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Vegas Golden Knights: The 3 biggest needs to address via the Draft

By Andrew Steele-Davis

OSHAWA, ON - JANUARY 19: Jack Quinn #22 of the Ottawa 67's skates during an OHL game against the Oshawa Generals at the Tribute Communities Centre on January 19, 2020 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
OSHAWA, ON - JANUARY 19: Jack Quinn #22 of the Ottawa 67's skates during an OHL game against the Oshawa Generals at the Tribute Communities Centre on January 19, 2020 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /
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Jamie Drysdale of Team Red skates during the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game against Team White at FirstOntario Centre on January 16, 2020.
Jamie Drysdale of Team Red skates during the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game against Team White at FirstOntario Centre on January 16, 2020. /

2. Right-Shot Defenseman

Despite giving up Erik Brannstrom as part of the package to get Mark Stone at the 2018 Trade Deadline, the Golden Knights boast a boatload of high-end defensive prospects.

From Nic Hauge to Zach Whitecloud to Kaedan Korczak, the future is bright for the Vegas blueline for the foreseeable.

However, there is a glaring weakness in that department that the Golden Knights should look to address at this year’s Draft.

On the current active roster, the Knights only have two right-shot defensemen in Zach Whitecloud and Deryk Engelland, with the latter expected to retire in the off-season.

Plus, when you consider those prospect blueliners on the cusp of making the leap to the NHL, only Korczak and Dylan Coghlan are right-shots.

As a result, the Golden Knights could do with drafting a high-end right-shot defenseman at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft should there be one available.

Currently projected to have the No. 24 overall pick, the Golden Knights could look to move up in order to take Jamie Drysdale, who is attracting a lot of buzz after putting up 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists) in 49 games for the Erie Otters in the OHL this year.

The likes of Braden Schneider and Justin Barron are both right-shot defensemen and both boast tremendous upside, and both would fill a big need for the Golden Knights as would Drysdale.

Given General Manager Kelly McCrimmon’s reputation for building a team from the blueline onwards, then it wouldn’t be surprising if they did take at least one defenseman and a right-shot stud would fill a big need.

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