overall
Age: 19 (August 30, 2006)
Most Recent Team: Barrie Colts (OHL)
Previous Ranking: N/A
Wilmott had a bit of a coming-of-age party in the postseason with the Barrie Colts. He scored 11 goals and 22 points in 20 games, helping lead the team to the OHL Final. As always with this type of player, the question will become whether or not the bulldog style around the front of the goal works against grown men. Some guys are just born to play that role, and they thrive in the NHL, he looks like he may be one of them.
*See the rest of the Rankings*
knights fan in minny
Trevor Connolly needs to make the opening night lineup
TS
Cliff, BRAVO!! The guy and his crap needs to be ” redirected” to ‘Allah is Great”, NOT Sinbin!
This guy is most likely the same ” Alex” who infested Sinbin 2 seasons ago
.Abdullah posts similar crap, so he’s probably the same cockroach. Got a shoe handy??
Abdullah
Hey leave that TS guy alone
Cliff Falla
Couldn’t disagree more regarding Juho. After watching the 3 days of prospect camp , he was definitely a step behind most players, perhaps because of his age. Ben Wilmott is way ahead of him , particularly with skating.
Tim
With the Doro trade we received some young talent. How long before we trade them?
Emmanuel
They might be changing to a “lets keep the kids to fill out pur bottom 6/3rd pair.”
knights fan in minny
Ken do you think there is any interest in Marchenko from Columbus the kid can Score He is 6 foot 3 and 200pounds Only making around three mil
Ken Boehlke
I think VGK would love to have him. I don’t think there’s any way they can put a package together that would interest Columbus though.