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Vegas Golden Knights have two included in top prospects list

By Andrew Steele-Davis

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Pavel Dorofeyev, 79th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights, poses for a portrait during Rounds 2-7 of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Pavel Dorofeyev, 79th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights, poses for a portrait during Rounds 2-7 of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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We have been treated to a litany of various off-season lists so far this summer and the Vegas Golden Knights continue to feature in the ones that matter.

The hot topic in the hockey world at the moment is ranking the best NHL pipeline and the top prospects, and two Vegas Golden Knights studs in particular are attracting a lot of attention for all the right reasons. This follows a standout 2019 NHL Entry Draft for the franchise, who have drafted remarkably well since entering the majors in 2017.

After giving up high-end talent in the ilk of Erik Brannstrom and Nick Suzuki in order to obtain elite NHL stars, the Golden Knights replenished their farm system significantly in Vancouver in June, drafting eight intriguing prospects including Peyton Krebs who is projected to be a top-six forward in the big leagues.

Many of those picks were considered to be absolute steals, including Russian stud Pavel Dorofeyev who was drafted in the third round with the 79th overall pick. The 18-year-old falling all the way down to the third round was a shock, with many experts having the wing going in the first round.

However, many teams’ loss proved to be Vegas’ gain as they now have another gifted playmaker in the pipeline, with Dorofeyev standing out to various scouts due to his sweet release, his puck-handling ability, his treasure chest of skills and his smooth skating ability.

And Dorofeyev’s high-ceiling has been recognised after being listed at No.34 in the Sporting News’ Top 50 NHL Prospects list, which was put together by Steve Kournianos. Dorofeyev is ranked higher than the likes of New York Rangers goalie Igor Shestyorkin, Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens, Los Angeles King left wing Carl Grundstrom and, ironically enough, center Nick Suzuki who was part of the trade with the Montreal Canadiens that sent Max Pacioretty to the Golden Knights last year.

Dorofeyev will spend 2019-20 in the KHL with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, where he tallied two points (one goal, one assist) in 23 games last year in addition to 31 points (17 goals, 14 assists) in 19 games for Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk in the MHL, before being free to head to North America for the 2020-21 season. The left shot could well prove to be the long-term replacement for Nikita Gusev, who was of course traded to the New Jersey Devils this offseason without playing a game for Vegas.

ROSEMONT, IL – JUNE 08: Chicago Wolves center Cody Glass (29) warms up prior to game five of the AHL Calder Cup Finals against the Charlotte Checkers on June 8, 2019, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ROSEMONT, IL – JUNE 08: Chicago Wolves center Cody Glass (29) warms up prior to game five of the AHL Calder Cup Finals against the Charlotte Checkers on June 8, 2019, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Joining Dorofeyev in the Top 50 Prospects list was Cody Glass, who is projected to morph into an absolute stud for the Vegas Golden Knights. Glass was ranked No.5 overall by the Sporting News, with only Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Kaapo Kakko (New York Rangers), Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) and Filip Zadina of the Detroit Red Wings above him.

Glass, the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and the first-ever pick in franchise history for the Golden Knights, has dominated at every single level he has played at and he now looks ready to make the leap to the NHL at some point this year. Known for his exceptional two-way play and his playmaking abilities, the 20-year-old is the best prospect currently in the farm system for Vegas and he has all the tools in his armoury required to become a resounding success in the NHL.

With a staggering 292 points (94 goals, 198 assists) in 239 games for the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL, Glass followed that up with five points (three goals, two assists) in six games for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL, before lighting up the Calder Cup Playoffs with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 22 games.

Make no bones about it, Glass is ready to take the NHL by storm now and he’ll be given the chance to fight for a roster spot once training camp opens in September. It is no surprise that both Dorofeyev and Glass are included in the Top 50 Prospects list, given their respective talent and high-end ceiling.

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Glass being ranked so high and close to this year’s top two picks in Jack Hughes (No.1) and Kaapo Kakko (No.2) illustrates just how highly-thought of Glass is within NHL circles, and the Golden Knights could have an absolute franchise game-changer on their hands.

The Vegas Golden Knights also boast a number of other high-end prospects in Nic Hague, Jake Bischoff, Layton Ahac and Marcus Kallionkieli to name just a few, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more of their starlets included in similar lists next year.

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