The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!
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Read past 32 series stories here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/
Make sure to check out the Vegas Golden Knights team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/vegas-golden-knights/
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Relative to other Golden Knights seasons, Vegas was blessed with good health en route to the third Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history. The club finished atop the Pacific Division with 95 points and knocked off Utah and Anaheim before sweeping the President’s-Trophy-favorite Colorado Avalanche. Vegas lost the Final in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes, putting to bed a remarkable season.
Much of the roster from last year’s team is sticking around, aside from Pavel Dorofeyev, whom Vegas dealt to the New York Rangers for a couple of 2026 draft selections. Mark Stone and Rasmus Andersson inked contract extensions, which marked Vegas’ two biggest off-season agenda pieces. Along with the influx of young draft talent, the Golden Knights are hoping to replicate similar success.
Make no mistake, the Golden Knights are in it to win it at all times. They stop at nothing to win hockey games, and GM Kelly McCrimmon views the 2026-27 roster as more than capable of hoisting the Stanley Cup yet again.
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NHL Draft Recap
Round 1, 29th overall – Juho Piiparinen, D
Shortly after being selected, Piiparinen inked his entry-level contract with the Golden Knights, and adds an interesting piece to Vegas’ depleted defensive prospect base. He brings an intriguing blend of size, skating and puck moving to the table, also bringing offensive upside in the process. He thrives under pressure with the puck and factors his size into his decision-making and poise. Piiparinen put together a nice 15-game stretch with Tappara U-20 before seeing 29 games in Liiga. The points did not flow right away as he adjusted to the higher level. Piiparinen began this season in the Liiga, so Vegas is hoping to see him be more comforatble in his game before transitioning him to North American ice. Piiparinen could be at the forefront of the Golden Knights’ youth movement on the back end as the club looks to get younger.
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Round 3, 92nd overall – Ben Wilmott, F
Wilmott was an interesting over-age selection in the third round. He features a fascinating power forward game with some flashes of offense. Wilmott started last season with the London Knights before being traded to the Barrie Colts. He had 32 and 34 points, respectively, and was a force in the playoffs. In a big, heavy Western Conference, Wilmott’s size and willingness to battle in front of the net is something for Vegas to be excited about. The club just has to see his performance scale as he climbs closer to the NHL.
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Round 3, 95th overall – Sean Burrick, D
Burrick is a massive, 6-8 defender who will take some time before hitting Vegas’ system. He moves surprisingly well for his size, and also, predictably, features a long, active stick. While his offensive production is likely going to be limited, his skillset is an intriguing one. He moves the puck and sees the ice well, which could lead to some offense. As mentioned, he will take some time before seeing Vegas’ system, playing this season with Penticton before heading to Ohio State in 2027-28.
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Round 4, 113th overall – Jonah Sivertson, F
Following a similar theme, Sivertson has great size and skating ability as a fourth-round selection. What separates Sivertson from the rest of this draft class is his shot and scoring ability. He can rifle the puck and netted 24 goals for Prince Albert last year. He wastes no time and finds a way to get pucks through traffic. His impressive skills see him back in Prince Albert this season before transitioning to St. Cloud State 2027-28.
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Round 5, 159th overall – Will McLaughlin, D
McLaughlin is a smooth-skating, puck-moving defender that has posted strong offensive totals in the WHL. With 30 points from the back end, he was second among Winterhawks’ defenders. He moves the puck to his teammates quickly and rarely with issue. After returning to Portland, McLaughlin will head to Colorado College and could see Vegas’ system in the near future.
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Round 6, 191st overall – Matthew Minchak, G
A strong positional netminder, Minchak, squares up to shooters well and cuts down the angle to score. He rarely darts out of position and provides an ease in the net among those playing in front of him. After 30 games with Kingston a year ago, he is hoping to take on more responsibility in the net. By putting together a .910 save percentage, the ability is certainly there to do so and adds to a depleted Vegas prospect goaltending room.
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Round 7, 207th overall – Noel Pakarinen, F
After a near point-per-game season in Kiekko-Espoo U20, Pakarinen transitions to smaller ice with Penticton this season. He finds open space well and utilizes a quick release to get the puck on net. The transition may present some challenges along the way, but Pakarinen has the ability to give Vegas a great return on investment in the future.
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Off-Season Moves
Incoming
Parker Wotherspoon, D – Trade with PIT
Outgoing
Pavel Dorofeyev, F – Traded to NYR
Keegan Kolesar, F – Traded to DET
Akira Schmid, G – Traded to FLA
Re-Signed
Mark Stone – 2-year, $18M
Rasmus Andersson – 7-year, $59.5M
Jeremy Lauzon – 6-year, $24M
Victor Olofsson – 1-year, $1.6M
Braeden Bowman – 6-year, $20.4M
Carl Lindbom – 3-year, $2.7M
Dylan Coghlan – 2-year, $1.75M
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In the System
Risers
Trevor Connelly, F
Connelly is one of the lone prospects to survive a Vegas Golden Knights trade deadline, and it is not without reason. He was dynamite in the AHL last year with 49 points in 46 games. Much of the discourse was negative after a quiet college season at Providence, but Connelly made a statement, and should see NHL action as soon as this year.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, F
The 6-3 winger could have been a first-round pick in 2025, but he slid into Vegas’ lap in the second round. He is a strong offensive player and put that on display in Allsvenskan last year and the U20 summer showcase. Though he is still a year or two away from NHL consideration, he has given Vegas a lot to like thus far.
Carl Lindbom, G
Lindbom is the only young goaltender in Vegas’ system on the verge of a call up, but his play has not done him harm in showing his skills. After a rough six games at the NHL level, Lindbom still impressed in 35 AHL games with a .926 save percentage. While not expected to take the full-time reins in the net this season, Lindbom is expected to show flashes of the future in the action he does see with the big club.
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Fallers
Mathieu Cataford, F
Almost none of Cataford’s QMJHL brilliance translated to the AHL. With just a 13-point campaign, Cataford is quickly tumbling down the list of Vegas prospects with hope of playing in the NHL. The club will need to see a big jump in play before Cataford is seen as someone with NHL hope again.
Matyas Sapovaliv, F
Sapovaliv actually increased his production last season, but Vegas’ strong draft class made his path to the NHL much more crowded to navigate. He also likes to slow the game down, a pace which other Vegas forwards do not like to play at.
Jackson Hallum, F
Hallum spent three seasons at the University of Michigan before joining Henderson. In the AHL, his game has not popped yet. Combined with his age, his path to NHL is difficult.
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Likely to See NHL Action
Trevor Connelly, F
Carl Lindbom, G
Ben Himmerling, F
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Top 20 Prospects
This section is intended to paint a picture of the Vegas Golden Knights prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.
- Trevor Connelly
- Carl Lindbom
- Jakob Ihs-Wozniak
- Juho Piiparinen
- Ben Hemmerling
- Jonah Sivertson
- Sean Burrick
- Mateo Norbert
- Matyas Sapovaliv
- Mathieu Cataford
- Tuomas Uronen
- Will McLaughlin
- Noel Pakarinen
- Joe Fleming
- Trent Swick
- Jakub Demek
- Ben Wilmott
- Arttu Karki
- Lucas Van Vliet
- Alex Weiermair
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Make sure to check out the Vegas Golden Knights team page: https://dobberprospects.com/team/vegas-golden-knights/
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Final Thoughts
The Golden Knights are in win-now mode, make no mistake. While none of these prospects will likely help them win the Cup, they give Vegas an interesting group to lead them into the next phase of the franchise. Time will tell how these players will impact the franchise.
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Thank you for reading! Follow me on X @norr028 for coverage all season long!
Nick Orr