Guide To Rookie Camp Roster

Twenty-three players.

Seven of them were drafted by the Golden Knights. Four were acquired in trades, two were signed as free agents and 10 aren't even affiliated with the organization, but struck enough intrigue in George McPhee to be brought in for a look.
The Golden Knights' regular training camp won't start until next week.
But with Rookie Camp getting underway at City National Arena on Thursday, here's your one-stop guide to all of the players in Golden Knights Rookie Camp.

RELATED: Rookie Camp Schedule Announced

Goalies
Name/Jersey Number
Dylan Ferguson/No. 1: Ferguson joined the Golden Knights in June as part of a whirlwind weekend. Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the final round (seventh) of the NHL Draft on June 24, the Kamloops Blazers (Western Hockey League) goalie was traded to the Golden Knights (along with a second-round pick in the 2020 Draft) on June 26 for defenseman Marc Methot.
RELATED: Wild weekend lands Ferguson in Vegas
Jiri Patera/No. 32: With Maksim Zhukov currently with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers and not in Vegas, Czech Jiri Patera is the only goalie taken by the Golden Knights in the Entry Draft at camp this week. Rookie Camp is part of a big transitionary season for Patera, who will be playing his first season in North America this year as a member of the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (Iowa).
Logan Thompson/No. 35: The only goalie in Rookie Camp whose rights the Golden Knights don't own, it's obvious that Vegas is taking a long look at Thompson, who was also invited to Development Camp earlier this summer. Having played with the Brandon Wheat Kings since 2014-15, Thompson has strong connections in Vegas who understand his potential, too. Wheat Kings owner (and previously coach) Kelly McCrimmon doubles as the Golden Knights' assistant general manager, and has scouted Thompson back to when he was 14-15 years old.

Defensemen
Nicolas Hague/No. 14:With first-round pick Erik Brannstrom currently with his European team and not in Vegas, it's probably a safe assumption that Hague is the most promising blueliner at Rookie Camp. And at 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, it's very easy to picture this second-round draft pick (only three picks away from being a first-rounder) eventually blossoming into a shutdown defenseman at the NHL level.
RELATED: Hague eyes spot in World Juniors
Jake Bischoff/No. 45: A 2017 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Bischoff got a brief cup of coffee in the American Hockey League with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers after his college season ended last spring. Although it would seem likely that this defenseman would begin this season with the AHL's Chicago Wolves (Vegas' affiliate), he is the only defenseman in Rookie Camp with a pro contract with the team. Was acquired from the New York Islanders in the Expansion Draft as part of a transaction that also netted the Golden Knights a Jean-Francois Berube (since departed), Mikhail Grabovski (injured) and two draft picks. One of those draft picks was the 15th overall selection in this year's draft, used to select Erik Brannstrom.

Dylan Coghlan/No. 52: A lanky defenseman with some puck-moving upside, Coghlan is invited to Rookie Camp after also attending Development Camp earlier this summer. Plays for the Western Hockey League's Tri-City Americans.
Will Warm/No. 63: The quintessential late bloomer, Warm didn't even make it to the Western Hockey League (Edmonton Oil Kings) until last season. Isn't under contract or a Golden Knights property at this point, but it's obvious the organization is high on the blueliner, who was also invited to Development Camp this summer.
Nikolas Brouillard/No. 75: One of the older players in camp at age 22, Brouillard is also one of only a few players to have ever played pro hockey, mostly suiting up with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears last season (although he played in one AHL game for the Toronto Marlies). His plans for this season are very much dependent on how he plays in Rookie Camp. He could end up back with the Orlando Solar Bears on an ECHL contract, could end up signing with the Golden Knights and being assigned to one of Vegas' minor league affiliates, or could end up at McGill University, where he has also showed interest in attending.
Dmitry Osipov/No. 79: Another of the connections to Kelly McCrimmon's Brandon Wheat Kings, Osipov, is a hulking Russian (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) that played for the Golden Knights' assistant GM in the Western Hockey League last season. Also invited to Development Camp in June, it's obvious that the Golden Knights think Osipov has potential, especially with his strong ties to the organization.
Keoni Texeira/No. 82: A teammates of Cody Glass with the Portland Winterhawks, Texeira (no related to Mark Texeira) is a stocky, solidly built defenseman with ties to the western United States. A native of Fonana, California, he played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings out of the Toyota Sports Center growing up, which is where the Golden Knights' Rookie Camp games against Kings prospects will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Forwards
Cody Glass/No. 9: Glass might be the top prospect in Rookie Camp this week. The high-scoring center was the first player ever drafted (in the Entry Draft) by the Golden Knights in June. He had 32 goals and 62 assists in 69 games with the Portland Winter Hawks (Western Hockey League), and although just 18, is considered a vital part of Vegas' future.

Nick Suzuki/No. 17: The Golden Knights were fortunate to draft Suzuki No. 13 overall this past June, when there were many who thought the Owen Sound Attack (Ontario Hockey League) forward should've went in the top 10. Not very big, but extremely quick and a lethal shot, Suzuki is favored by advanced metrics. Along with Cody Glass, is one of two centers in Rookie Camp who Vegas is really bank on to be part of the NHL club for years to come.
RELATED: Suzuki, Glass, Brannstrom signed to contracts
Reid Duke/No. 37: A popular name to Golden Knights fans after being signed as the first player in team history in March, Duke is one of the few players in Rookie Camp that already has a professional contract with the team. Duke will probably also be one of the few players in Rookie Camp who could attend Vegas' regular camp, with a chance to play NHL games this season. If Duke doesn't make the Golden Knights out of camp, he'd probably play for the club's AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.

Tomas Hyka/No. 38: The oldest player in Rookie Camp at age 24, Hyka is transitioning back to North America after playing professionally in the Czech Republic. Originally a draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, Hyka is also under contract to the Golden Knights already, and could play either in Vegas or with the AHL's Chicago Wolves.
Jake Leschyshyn/No. 39:Camp will be of the utmost importance for Leschyshyn, who despite probably returning to the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats, missed a lot of his summer training recovering from injuries. A second-round pick of the Golden Knights in June and the son of former longtime NHL defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn, Jake Leschyshyn is one of the more talented prospects in Rookie Camp, who the week will be very valuable for to get his timing back. Was limited to only 47 games last season.

Patrick Bajkov/No. 50:An unaffiliated invitee to Rookie Camp, Bajkov also attended Development Camp earlier this summer. A high-scoring forward with the Western Hocket League's Everett Silvertips (78 points in 71 games last year), Bajkov is playing for a contract in Rookie Camp, or could be returned to Everett, where the Golden Knights would not own his rights.
Keegan Kolesar/No. 55:When the Golden Knights acquired a surplus of draft picks, they used one of the club's three second-round picks to acquired Kolesar from the Columbus Blue Jackets during the NHL Draft. Kolesar has yet to play pro hockey, however, having been the fourth leading scorer on the WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds last season. In addition to his scoring touch, plays a mean, physical game. Could play in Vegas or AHL Chicago this year, but is probably the most chiseled physical specimen at Rookie Camp.

Alex Barre/Boulet/No. 59: Attending Rookie Camp on an invite after also attending Development Camp, Barre/Boulet is very small at only 165 pounds, but has some finesse and offensive ability. Is playing for a contract, or would return to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Blainville-Boisbrand Armada.
Ben Jones/No. 61: The final player taken by the Golden Knights in June's Entry Draft (seventh round/189th overall), Jones is probably destined to return to the OHL's Niagara IceDogs this season. Seems to be far more of a playmaker than a goal scorer, upon early impressions.
Lucas Elvenes/No. 70: Considered a boom or bust type of prospect, Elvenes went in the fifth round this year to the Golden Knights, although many scouts have said he had second-round talent. Super quick, dynamic speed an extremely elusive are his hallmarks. Currently slated to play for Rogle BK in the Swedish Elite League.
Jayden Halbgewachs/No. 72: One of the more interesting players in Rookie Camp. Also the smallest at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds. But with 50 goals and more than 100 points with the Moose Jaw Warriors, this kid can really play. Can this translate to the professional level? After also inviting Halbgewachs (say that three times fast), the Golden Knights at least thought he was worth a second look.
Tyler Wong/No. 80: Like Halbgewachs, Wong is another small, very talented forward out of the Western Hockey League. However, he's the only player in camp who seems like he will play in the Golden Knights organization this season without being under contract to the team. Under an AHL contract to the Chicago Wolves, Wong would have to sign a separate contract if he ever wanted to play for the Golden Knights.
Alex Tuch/No. 89: A first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2014, Tuch, 21, is probably the player in Rookie Camp most likely to play for the Golden Knights this season.
RELATED: Tuch's No. 89 a tribute to his size
Also a former teammate of general manager George McPhee's son Graham at Boston College, Tuch is the largest forward (6-foot-4, 222 pounds) in the Golden Knights organization, and is considered to have loads of offensive upside.