NHL Draft 2019: Grading each Vegas Golden Knights pick
The Golden Knights had three picks overall in the third round, before trading one of those to the Sharks in order to move up in the second round and select Kaedan Korczak. They also had a selection in the fourth round, making it a busy middle period of the draft as the front office looked to bolster their prospects pipeline.
Pick No. 79:
Pavel Dorofeyev . 79. player. 942. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Forward . Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk
🎥 Dorofeyev said he likes to pull things from different players to shape his own style of play 👌 pic.twitter.com/gkyHZv6jZ2
— 🏆 - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 22, 2019
Just one of five forwards taken by the Golden Knights at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Pavel Dorofeyev was projected to go a lot higher than the 79th overall pick.
Blessed with good hockey smarts, a wicked release and immense puck-handling skills, Dorofeyev was ranked as the 15th best prospect by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic.
That tells you everything you need to know about the forward’s potential, but question marks over his compete level may have worked against him in the end.
Dorofeyev put up 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points in 19 games in 2018-19 and will spend next year in the KHL. If he can learn his craft and hone his skills further, then he could prove to be another Russian gem in the NHL.
Grade B
Pick No. 86:
Layton Ahac. 86. player. Pick Analysis. Ohio State. 942. Scouting Report. Defenseman
🎥 Layton Ahac: It's surreal. It was instant joy and excitement and I'm really excited for the future 😄 pic.twitter.com/mn3rsKKm5U
— 🏆 - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 22, 2019
Committed to play for Ohio State in 2019-20, Layton Ahac is another hulking body on the blueline for the Golden Knights, who are blessed in numbers when it comes to puck-playing defensemen.
Ahac will be able to protect his team-mates and he could be transformed into a reliable and gritty shutdown defenseman in the NHL.
Grade C+
Pick No. 110:
Scouting Report. Forward . Duluth East High School. 942. Pick Analysis. Ryder Donovan . 110. player
With the 110th pick, we select Ryder Donovan!#VegasBorn | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/UxN16cJsnc
— 🏆 - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 22, 2019
The big theme from Vegas’ 2019 NHL Entry Draft weekend was their liking for size, with Ryder Donovan another big body to help beef up the farm system.
With 37 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 23 games for Duluth East High School in 2018-19, Donovan is a powerful two-way forward who can be utilised in a number of key situations.
Committed to the University of Wisconsin for 2019-20, Donovan was projected to go higher than where he was eventually picked and he’ll be one to keep an eye on.