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Vegas Golden Knights: Young studs who could win a roster spot

By Andrew Steele-Davis |
VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 31: Cody Glass #8 of Canada celebrates after scoring a goal against Russia in Group A hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship on December, 31, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 31: Cody Glass #8 of Canada celebrates after scoring a goal against Russia in Group A hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship on December, 31, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
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EDMONTON, AB – APRIL 05: Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on April 5, 2018 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB – APRIL 05: Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on April 5, 2018 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) /

Every team in the NHL will be looking to improve their rosters this offseason, although the Vegas Golden Knights will be limited when it comes to going out and acquiring fresh talent.

It is no secret that the Vegas Golden Knights have their fair share of salary cap issues to contend with and that will certainly impact them this summer when it comes to bolstering their team.

However, there is no need to panic because the Knights have done an excellent job of flooding their farm system with a plethora of highly-talented young studs who are primed and ready to make the leap to the NHL.

So, with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at a handful of prospects who are most likely to impress in training camp and win a roster spot for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019-20…

VANCOUVER, BC – DECEMBER 27: Cody Glass #8 of Canada in Group A hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship action against Switzerland on December, 27, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – DECEMBER 27: Cody Glass #8 of Canada in Group A hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship action against Switzerland on December, 27, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Cody Glass – Forward

Whatever Cody Glass goes on to achieve in his career, he will forever go down in history as being the first-ever draft pick in the history of the Vegas Golden Knights having been selected sixth overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Glass is a composed two-way center known for his ability to move the puck with speed and precision, and his playmaking abilities are also second to none.

He has an extremely high hockey IQ and can transition up the ice in the blink of an eye, while being able to create chances for his teammates at will.

In addition to his offensive skills, Glass can also excel in the defensive zone and has a knack of getting his stick down on the ice at just the right time to break up plays, as well as having a burning desire to get stuck in on the forecheck.

Glass has scored six goals in 13 games for the Chicago Wolves, including potting the game-winner against Iowa in the Calder Cup Playoffs recently. He seems perfectly suited to the modern day NHL and will be an interesting storyline to watch develop during training camp.

Pressed right up against the salary cap, Vegas could look to trade away Cody Eakin this summer and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is set to become a free agent, which could well open the door for Glass to show what he can do on the biggest stage.

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 6: Jimmy Schuldt #4 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck with pressure from Austin Wagner #51 of the Los Angeles Kings during Schuldt’s NHL debut in the second period of the game at STAPLES Center on April 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 6: Jimmy Schuldt #4 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck with pressure from Austin Wagner #51 of the Los Angeles Kings during Schuldt’s NHL debut in the second period of the game at STAPLES Center on April 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Jimmy Schuldt – Defenseman

Jimmy Schuldt is an absolute stud and 29 other NHL teams were reported to be chasing his signature prior to him signing an entry-level contract with the Knights after leaving St. Cloud University in April.

Schuldt made his NHL debut against the LA Kings on April 6, and marked it in style with a sublime primary helper on Valentin Zykov’s goal.

The 23-year-old was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2018-19 having led all National Collegiate Hockey defensemen with 35 points (ten goals, 25 assists) – he was also the only player to be a finalist for the honour in both 2017-18 and 2018-19.

He showed enough in that regular season finale against the Kings to suggest that he’s ready for the NHL, and he will be given training camp and preseason to win a full-time roster spot with the Knights.

Nic Hague – Defenseman

The Golden Knights have a glut of young studs on the blueline in the farm system and Nic Hague has arguably the highest ceiling of all those blueliners.

Standing at 6’6″ and weighing in at 214 lb, Hague is a powerful, hulking specimen and he’s built to handle the hustle and bustle of the NHL. He isn’t afraid to use his size to his advantage either and he would suit the modern day style of the big league down to the ground.

The 20-year-old, who was drafted 34th overall by the Golden Knights in 2017, also has a hell of a shot on him and he would provide plenty of offensive production, as backed up by his 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL in 2018-19.

With Deryk Engelland set to hit free agency this summer and his return to the team uncertain, Vegas would be wise to let the veteran walk in order to free up both cap space and a full-time roster spot for Hague who is built and ready for the NHL.

EDMONTON, AB – APRIL 5: Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights jumps over the boards during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on April 5, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB – APRIL 5: Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights jumps over the boards during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on April 5, 2018 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Zach Whitecloud – Defenseman

Another highly-touted blueliner and another prospect who looks well equipped to challenge for a roster spot in 2019-20 once training camp opens.

Like Hague, Whitecloud boasts a formidable figure at 6’2″ and 209 lb and has been gaining expereince in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves.

In 74 games played, the defenseman had six goals and 22 assists for 28 points for the Wolves and the offensive side of his game is under-rated.

What isn’t overvalued is Whitecloud’s defensive prowess and the way he can move the puck with speed and help his team transition up ice. He also has one hell of a shot on him and he’s the kind of right-handed defenseman that this Vegas team needs.

Next. Who could be traded this offseason. dark

Whitecloud is no stranger to the NHL, either, having made his big league debut for the Golden Knights against the Edmonton Oilers in 2017-18, posting a plus / minus rating of +3 in 16:42 minutes of ice time.

All in all, the Vegas Golden Knights have a boatload of prospects ready to make the jump to the NHL in 2019-20 and they would be wise to promote from within given the salary cap issues they face this offseason.

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