Vegas Golden Knights: Three prospects who could tear it up
The Vegas Golden Knights are about to enter the stretch period of the regular season and it is clear that they need some help.
Once the NHL Trade Deadline passes on Feb. 24, all eyes will be on the race for the postseason and the Vegas Golden Knights will be right at the heart of it.
However, it is no sure thing that the Golden Knights will even stamp their playoff ticket given how inconsistent they have been so far this year.
It is expected that the front office will be active at the Trade Deadline in order to try and spark this team into life, but the Knights won’t be able to address all of their needs due to their salary cap constraints.
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As of today, Vegas will have just under $3 million in cap space by the Trade Deadline while they will also try to move some contracts off the book in order to free up some more cash.
That may not be enough to bring in secondary scoring and a top-four defenseman, though, with Vegas in dire need of both.
But, there is a solution.
It is common practice for NHL teams to promote some of their high-end prospects to the big leagues down the stretch or for the postseason.
The Boston Bruins did it with Charlie McAvoy in 2016-17 while the Colorado Avalanche brought in stud defenseman Cale Makar for the playoffs last year.
And the Vegas Golden Knights have been known to give some of their prospects a taste of the NHL in the final few games of the regular season.
Well, with a number of high-end prospects in the system, the Golden Knights could look to promote from within if they can’t address all of their needs at the Trade Deadline.
And, on that note, we’ve picked out three young studs who could potentially come in and make an impact for the Vegas Golden Knights both down the stretch and during the postseason.
942. Pick Analysis. Vegas Golden Knights. player. Scouting Report. F. Lucas Elvenes. 1
1. Lucas Elvenes
Lucas Elvenes is having himself a rookie year to remember in North America, leading the Chicago Wolves in points in the American Hockey League.
Through 49 games, the center has recorded 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points, including five points on the power play.
Elvenes is a -11 on the year but his overall play has been impressive and he was rewarded with a spot at the 2020 AHL All-Star Weekend.
Elvenes’ stellar rookie year is a huge factor in why the Chicago Wolves are third in the Central Division, and the forward has now propelled himself towards the top of Vegas’ prospect chart.
You could even argue that Elvenes is one of the franchise’s most highly-rated and exciting prospects behind Cody Glass.
And there is a lot to love about Elvenes. He boasts all the intangibles you need to become a dynamic forward in the NHL, including elite puck handling and passing ability.
He also boasts a thunderous release and has a high compete level, while the 20-year-old can start and stop on a dime which makes him hard to defend.
If the Vegas Golden Knights are unable to address their lack of secondary scoring at the Trade Deadline, then they could do worse than call up Lucas Elvenes and give the forward a chance to strut his stuff in the NHL.
player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Vegas Golden Knights. Nic Hague. D. 2. 942
2. Nic Hague
This is a roster transaction that I can actually see happening.
After all, Nic Hague has a dollop of NHL experience already having recorded 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 38 games this year before being sent down to the AHL.
Despite a shaky start to his NHL career, Hague actually impressed in the big leagues and he played his best hockey alongside Shea Theodore.
It is expected of course that the Vegas Golden Knights will trade for a defenseman at the Trade Deadline, so that will be one roster spot taken up.
However, if the Knights were to trade Nick Holden in order to create cap space, then Hague should be the first defenseman called up from the Wolves in order to provide depth.
He’s tried and tested in the NHL, he has good chemistry with Theodore and he was getting better with each game.
Plus, boasting arguably the hardest release on the Knights and with huge reach and a hulking frame, Hague would be ideal for the kind of playoff hockey that transpires down the stretch.
Hague has five points (one goal, four assists) in nine games with a -2 rating for the Chicago Wolves, but his two-way play would be a valuable asset to the Golden Knights down the stretch and he wouldn’t cost much against the cap.
D. Vegas Golden Knights. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Jimmy Schuldt. 3. player. 942
3. Jimmy Schuldt
Rewind back to the off-season when Jimmy Schuldt appeared to be the odds-on favorite to win the battle for the last roster spot on the blueline.
It didn’t quite work out that way, however, and Schuldt has spent the entire season in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves.
Schuldt has been impressive for the Wolves, though, recording 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 48 games with 32 penalty minutes.
He stood out in his NHL debut against the LA Kings in the regular season finale last year, and the defenseman’s ceiling appears to be high.
After all, Schuldt is a puck-moving defenseman that could help with the transition game and jump up to join the rush.
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Again, the Golden Knights will be looking to bolster their blueline via the trade market, but Jimmy Schuldt is in an intriguing option should they need more defensive depth both down the stretch and during the postseason.