I'm sure you've seen the commercial from MassMutual regarding two hockey players. It involves a skater and his goaltender teammate talking about their future goals. The goal?
You guessed it. No goals.
Of course, it helps to have financial goals in life, whether it's retirement or getting a new home. That way, you can move onto the next phase of your life in piece.
The latest mock draft for the Vegas Golden Knights has this same philosophy, only it doesn't involve saving for retirement. Instead, it literally involves not allowing any goals.
The position in question? The defenseman position, where four blue liners were selected during the mock draft, signifying a shift from the previous mock draft. What was an initial focus on scoring goals has now shifted to preventing them.
Of course, there's our old friend, Carson Cameron. He seems to be a staple of these mock drafts, bringing his offensive mind to Vegas. The Peterborough Petes defenseman could be the perfect fit for Kelly McCrimmon and the Golden Knights if they pick him in the later rounds.
But let's dive into this unit for a second. What's different this time around? What makes this mock draft unique? Well, let's start with the highest pick: Carter Amico (link to the mock draft is here).
What Carter Amico brings to the table
The first thing that stands out with Amico is his size. He stands at a gaudy 6'5" and weighs 234 lbs. Think of him as a younger Nicolas Hague, where his imposing presence could be a defensive boon for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Amico spent time with the U.S. National U18 Team this season, scoring three assists. That doesn't seem like much to the naked eye. However, he had a breakout season in 2021-22 with the Seacoast Performance Academy. Here, he scored 19 goals and 26 assists in 64 games.
With that, he makes for an excellent two-way defender. The 18-year-old also moves well for someone his size, moving the attack smoothly. That's another similarity he shares with Hague, who can contribute to the transition game.
If McCrimmon does decide to move from Hague during the summer, Amico could be a viable replacement. A shutdown presence is needed among the Golden Knights' prospects, which is what he provides.
What about the other picks for the Vegas Golden Knights?
Amico isn't the only big defenseman the Golden Knights would pick here. Sean Barnhill stands at 6'5" and weighs 205 lbs. One notable difference is that the Dubuque Fighting Saints blue liner would need to add bulk to his frame.
Still, Barnhill can take away space with his frame alone, making him an ideal fit for Kelly McCrimmon. He also possesses mobility, making him an ideal pick. There's also Lasse Boelius, who ranks 10th among European skaters, according to NHL Central Scouting.
Again, he's a two-way defenseman who can add more to the attack. He can move the puck and defend the rush with his legs, too. Overall, Boelius can be a second-round pick and possibly go the next round.
Will McCrimmon carry the philosophy of "no goals" to this year's draft? Who knows? But these defenders could provide the prospect depth needed to compete for years to come. Hopefully, that's a new goal for Vegas.