The Golden Knights rookies return from San Jose with a shootout win, a shutout loss, and a few injuries after a couple of hard-fought games against the Mammoth and Avalanche. Special teams played a large part in both games as VGK allowed all three goals on the penalty kill to Utah and then scored a few on the power play, including a late one to tie the game against Colorado.
These games are about much more than results, though. The key storyline as the Golden Knights rookies return to Vegas will be the health of Trevor Connelly and Ben Hemmerling, but here are a few other takeaways as well.
Connelly and Hemmerling injured
In the first game, Trevor Connelly was boarded viciously and illegally by Utah 4th round pick Gabe Smith. Connelly was down on the ice for a while before walking off under his own power. He returned to the bench in the 3rd period but did not take a shift in the game.
Being a long layoff, we didn’t want to jeopardize anything with him, so we pulled the reins on him a little. It was good to see him back. He got good clearance from our staff so we wanted to take it easy for Game 1. -Joel Ward, Silver Knights head coach
Connelly did not dress in the second game.
Hemmerling was injured in the 1st period of Sunday’s game against Colorado after taking a big open-ice hit from Gustav Stjernberg (a 23-year-old defenseman who played 11 games in the AHL last season after finishing up his career at Bowling Green). Matheau Cataford immediately stepped up to fight the big defenseman. Hemmerling did not return to the game. Ward did not speak about the injury postgame.
The Golden Knights started the Draft without a selection in the top 90 and just four picks overall. However, following the trade of Pavel Dorofeyev, along with a few moves down, they’ve restocked and will have a healthy crop of new prospects.
TRADE – VGK have acquired #26, #92, and a 2028 1st from New York Rangers for Pavel Dorofeyev
TRADE – VGK have acquired #28 and 2027 3rd from Montreal Canadiens for #26
TRADE – VGK have acquired #29 and #117 from Anaheim Ducks for #28
1st Round – #29 (from ANA) Selection: Juho Piiparinen
One of the youngest players available in the Draft, Piiparinen is a right-handed, well-rounded defenseman. The 17-year-old Finn is a two-way player who skates well and plays with a high motor. He played 29 games as a professional in the Finnish Elite League and logged significant minutes in all situations.
The main thing that stands out in Piiparinen’s game is his exceptional poise and high-end puck management during breakout scenarios. When retrieving pucks under heavy forechecking pressure, he does not panic or blindly throw the puck away. Instead, he displays elite patience, using his strong frame to shield the puck from oncoming attackers, accepting heavy contact, and delivering crisp, precise, and highly accurate first passes to launch the transition attack. –Jeremy Rivet, McKeensHockey.com
He’s not overly physical, but he gives a solid effort and is often relied on by coaches. His offense will be the question at the next level. Given that he doesn’t truly excel at any one thing, there will be questions about his role as well. –Corey Pronman, The Athletic
3rd Round – #92 (from NYR) Selection: Benjamin Wilmott
An overaged draft pick, the 19-year-old from Seattle is known as being a bulldog on the ice. He lives in front of the goal and thrives on moving players out of the way to create space for himself. His offensive game away from the goalmouth is far from exceptional, which projects him more as a bottom-six player. Went undrafted in each of the previous two NHL Drafts.
Wilmott is committed to play at Ohio State next season.
He’s a late bloomer which shows the continuous willingness to improve even when teams have passed him by before. He’s very competitive and has a physical presence to him that can translate to the next level. His versatility will also be attractive to teams as he can play in all important situations including key faceoffs and both special teams units. As with anyone at this stage, he needs to add speed to his game. He also needs to put in the work away from the puck. –The HockeyWriters.com
3rd Round – #95 Selection: Sean Burick
A 6’8″ defenseman, Burick’s main quality is, of course, his size. He’s described as a smooth skater with incredible reach that doesn’t rely on only on his stick to defend. There’s limited offensive upside and can by physically inconsistent, but when he hits someone, it hurts.
Committed to the University of Denver after playing last season in the WHL with the Penticton Vees.
His greatest asset is his reach, which he uses effectively to smother puck carriers, close gaps early in the neutral zone, and eliminate space in the defensive zone and off the rush. He displayed a physical edge with a few punishing hits, though his timing occasionally took him out of position. Offensively, Burick contributed with a heavy shot from the point and found ways to hold pucks in at the offensive blue line, but overall his puck decisions were inconsistent, at times showing vision, a plan and clean execution, while in other instances forcing plays or mishandling pucks under pressure. –NeutralZone.com
