• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Vegas Golden Knights
Golden Knights Prospects

Golden Knights Draft Review

By Lucas Main June 29th, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

In Kelly McCrimmon’s first draft as a general manager, he was surprisingly able to select Peyton Krebs with the 17th-overall pick. On Day 2 of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Vegas Golden Knights were able to fill up their prospect cupboard with another seven selections. McCrimmon and his scouting staff found great value in all of their new prospects. Here is a review of their 2019 draft class.

First Round

Peyton Krebs, Center, 17th Overall

Throughout the season, Krebs was one of the top-ranked centers and was expected to go in the top 10. He suffered an unfortunate Achilles injury before the NHL Combine and many scouts feared this would affect his development. One major scout, TSN director of scouting Craig Button, is not concerned about the injury and thinks Krebs is still a home run pick.

“I don’t have the medical report (on Krebs), but from what I understand and in talking to medical people, this is an injury that will have little to no impact on his future potential and it will heal. “

With a run of defensemen selected earlier than expected, Krebs was still in the stands when the Golden Knights were on the clock.

Peyton Krebs Golden Knights Draft
Peyton Krebs (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

It didn’t take long for McCrimmon and the rest of the organization to select Krebs. He possesses a high hockey IQ, elite vision, and great skating. Yes, he will lose some valuable development time over the summer, but he is expected to have a quick recovery and could be available for training camp in September, so there is no need to worry.

Second Round

Kaedan Korczak, Defense, 41st Overall

Korczak is a big, right-shot defenseman from the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL. He has size, at 6-foot-3, but needs to beef up his frame. He likes to transition the puck quickly and is regarded as one of the smartest players in the draft.

While his numbers won’t wow you (4 goals and 29 assists for 33 points), Korczak is one of the best one-on-one defenders and will be the perfect complement to an offensive defenseman.

Third Round

Pavel Dorofeyev, Left Wing, 79th Overall

Dorofeyev has great puck skills and an incredible release. While playing in Russia’s junior league, the MHL, he potted 17 goals and 31 points in 19 games. He also saw some time in the KHL and at the Spengler Cup tournament, and while his numbers didn’t pop out at that level, he was playing against men who were a lot stronger than he was and he was not averaging a ton of ice time.

Pavel Dorofeyev of Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk
Pavel Dorofeyev of Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk. (courtesy MHL)

Layton Ahac, Defense, 86th Overall

The second defenseman selected by McCrimmon, Ahac is smart player who uses positioning and instincts to defend. Much like Korczak, his offensive game won’t impress you, but he can move the puck around and skate out of trouble if needed.

Ahac is committed to Ohio State University for next season, where the lighter schedule will give him extra gym time to help him add some muscle and work on his skating.

Fourth Round

Ryder Donovan, Center, 110th Overall

Donovan has been one of the top high school players in Minnesota over the last two seasons. He has good size and an explosive first stride. His vision and offensive abilities are his best attributes. He can stick handle through you or use his size to crash the net and has a very deadly shot to score from the outside or down low in tight.

FINAL | Ryder Donovan scores the game-winner in OT as #TeamUSA tops Finland 4-3 in #HlinkaMemorial fifth-place game. #USAHlinka17 pic.twitter.com/A7OTmLzwkY

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) August 11, 2017

He has committed to the University of Wisconsin for next season so he will have time to add weight to his frame to become a power forward at the top level.

Fifth Round

Isaiah Saville, Goalie, 135th Overall

The first of three fifth-round selections by the Golden Knights was Saville from the USHL. He is the only goalie Vegas selected in this draft. In his first season, he led the league in goals-against average (GAA) with a 1.90 and 25 wins in 34 games.

Saville was named to the All-Rookie Team, a First Team All-Star, and won the Goaltender of the Year Award. He is now moving on to the college ranks where he will play at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Marcus Kallionkieli, Left Wing, 139th Overall

Kallionkieli is a Finnish player from the USHL. He was close to a point-per-game pace last season, but he benefited from more skilled linemates who drove the play while Kallionkieli was the finisher.

Marcus Kallionkieli
Marcus Kallionkieli (Jim Utterback, Brianna Norris, Bryce Griffin/Sioux City Musketeers)

Kallionkieli boasts a very good shot but he just lacks the creativity to drive offense on his own. Look for him to keep developing his overall game and he could turn into a good complementary bottom-six forward.

Mason Primeau, Center, 141st Overall

Hockey is part of the Primeau bloodline. His father, Wayne, and uncle, Keith, both played in the NHL and his cousin, Montreal Canadiens prospect, Cayden is expected to be one of the next great NHL goalies. Mason has plenty of size (6-foot-5), but doesn’t have the skill to match. If he can improve his skating and his puck skills, he has the potential to slot into a bottom-six role and become that feared player his father and uncle were.

The Future Grows Everyday

Vegas is still reaping the benefits of their expansion draft trades, as the team had eight selections in the first five rounds of this year’s draft. They also have another eight in the 2020 Draft and could use those picks to help get themselves out of cap trouble since they have already stocked their cupboard with 28 selections in the last three seasons.

McCrimmon and his staff were able to add a lot of skill at the forward position, a couple of defensemen who were molded for today’s NHL, and a goalie who is raw, but oozes talent. They are building from within and that is how you create a championship team in a sports town.

  • Tags
  • 2019 NHL Draft
  • Kaedan Korczak
  • Pavel Dorofeyev
  • Peyton Krebs
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 15th 6:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Romanov Fired Up to Face Oilers’ McDavid and Draisaitl

Jan 15th 6:00 PM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Second Line Shines in Season Opener

Jan 15th 5:50 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Marner Looking to Add Goals to His Stats

Jan 15th 5:35 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Three Takeaways from the Sabres’ Season Opener

Jan 15th 4:50 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News and Rumors: Smith, Barrie, Forsberg, Puljujarvi, More

Jan 15th 4:40 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Have Rough Season Opener but No Need to Panic

Jan 15th 4:20 PM
Column

Jets News & Rumors: Scheifele, Laine, Hellebuyck, Lewis & Quicksand

Jan 15th 4:10 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers Bring More of the Same in 2020-21 Opening Night

Jan 15th 3:45 PM
Column

Red Wings News & Rumors: Ryan, COVID, Markstrom & More

Jan 15th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

2020-21 Season Openers: Flames Lose Again, Islanders & Capitals Excel

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information