The Vegas Golden Knights don't have any first-round draft picks in this year's draft. That's okay because it seems Kelly McCrimmon is allergic to such things. He gives them to other teams so he can get better players.
Ah, the beauty of winning now. It can be an addicting drug.
One player who can help McCrimmon win some more is Carter Amico. He's well-known for his time with the U.S. National Team in the amateur scene. The 18-year-old is a big defenseman, after all. You can't miss him standing at 6'6" and weighing 234 pounds.
But there's more to Amico than being a big body. With the news of Nicolas Hague having multiple suitors in the trade market, the prospect could serve as a viable replacement. It isn't just the size that makes him a notable prospect, though.
He's also good on the defensive side of things, using his size to his advantage. Such assets are what McCrimmon looks for in a Golden Knights star. Get your sticks out and disrupt plays. It's part of what makes Vegas hockey wonderful.
So what are these special attributes that Amico carries? What makes him stand out from other draft prospects?
Looking at Carter Amico's draft profile
The first thing one notices with Amico is his aggressive style of play. It doesn't matter if he's battling for pucks or blocking shots. The 18-year-old puts his heart into every play, making him a valuable prospect.
Such play is greatly desired by Bruce Cassidy. You want someone who goes hard whenever he can. It's why Cassidy wants to hold onto a player like William Karlsson.
Of course, that also comes with being solid in one-on-one situations. Amico can handle any offensive player heading his way, anticipating his next move with tact and intelligence.
One downside of his game is that he doesn't put up overwhelming offensive numbers. His best season stat-wise was 2021-22 with Seacoast Performance Academy. Here, he scored 19 goals and 26 assists in 64 games, shooting up his hockey stock. Luckily, he's still young and has the whole world ahead of him.
Ironically, Nicolas Hague is the same player as Amico
Looking at Hague, you'd see that he's in the same boat. 20 career goals and 63 career assists in six seasons won't stand out to many teams looking for offense. However, that's not what his main purpose is.
He's used as a lower-pairing defender, adding physicality and tenacity to the unit. If you're looking for a big man who goes after every puck and lays out people, look no further. It's no wonder he's getting all sorts of love from other teams.
That's why drafting Amico is a no-brainer for Kelly McCrimmon. He can simply get himself another Hague in the second round or later. With the right development and seasoning, the young blue liner could evolve into a starter.
While McCrimmon isn't known for holding onto former first-round picks (or first-round picks, period), he has found some gems in the later rounds. One of those was the 26-year-old giant, who was selected by Vegas in the second round (34th overall). That could be what happened with his younger version come NHL Draft day.