VGK Prospect Roundup - Dec. 19, 2022

The Vegas Golden Knights will be heading into the new year with the resolution of continuing their successful start to the 2022-23 season. Several of the organization's prospects hold similar sentiments as 2023 brings with it various opportunities for them to continue their development.

For a handful of prospects, they will look to impress on a global stage with the commencement of the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship on December 26. For many others, the new year acts as a time marker, giving them the opportunity to assess their progress up to that point and to build off of that into 2023.
Zach Dean - Gatineau Olympiques
Golden Knights prospect Zach Dean will represent Canada in the 2023 World Junior Championship. This will be his first opportunity to participate in the competition after missing out on selection for 2022's installment due to injury.
Drafted 30th overall by Vegas in 2021, Dean spent the previous three seasons in the QMJHL playing for the Gatineau Olympiques. During these campaigns, the centerman recorded; 46 points (18G, 28A) in 56 games in 2019-20, 20 points (10G, 10A) in 23 games in 2020-21, and 52 points (21G, 31A) in 47 games for 2021-22.
Throughout the early stages of the 2022-23 season, his fourth playing for Gatineau, Dean's development has been on full display. As of Dec. 19, he has 35 points (17G, 18A) in 27 games. If he maintains this point production through the rest of the season, he would dwarf any of his previous QMJHL outings with projected totals hovering around 80 points.
Jakub Brabenec - Charlottetown Islanders
Sticking to the QMJHL, Jakub Brabanec is a Golden Knights prospect who's made waves with the Charlottetown Islanders early in the 2022-23 season. A 2021 fourth round draft pick by the Golden Knights, Brabenec penned a three-year entry level contract with the Golden Knights on Dec. 10 and was selected to Czechia's 2023 World Juniors roster just two days later on Dec. 12.
Brabenec has shown why Vegas was interested in him since his move to North American hockey from his native Czechia. As a rookie during the 2021-22 season, the forward recorded 64 points (17G, 47A) in 58 games. He didn't slow down in the 2022 postseason either during Charlottetown's QMJHL playoff run where he notched 19 points (5G, 14A) in 15 games before being defeated in the finals by the Shawinigan Cataractes. His performance throughout the season earned himself accolades of Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, and was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team.
Through 28 games played in the 2022-23 season, Brabenec has also found individual success despite Charlottetown's 12-17-2 record, as he leads his team in points with 25 (8G, 17A).
Lukas Cormier - Henderson Silver Knights
Despite being a 20-year-old rookie in the AHL, Lukas Cormier has earned himself a spot on the Henderson Silver Knights roster. In 22 games Cormier has put up 13 points (4G, 9A) from the blueline, making him the most productive defenseman on the team.
Before the 2022-23 campaign, Cormier played four seasons in the QMJHL for the Charlottetown Islanders. While he put up a combined 72 points (21G, 51A) in 107 games during his first two seasons in Charlottetown, it was in his final two seasons with the team that truly displayed his growth.
In the 2020-21 campaign, after being drafted 68th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights, Cormier recorded 54 points (16G, 38A) in 39 games posting a +35 rating in the process. In the 2021-22 season, playing alongside fellow Golden Knights prospect Brabenec, he put up 81 points (33G, 48A) in 62 games, earning himself a +40. His offensive prowess was not just limited to the regular season either as he put up a combined 35 points (11G, 24A) in 29 QMJHL postseason games.
Cormier acquired an extensive list of accolades and awards during his time in the QMJHL, however being twice named as QMJHL defenseman of the year best exemplifies his abilities.
Matyas Sapovaliv - Saginaw Spirit
Matyas Sapovaliv of the OHL's Saginaw Spirit is set to represent Czechia alongside Brabenec at the 2023 World Juniors.
The centerman debuted with Saginaw for the 2021-22 season. Though the Spirit only had a record of 24-43-1, Savovaliv was still able to tally a respectable 52 points (18G, 34A) in 68 games. This outing put him on the radar of the Golden Knights who selected him 48th overall in the draft that summer.
The 2022-23 OHL season has been a different story for the Spirit as they lead the West Division with a record of 20-9-2 as of Dec. 19. Sapovaliv has played a major role in the Spirit's success as he ranks third on the team in points with 30 (11G, 19A) in 30 games.
Isaiah Saville - Savannah Ghost Pirates
Goalie Isaiah Saville has spent the beginning of the 2022-23 season in the ECHL with the Savannah Ghost Pirates. As of Dec. 19, Saville has played in 14 games where he has a 4-6-3 record, a 2.82 goals-against average (GAA), and a .925 save percentage (SV%).
After being selected by the Golden Knights in the fifth round of the 2019 draft, the former USHL Goalie of The Year spent the next three seasons in the NCAA playing for the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In 82 games across all three seasons, Saville posted a 38-36-5 record, a 2.78 GAA, and a .907 SV%.
Once the 2021-22 NCAA season had concluded, the Alaskan native spent a short period of time with the Henderson Silver Knights. While in the AHL, Saville played in eight games where he spotted a 6-1-0 record, a 2.05 GAA, and a .929 SV%.
Carl Lindbom - Djurgardens IF
One of the Vegas Golden Knights brightest prospects overseas is Carl Lindbom, a goalie who's been selected to represent Sweden at the 2023 World Juniors.
The 19-year-old plays for Djurgårdens IF in the second flight of Swedish professional hockey, the HockeyAllsvenskan. As of Dec. 19, Lindbom has played in the lion's share of Djurgårdens games to start the 2022-23 season. In 21 games he has a record of 15-6-0, a GAA of 1.78, four shutouts, and league leading .936 SV%.
After being selected in the seventh round of the 2021 draft by the Golden Knights, Lindbom split the following 2021-22 season playing in three different levels of Swedish hockey. The then 18-year-old started the season with Djurgården's junior team, where in 19 games played, he spotted a 13-6-0 record with a 2.24 GAA, two shutouts and a .913 SV%.
While acting as a backup on Djurgården's senior squad, who were in the SHL (Sweden's premiere hockey league) at the time, Lindbom entered the game after the original starting goaltender was pulled. In two full periods, Lindbom made 19 saves on 20 shots, finishing the game with a .950 SV% and a 1.50 GAA.
To close out the 2021-22 season, Lindbom was loaned to Västerviks IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan where he played in seven games posting a 5-2-0 record, a 2.27 GAA and a .913 SV%.