The Vegas Golden Knights have pulled off a potential heist on Day Two of the Draft.
With the 68th overall pick, the Vegas Golden Knights selected defenseman Lukas Cormier in the Third Round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
It was a long wait for the Golden Knights with the Second Round dragging on, but they made it worth their while when they eventually did get on the clock.
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After taking an elite playmaker in Brendan Brisson with the No. 29 overall pick on Tuesday, the Knights added an offensive defenseman to their farm system today.
Cormier is a small but highly-skilled blueliner and also boasts a hell of a lot of upside with an incredibly high ceiling.
He’s an excellent skater with a high hockey IQ and his quick feet allows him to transition the puck out of the zone and break up rushes while causing turnovers further up the ice.
Cormier’s elite visions allow him to make high-end plays in both zones, he can jump in on the rush and he has sublime offensive instincts that will allow him to make an impact on the power play.
And, although not big at 5-foot-10 and 176 lbs, Cormier has proven that he can play tough minutes and slot in on the penalty kill if needed. Whether that translates to the NHL is the big question, but the compete level is certainly there.
Projected more as an offensive defenseman, though, Cormier also boasts a cannon of a shot and it is a weapon that could generate a lot of traffic and a lot of rebounds in front of the net.
He put up 36 points (6 G, 30 A) in 44 games for the Charlottetown Islanders in the QMJHL in 2019-20, while he’s off to a fast start this season with two goals and four assists for six points in just two games.
Listed as the 26th best prospect in the 2020 Draft by some, Cormier moves the puck with authority and he could prove to be an absolute steal for the Golden Knights.
The Vegas Golden Knights are next on the clock with the No. 91 overall pick.