Vegas Golden Knights 2019 NHL Draft: Trading on up

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BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 1: Bobby Brink performs the long jump during the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine on June 1, 2019 at Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Rounds two through seven of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft take place today as the Vegas Golden Knights look to add some bodies to their farm system.

The Vegas Golden Knights, still on a high after taking elite playmaker Peyton Krebs with the No.17 overall pick in the first round on Friday, will have eight selections in total when the second round starts at 10 am PT.

Those picks include:

No. 48 (Round 2)
No. 79 (Round 3)
No. 82 from WPG (Round 3)
No. 86 from NHS (Round 3)
No. 110 (Round 4)
No. 135 from MIN (Round 5)
No. 139 from MTL (Round 5)
No. 141 (Round 5)

The Golden Knights will have a while to wait before they go on the clock in the second round with 16 teams set to pick before them.

However, there is the possibility the Vegas front office tandem of General Manager Kelly McCrimmon and President of Hockey Operations George McPhee could choose to trade up.

That option will become even more attractive for a number of General Managers now considering that there are a slew of high-end forwards still on the board following a string of shocks in the first round where teams opted to address needs rather than draft the best talent available.

For the Golden Knights, trading up could be a viable option if the front office decide that their farm system needs another elite playmaker.

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Trading up to the top of the second round shouldn’t be a problem given that, not only do the Knights have a treasure chest of picks as detailed above, but they also need to clear cap space so could offer up one or two players in any deal.

Both Colin Miller and Cody Eakin are thought to be on the trade block and Miller in particular would be an attractive fit for the likes of the Ottawa Senators, LA Kings and Detroit Red Wings who hold picks No.32, No.33 and No.35 respectively.

Not only that but the Knights need to shed David Clarkson’s $5,250,000 cap hit and that could be worked in a potential trade up.

However way it works, we’ve looked at three players the Golden Knights could look to select if they succeed in trading up the draft in the second round…

REGINA, SK – MAY 25: Arthur Kaliyev #34 of Hamilton Bulldogs warms up with a shot on net against the Regina Pats at Brandt Centre – Evraz Place on May 25, 2018 in Regina, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton – OHL

Expected to be taken just outside of the top ten in the first round, Kaliyev was just one of a handful of elite forwards who were left on the board.

Kaliyev’s potential is sky-high and he has a perfect blend of elite playmaking, goal-scoring, hockey smarts and an absolute cannon of a shot.

He finished fourth in the OHL this year with 51 goals, including 20 power play tucks, which would give the Knights another potent weapon on the man advantage.

Kaliyev had 102 points in total for Hamilton and he would add a scoring touch to the Vegas roster. The only blemish on his copybook is his compete level, but that could be ironed out with age.

BOISBRIAND, QC – OCTOBER 20: Raphael Lavoie #50 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Raphael Lavoie, RW, Halifax – QMJHL

Another shocking name to still be on the board heading into round two today, Lavoie is a hulking specimen at 6’4″ and 198 lb.

Not only does he offer plenty of size but he’s also a very skilled wing who can produce plenty of offense having tallied 32 goals and 41 assists for 73 points for Halifax in 2018-19.

He also had a remarkable 32 points (20 goals, 12 assists) in 23 playoff games and he’s the perfect blend of size, speed, skill and goal-scoring ability.

You can never have enough scoring and Lavoie would add a hell of an offensive punch to the Golden Knights.

BUFFALO, NY – MAY 30: Bobby Brink poses for a portrait at the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine on May 30, 2019 at the HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Bobby Brink, RW, Sioux City – USHL

The final player on our list is another player who was expected to go in the mid-to-late first round, but will no doubt end up going high in the second after slipping on day one.

Brink’s biggest downside is his skating, which he’ll have to improve on, but he makes up for it in his offensive production.

He was crowned the USHL’s Forward of the Year after registering 35 goals and 33 assists for 68 points in just 43 games.

Next. NHL Draft 2019: Winners & Losers of First Round. dark

Brink is a gifted playmaker with a high hockey IQ and he would bring something different to the table for the Knights.

The second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is about to start now and we will see if Vegas does indeed look to trade up.

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