Vegas Golden Knights: Four players that could be available at No.29 overall
We’ve taken a look at four prospects that could be available to the Vegas Golden Knights.
It is the most magical time of the year with Round One of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft set to begin shortly, and the Vegas Golden Knights hold the No. 29 overall pick.
This is arguably one of the most loaded drafts in recent memory and, as such, the Golden Knights should end up with a real stud with a high ceiling and a lot of upside.
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You can visit Vegas Hockey Knight to see some prospects we’ve already taken a look at, and some will feature in this piece.
Vegas General Manager Kelly McCrimmon has already stated that the franchise will pick the best player available over need, and that makes sense more so this year given the boatload of high-end talent available.
There’s no real pressing need for the Golden Knights anyway and there should be both offensive and defensive talent available by the time they go on the clock.
So, without messing about anymore, let’s look at some of the most compelling options that could be available to the Vegas Golden Knights with the 29th overall pick in the First Round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft….
1. Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea – SHL
According to The Athletic, Gunler could actually fall in the First Round of the Draft and end up with the San Jose Sharks, who hold the 31st overall pick.
If Gunler is still on the board by the time the Golden Knights go on the clock, they should absolutely take the forward with the No. 29 overall pick, if just to annoy the Sharks.
But, on a serious note, Gunler is an exciting talent with a hell of a lot of upside and his hard shot is his best weapon in what is a wide arsenal.
He had 27 goals in 31 junior games for Lulea’s junior team in 2018-19, while he also boasts elite vision that makes him a deadly playmaker on the ice.
Able to both score and create, Gunler can also battle hard in the corners but his compete level has been questioned and he’s got a lot of work to do in his own zone.
However, if he can polish up on certain aspects of his game then Noel Gunler has all the skills needed to become a high-end offensive talent in the National Hockey League, and he would give the Golden Knights yet another potent weapon to add to an already loaded top six unit.
2. Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John – QMJHL
The Golden Knights have made a habit of taking high-end forwards with their previous First-Round picks, and you can’t blame them if they do it again given how deep this year’s Draft is when it comes to offensive talent.
However, there’s also a boatload of stud defensemen available in the First Round and there could be one sitting there for the Golden Knights at No. 29.
Heading to Sin City in The Athletic’s final Mock Draft, Jeremie Poirier is the very definition of an offensive defenseman and he would pack one hell of an offensive punch for any team lucky enough to draft him.
He’s a high-end playmaker in the offensive zone, he boasts a quick release and he’s also a strong skater.
As a result, Poirier would help to elevate Vegas’ transition game which has been lacking at times, and he’s off to a good start this season with four points (one G, three A) in two games for the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL after putting up 53 points (20 G, 33 A) in 64 games during the 2019-20 season.
However, there are some weaknesses there with Poirier, mainly being that he can be vulnerable in his own zone given that his whole game is based on offense.
That’s not exactly what you want from a defenseman but, if paired with a more responsible partner, Poirier would certainly be a high-end playmaker that could produce from the point and quarterback the power play for the Golden Knights.
3. Ridly Greig, C, Brandon Wheat Kings – WHL
The Vegas Golden Knights have made a habit of dipping into the WHL for prospects, and it should come as no surprise given that General Manager Kelly McCrimmon owned the Brandon Wheat Kings until recently.
McCrimmon boasts a vast and intricate knowledge of the WHL and the Wheat Kings, which is why it wouldn’t be shocking if the Golden Knights go back to what they know by taking Ridly Greig with the No. 29 overall pick.
Greig has attracted a lot of buzz heading into the Draft so there’s every chance he could be off the board by the time Vegas goes on the clock, but he fits into the Knights’ philosophy of picking the best player available.
A good skater with blistering speed who excels in both zones, Greig can play in any situation and he would be a potent weapon on the power play.
And, while he’s not exactly intimidating at 5-foot-11 and 159 lbs, the left-shot boasts endless energy and he thrives when playing a physical game, acting as a one-man wrecking ball at times.
Greig boasts a high hockey IQ along with high-end passing ability, and he put up 60 points (26 G, 34 A) in 56 games last season.
His incredibly high compete level will attract a lot of suitors and that could be the ultimate factor that persuades the Golden Knights to take Greig 29th overall if he’s still on the board at that point.
4. Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Sagueneens – QMJHL
I’ll admit it now; I’m a huge, huge fan of Hendrix Lapierre and I would be over the moon if he were to fall in to the laps of the Golden Knights.
If it wasn’t for a string of concussions that turned out not to actually be concussions, Lapierre would be almost a lock for the top ten, which is saying a lot given how deep this Draft class is.
Having put a nightmare year behind him, the two-way center has jumped out to a quick start this season with five points (3 G, 2 A) in two games for Chicoutimi this season, and that has started to attract some serious buzz.
There is no doubt that Lapierre boasts all the intangibles needed to one day morph into an excellent two-way center in the NHL, and he could be the absolute steal of the Draft, let alone the First Round.
A highly-skilled and intelligent forward, Lapierre went on an absolute tear at the last Hlinka Gretzky Tournament with 11 points (3 G, 8 A) in five games and he certainly boasts plenty of upside.
An elite puck-carrier, Lapierre is also a good size at six feet, 181 pounds and he could develop into a real high-end two way center in the NHL eventually.
Compared to Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, Lapierre will only grow as he gets older and he has the skills and the mentality to be able to play a real 200 foot game and excel in both zones, while he could be an effective force in the faceoff circle.
Also Lapierre is an absolute creative force and he can be an elite playmaker at both 5-on-5 and on the power play, making him a valuable commodity in the National Hockey League.
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A finalist for the 2019-20 Michael-Bossy Trophy, awarded to the best professional prospect emerging from the QMJHL, Lapierre could be the steal of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and he would be a perfect fit for the Golden Knights, who could do with adding another elite center prospect to go along with 2017 pick Cody Glass.