Vegas Golden Knights: 5 Prospects to watch in Rookie Camp
Finally! We have some actual hockey action to look forward to with the Vegas Golden Knights 2019 Rookie Camp getting underway today.
It is that time of year again as the Vegas Golden Knights prepare for their third year as an NHL franchise with winning the Stanley Cup very much the key objective heading into 2019-20.
There is a plethora of work to be done first, however, and that includes Rookie Camp which opens today before heading to California this weekend for the 2019 Anaheim Rookie Faceoff Tournament, which will also feature the Ducks, the Colorado Avalanche, the LA Kings, the San Jose Sharks and the Arizona Coyotes.
Rookies are the lifeblood of any NHL franchise and it is no secret that drafting well leads to success in any of the major sports in America. Look at the St. Louis Blues last year who won the Stanley Cup despite being dead last in the standings on Jan, 2.
Jordan Binnington, Alex Pietrangelo, Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz all played key roles in the Blues’ stunning championship success, and all four of those players were drafted by St. Louis.
So, the point we’re trying to make here is that nurturing and developing prospects within your system is key and that will be the onus for the Golden Knights this weekend, who will be eager to see some of their most prized assets in action up close and personal.
Cody Glass, the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, will of course dominate the headlines with big things expected of the two-way center this year, while the franchise’s glut of high-end rookie defensemen will also garner a boatload of attention.
There are some other studs to keep an eye on throughout Rookie Camp, too, and we have picked out a handful that we are most looking forward to seeing strut their stuff and hammer home why the future is so bright for the Vegas Golden Knights in the process.
You can view the full roster for the 2019 Rookie Camp here.
Here we go…
1. Cody Glass – The Obvious One
As the above headline suggests, this is the most obvious player to watch given Cody Glass’ stature and his extremely high ceiling when it comes to his potential. He is an absolute stud in the making and is projected to be a high-end top-six forward in the NHL.
More from Vegas Hockey Knight
- The moment the Vegas Golden Knights have been waiting for
- 3 Golden Knights players deserving of the Conn Smythe Trophy
- If Golden Knights win Stanley Cup, who should Mark Stone pass it to first?
- Why are Vegas Golden Knights fans obsessed with flamingos?
- Just one more game for Golden Knight supremacy
He has dominated at every single level he’s played at and he is ready to take the giant leap to the NHL and show that he truly belongs at the top level of hockey. However, he has failed to make an impression in previous Development Camps for the Knights due to injuries, so this preseason is a big one for the young talent.
After absolutely bossing the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks – 292 points (94 goals, 198 assists) in 239 games – Glass then elevated his game to another level by tallying three goals and two assists in five games down the stretch for the Chicago Wolves down the stretch of the AHL regular season, before going on an absolute tear in the Calder Cup Finals with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 22 games.
The stage is now set for the elite playmaker to make the leap to the NHL and there is a spot in the bottom six of the Golden Knights’ bottom six that is up for grabs. So, as a result, Glass will need to carve out a stellar preseason in order to prove to the Head Coach Gerard Gallant and the rest of the coaching staff that he’s ready for the next level.
And that starts with Rookie Camp where Glass will need to fly out of the gates and be ready to dominate both training and then the Anaheim Rookie Faceoff Tournament from the very get-go. The 20-year-old has a very real opportunity now to set the tone for 2019-20 from the outset, and a strong showing during Rookie Camp and preseason could well lead to a spot on the opening night roster for the Vegas Golden Knights.
2. The Famous Five
Of course, the original Famous Five are the characters from English author Enid Blyton’s well-known series of books, but in this instance the ‘Famous Five’ we are referring to are the group of defensemen that will be slogging it out for a roster spot in 2019-20.
Rather than focus on just one rookie, we decided to turn the magnifying glass on all five – Jimmy Schuldt, Nic Hague, Zach Whitecloud, Jake Bischoff and Dylan Coghlan.
All five will be slugging it out to earn a place on the blueline for the Golden Knights and, at the moment, it appears that Jimmy Schuldt is the frontrunner after signing a new one-way, one-year contract with the franchise on Thursday.
However, Hague is also on the cusp of making the leap to the NHL after carving out a stellar first-year in professional hockey, earning a plus/minus rating of +31 with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 75 games for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL, in addition to recording a further four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 22 games in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Hague has the imposing size – 6’6″ and 214 lbs – and the two-way talent to succeed in the majors, and he could well be on the fringes of the NHL even if the Golden Knights do decide to begin 2019-20 with Schuldt on the roster.
And then you have Whitecloud, Bischoff and Coghlan. All three are highly-rated blueliners within the Vegas farm system and all three have a fighting chance of coming out on top and making the opening night roster, who impressed in the playoffs for the Wolves last year with the monster minutes he logged, his calm play and his ability to make very few mistakes.
It should be a fun and intriguing slugfest to watch unfold.
3. Kaedan Korczak – The next defensive stud
The No. 41 overall pick in the Second Round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Kaedan Korczak was just one of a number of picks made by the Vegas Golden Knights that were projected to go a lot higher than they actually did.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and 192 lbs, Korczak is an NHL prototype stay-at-home-defenseman, performing like a reliable SUV rather than produce flashy plays and look the part like a fancy Rolls Royce.
In other words, Korczak does what it says on the tin and he’s going to excel in his own zone and carry out the task set to him. He won’t show up on many highlight-reel plays, although he was productive in the WHL last year 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) in 68 games for the Kelowna Rockets.
Vegas traded two picks to the San Jose Sharks in order to move up in the second round and get their man in Korczak, who looks perfectly built for the modern-day NHL. He adds a big body on the blueline and will begin 2019-20 in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets.
However, the rough and rugged defenseman looks destined to be fast-tracked to the NHL sooner rather than later, and he’s able to log heavy minutes which only adds to his appeal. Although he will need to fine-tune the offensive side of his game, Korczak is a gem in that Golden Knights farm system and Rookie Camp will be the first opportunity for him to showcase his talents on a big stage.
He has all the makings to morph into a reliable third or fourth blueliner, and his rise will be intriguing to watch.
4. Marcus Kallionkieli
Picked at No. 139 in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft before being signed to a three-year entry-level contract, Marcus Kallionkieli was another exciting prospect added to the deep pool of talent the Vegas Golden Knights have accumulated over the last three years.
With an interesting heritage given that he is of both Brazilian and Finnish descent, Kallionkieli lit it up for the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL last year, forming one of the most formidable lines in the league alongside Bobby Brink and Martin Pospisil.
And Kallionkieli was a huge part of that success, posting 29 goals and 24 assists for 53 points in 58 games in 2018-19, in addition to registering a plus/minus rating of +13. The left wing will continue to learn his craft and hone his skills with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL this year, and that will be the perfect platform on which he can iron out any kinks in his game.
The Golden Knights were lacking offensive talent in the farm system behind Cody Glass, but they started to rectify that problem with this year’s draft after stocking up on high-end forwards, including Kallionkieli who will be looking to catch the eye at Rookie Camp.
5. Jonas Rondbjerg
Talking of offensive talent, Jonas Rondbjerg certainly fits that bill and he too will be out to impress this weekend and beyond. The 20-year-old recently signed a three-year entry-level deal and he faces a big year ahead with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL.
A Third Round selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, No. 65 overall, the wing will be expected to elevate his play in 2019-20 and he should play a significant role for the Wolves who are coming off a deep postseason run that ended in defeat to the Charlotte Checkers in the Calder Cup Finals.
Next. Jimmy Schuldt signs new deal. dark
Known for having a high compete level, an ability to play a gritty type of game in the corners in addition to having good anticipation, Rondbjerg also boasts experience of playing in a men’s league already having spent the last few years in the SHL with the Vaxjo Lakers HC in Sweden’s top professional hockey league.
That will stand Rondbjerg in good stead ahead of his leap to the AHL and he will be looking to use Rookie Camp as a springboard on which to lay the foundations for a strong and productive year with the Chicago Wolves. Although he’s not NHL-ready yet, he could be in a couple of years if he can make a quick adjustment to playing in North America this year.