There have been some Vegas Golden Knights prospects who have flourished with the team in recent years. They've made their cut with the Henderson Silver Knights and other organizations, developing their hockey skills along the way. These names include Pavel Dorofeyev and Nicolas Hague, both of whom are becoming tenured players on the Golden Knights.
One player who hopes to reach that status is Jakub Demek. The young center has made his name in his native Slovakia, playing in numerous tournaments and leagues. But he's looking to take the next step and elevate his game. That starts with another campaign with the Silver Knights, where he'll return for another year.
Last season, the 21-year-old scored seven goals and nine assists in 55 games. That's not a bad mark for the prospect. After all, he's young and still has time to develop his skills. However, he can do more to have a bright future with the Golden Knights.
So what must Demek do to make his hockey dreams happen? What further steps must he take to become a regular part of the Golden Knights lineup? The Slovakian prospect can do more for his career by making these adjustments to his game. Let's get on the ice and see what Demek must do to become a bigger factor for Vegas.
Jakub Demek must improve himself offensively, starting with his shot
One thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is Jakub Demek doesn't put up many points. Aside from a solid 2021-22 campaign with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings (20 goals and 34 assists) and a U16 stint with HC Kosice in 2017-18 (13 goals and 24 assists in 42 games), the Slovakian forward doesn't strike fear in the hearts of many defenders.
That's partially because he doesn't strike fear from the outside. His shot doesn't have bite and can easily be picked up. With a better shot, Demek will become a more potent player near the circles, turning him into a reliable shooter. In turn, he'll also develop more confidence in his offensive game and score more.
There's also the Henderson Silver Knights prospect learning to keep pace with a faster league. Part of why he only scored seven goals and nine assists in 55 games was because he was still adjusting to the AHL's faster play. That will become easier to grasp in due time, especially with another season with the Silver Knights.
Overall, Jakub Demek can become a better offensive player if he works on developing his skills more. Becoming a stronger shooter on the outside and learning to play faster will help him grow into a more well-rounded forward. That will be a promising sight for the Golden Knights, who could use more strong center prospects.