The Vegas Golden Knights landed the most important fish of the NHL offseason in 2025. Vegas signed Mitch Marner to an eight-year, $96 million contract following a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The talks round this sign-and-trade deal started in the course of the first spherical of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Vegas didn’t personal its choice within the first spherical. The Golden Knights traded it to the San Jose Sharks in 2024 to accumulate veteran heart Tomas Hertl. Commerce dialogue was just about their focus for a lot of the weekend. In actual fact, Vegas did not make its first choice till choose 55, they usually solely made 4 picks in whole on the 2025 NHL Draft.
The excitement across the draft has settled, and improvement camps throughout the NHL are wrapping up. With this in thoughts, let’s take a deeper take a look at the Golden Knights’ small draft class. We’ll spotlight every of the 4 gamers earlier than handing out a grade primarily based on the preliminary total high quality of the category.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak – Spherical 2, Choose 55
At one level, many pegged Jakob Ihs-Wozniak as a possible top-five choice within the 2025 NHL Draft. That was just a few years in the past, nonetheless. As soon as the 2024-25 season rolled round, he nonetheless had buzz as a first-round choose. However the shine had worn off significantly.
It isn’t onerous to see why issues went south. He is not essentially the most aggressive participant on the ice. He does not have the very best motor, and he can merely linger round at instances. Ihs-Wozniak can also be not the very best playmaker, both, and this might damage his offensive sport on the NHL stage.
Nonetheless, there are a whole lot of issues to love in regards to the Swedish ahead, as nicely. The Golden Knights draft choose has a wonderful shot that may be onerous for goaltenders to trace. He is excellent off the puck, as nicely, ensuring to search out the proper house on the proper time to create a scoring probability for himself. His skating is one other main optimistic.
There are some who consider Ihs-Wozniak can turn into a middle-six winger on the NHL stage. In the identical vein, some consider he will not make it in any respect. The previous feels extra probably than the latter, however it’s not essentially the most comfy projection. The Golden Knights landed a participant with a first-round grade at this choose. In the event that they may also help him attain his potential, this can be a residence run.
Mateo Nobert – Spherical 3, Choose 85
The Golden Knights added depth down the center with their third-round choose, Mateo Norbert. He emerged as one of many higher playmakers within the QMJHL this previous season. And if he returns to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, he may put his title up there among the many finest.
Nobert does nicely when working in house, utilizing the time he has to select passes for his teammates. He excels when engaged on the powerplay as nicely. He additionally flashed the power to attain objectives, as he discovered the again of the online 28 instances this 12 months.
There are some issues that may maintain him again. As an example, Nobert is on the smaller dimension, standing an excellent six ft tall. Furthermore, the Golden Knights draft choose just isn’t the quickest participant by any means. His total skating means is regarding, as nicely. If Nobert makes it to the NHL, he probably works as a bottom-six playmaking heart.
Alex Weiermair – Spherical 6, Choose 186
The Golden Knights drafted one other heart within the sixth spherical, deciding on Portland Winterhawks star Alex Weiermair. Weiermaier was not a excessive prospect on many draft boards. In actual fact, many believed he would go undrafted within the 2025 NHL Draft. Clearly, the Golden Knights see one thing they appreciated.
Weiermair’s calling card is his excessive motor and checking. He won’t ever stop, regardless of the scenario. He’s a ferocious backchecker, and he’s relentless on the forecheck. The Golden Knights draft choose performs with power, and he makes use of this power to assist his puck management within the offensive zone.
Nonetheless, Weiermair initiatives as organizational depth at finest. He does not have a very harmful shot. And his total work within the offensive zone is nothing particular. If he does make it to the NHL, he can be a fourth-line defensive specialist who may contribute on the penalty kill. Even then, it is a lengthy shot.
Gustav Sjöqvist – Spherical 6, Choose 187
Vegas’ remaining choose got here one choice after Weiermair, and he is the one defenseman within the class. Gustav Sjöqvist had a powerful season in Sweden’s prime junior league, scoring 11 objectives in 31 video games. The offense might not translate, however that is simply nice for the Golden Knights.
Sjöqvist is a really, very bodily defenseman. He has not met successful he didn’t wish to ship. The Swedish defenseman does do nicely to maintain his hits clear for essentially the most half, and that is promising to see. He’s a high-energy checking rearguard who can also be fairly succesful in his personal zone.
The projection to the NHL for Sjöqvist is a tad extra comfy than Weiermair. Sjöqvist very nicely may make the league as a bodily, shutdown defenseman on the underside pairing. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless a protracted shot for him to make the NHL presently.
Grade and remaining ideas
The Golden Knights obtain a barely below-average grade for his or her 2025 NHL Draft class. Vegas didn’t have a ton of depth to their class, so it is onerous to provide them a majorly excessive rating. On the similar time, half of their picks do have a snug projection to the NHL. That is definitely not nothing, and it may pay dividends for Vegas down the road.
Golden Knights draft grade: C-