3 names to watch for during the Rookie Camp for the Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights have their roster set up for the upcoming Rookie Camp. Here are three names you should watch for.
The Vegas Golden Knights announced their initial rosters for the 2024 Rookie Camp presented by Martin-Harris Construction. Notable players such as Carl Lindbom, Trent Swick, Artur Cholach, and Matyas Sapovaliv are on the roster. These prospects are unique, bringing promising skills to the club. The goal is to keep the Golden Knights competitive for the upcoming seasons, keeping them fighting for the Pacific Division (and the Stanley Cup).
While other can't-miss prospects such as Lindbom and Mathieu Cataford are present, the roster still has some good names. These stars will shine their light onto the 2024 Rookie Faceoff in El Segundo between September 13 and 16, giving fans a reason to believe in their team. In the meantime, rest up and dream about some hockey pucks hitting the back of the net, Golden Knights fans. Hockey season's nearly upon us.
We've talked about how promising Lindbom and Cataford are in these forums numerous times. They've impressed the fan base and organization with their stellar play, boosting themselves up the organizational rankings. However, three additional names could raise eyebrows at the upcoming competition, giving fans more hope.
Who are these three players and what do they bring to the table? What are their talents and special qualities that make them one-of-a-kind prospects? Let's stop gushing at Lindbom and Cataford for this post and see what these young stars will do. Here are three names you should watch for in the upcoming rookie session.
Matyas Sapovaliv
Matyas Sapovaliv has made a name for himself on the Saginaw Spirit, winning the Memorial Cup with the team this season. He had an assist during that tournament, playing In five games. Therefore, it's expected that he'll impress the Vegas Golden Knights during the Rookie Camp, where he'll showcase his various skills.
Which ones are we talking about? For one, he's a terrific puck handler, using his ability to fend off opposing defenders. Pair that with reading defenses well and you have a star player who can score at will. That's especially true at the forward position, where the Golden Knights need bodies after an interesting summer that we shall not mention.
Sapovaliv might be what the doctor ordered for Vegas offensively. Last season in the OHL, he scored 19 goals and 43 assists in 54 games with the Spirit, making him one of the team's most important players. In 2022-23, he played 61 games and scored 27 goals and 29 assists. If the Czech prospect can progress through the Golden Knights farm system, he'll become an important figure later.
Artur Cholach
Defensively, the Vegas Golden Knights have plenty of names to fill their six-man group. Names like Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin, and Alex Pietrangelo have created a logjam for the upcoming season. With this logjam, the Golden Knights have numerous options waiting in the wings. That includes Ben Hutton and Kaeden Korczak, who await an opportunity to join the team's starting lineup.
However, there could be room for one more in the future with Artur Cholach coming up. The Ukrainian blue-liner is a sizable body, standing at 6'4" and weighing 201 lbs. He has a left-handed shot, which would add another dimension to the Golden Knights. Not only that, but it could replace Theodore's shot in the lineup, giving Vegas continued balance.
If he can boost his offensive production, that could be a healthy sign of his development. Last season, he scored four goals and 11 assists in 54 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede. He has shown his offensive capabilities before, notching eight assists in five games with Ukraine during the U20 World Junior Championships (D1B) in 2021-22.
Trent Swick
There's been plenty mentioned about the viability of Trent Swick as an NHL player. He stands at 6'7" and would be the forward version of Nicolas Hague. A big body that moves quickly for his size is a boon, especially for NHL teams that emphasize this trait. The Vegas Golden Knights are firm believers in this practice, whether with Hague, Swick, or Artur Cholach.
Last season, he had a breakout season with the Kitchener Rangers, making himself a household name in the OHL. The winger scored 25 goals and 37 assists in 63 games, giving the Rangers a bite offensively. That's even more promising for a Golden Knights team needing scoring depth in the farm system.
Swick is the type of player who needs time to develop. Before his breakout season with Kitchener in 2023-24, he scored 13 goals and 11 assists in his first two seasons with the team. The Rookie Camp is a good start for the prospect, where he can continue his ascension in the hockey scene. Here, he can impress the brass and become a reliable name for the Golden Knights, especially with his physical gifts.
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