When it comes to goaltending prospects for the Vegas Golden Knights, there's no such thing as too many. They have a wide range of talent, whether it's Isaiah Saville or the recently drafted Pavel Moysevich. The variety of choices makes their future decision at the netminder position easier--and in a sense, harder.
There's another goalie who has the potential to crack the Golden Knights lineup. His name is Jesper Vikman and he's spent last season with the Henderson Silver Knights and Savannah Ghost Pirates. In 2023-24, he had a GAA of 3.01 and a save percentage of .899 in 15 games with the Ghost Pirates.
His stint with the Silver Knights was rougher, with Vikman posting a GAA of 3.48 and a save percentage of .891. It hasn't been the most noteworthy campaign for the Swedish goaltender with Henderson, who's still learning how to use his body in the net.
Still, there's an opportunity for Vikman to take that next step within the Vegas organization. His growth will help the team find another 1B goaltender at best. In turn, they'll have a similar setup to last season with Adin Hill and Logan Thompson. So what must the prospect do to solidify his future?
Jesper Vikman must grow into his body
The Vegas Golden Knights love bringing in big goaltenders. Hill stands at 6'4" and serves as the team's starter. The British Columbia native has done well at times when healthy and is part of a long line of sizable netminders. That includes the recently traded Logan Thompson, who is also 6'4".
With Jesper Vikman, he stands at 6'3" and has the poise to be a nice goaltender. But it's a matter of seeing the shots better and adjusting to the level of play. That will be tougher with the AHL boasting better competition than the ECHL.
To make matters more complicated, the Henderson Silver Knights will have a solid goaltending room. Accompanying the Swedish netminder is freshly acquired Akira Schmid and fellow Swede Carl Lindbom. Therefore, Vikman must stand out and use his size to take away space. By using his physical attributes and poise, he can take control of the net for the Silver Knights.
Vikman's projection in the Vegas Golden Knights lineup
Right now, there are many goaltenders in the Vegas Golden Knights system. Bruce Cassidy and company are banking on Adin Hill for another season and might bring him back next summer if all goes well. There might be an opening for the backup spot if Ilya Samsonov doesn't pan out.
However, that spot could belong to Schmid, who has a bigger body that could fit in the defensive system better. He's similar in build to Hill and has a good upside. Therefore, it's likely that Jesper Vikman won't make an appearance with the NHL club this season.
But the Swedish prospect can take that first step by having a good season with the Henderson Silver Knights. If he can put up solid stats and use his frame more, he can give the Golden Knights more incentive to keep him. It'd also make the goaltender room much stronger, which is a good problem for Vegas to have.