NHL Prospect Watch – Vegas Golden Knights
In the lead-up to the 2023-24 NHL season, we’re taking a look at the current and former WHL talent in each NHL Club’s prospect pool. In this 32-part series, we’ll highlight the WHL players signed to an NHL contract or recently drafted, 25 years of age or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played. Join us for a brand-new season of NHL Prospect Watch!
We continue with the prospect pool of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Jordan Gustafson
Newly-minted Seattle Thunderbirds captain Jordan Gustafson has a ‘C’ on his sweater, and a WHL Championship to his name after a memorable 2022-23 season. The product of Ardrossan, Alta. put up 36 points (16G-20A) in 40 games for the Thunderbirds during the 2022-23 regular season, adding two goals over his nine outings during the WHL Playoffs. Gustafson capped off his year by scoring a pair of goals at the 2023 Memorial Cup, as Seattle reached the final for the first time in franchise history. A third-round pick by the Golden Knights in the 2022 NHL Draft, Gustafson holds career totals of 43 goals and 99 points from his 122 career WHL regular season games.
ICYMI: the @SeattleTbirds recently named @GoldenKnights prospect Jordan Gustafson the Club's new captain.
📰 | https://t.co/QTGbTqt4Zg pic.twitter.com/KwTwKCb5Lw
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 2, 2023
Ben Hemmerling
Everett Silvertips forward Ben Hemmerling scored a career-best 21 goals and 62 points in 2022-23 and he’s begun the new WHL campaign on a point-per-game pace once again. Hemmerling, from Sherwood Park, Alta., was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights; over the past two WHL seasons, he’s put up 78 assists while being anointed as one of Everett’s alternate captains in 2022-23. Overall, the 19-year-old has collected 118 points (34G-84A) over his 136-game WHL career since being selected in the third round by the Silvertips in the 2019 WHL Draft.
For the third time THIS MONTH, @GoldenKnights prospect Ben Hemmerling nets the WHOA-vertime winner!@WHLsilvertips pic.twitter.com/S0YIgsEAct
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 29, 2023
Kaedan Korczak
Former Kelowna Rockets defenceman Kaedan Korczak registered his first NHL points in 2022-23, earning two assists over 10 contests with the Vegas Golden Knights. The product of Yorkton, Sask. appeared in 50 AHL contests with the Henderson Silver Knights, scoring four goals and totalling 10 points to match his points output from the 2021-22 campaign. As a WHLer, Korczak spent his entire career with the Kelowna Rockets, scoring a career-high 11 goals and 49 points in 2019-20. He also represented Canada in a silver medal-winning performance at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was selected by the Golden Knights in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Nothing short about our cellys after Korczak's goal! 🚨🥳 pic.twitter.com/CErEIPmK7j
— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) December 8, 2022
Marcus Kallionkieli
Finnish forward Marcus Kallionkieli was limited to just five appearances with the ECHL’ Savannah Ghost Pirates in 2022-23, during which he scored one goal. Kallionkieli, a fifth-round selection by the Golden Knights in the 2019 NHL Draft, spent two WHL seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings in 2019-20 and 2021-22. Over that span, he totalled 38 points (12G-26A) in 60 regular season games.
….And just like that Marcus Kallionkieli with the goal to put the Ghost Pirates up 2-0 pic.twitter.com/T2AnEwiVXG
— Savannah Ghost Pirates (@SavGhostPirates) October 23, 2022
Brayden Pachal
A WHL Champion with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2019, defenceman Brayden Pachal can now add a Stanley Cup to his resume. The Henderson Silver Knights captain skated in 10 regular season NHL contests in 2022-23, a career-high, then made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut this past spring in Vegas’ run to the Stanley Cup. At AHL Henderson, Pachal totalled 15 points (3G-12A) in 55 contests last season, his second as Silver Knights captain. He signed with Vegas in September of 2019 after captaining the Prince Albert Raiders to the 2019 WHL Championship. Over 239 WHL regular season games with Victoria and Prince Albert, the product of Estevan, Sask. collecte 26 goals and 98 points.
Brayden Pachal spent the day with the Stanley Cup in his hometown of Estevan, Saskatchewan! 🏆#VegasBorn | @Vegas pic.twitter.com/mmgay6HHK6
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 1, 2023
Jiri Patera
A sixth-round selection by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2019 NHL Draft, goaltender Jiri Patera made his NHL debut with the Club during the 2022-23 season. The Czech netminder posted a .929 save percentage over his two games played, winning both outings to boot. At AHL Henderson, Patera went 14-15-1 in 2022-23, to go along with a .911 save percentage. In two seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Patera won 46 games, six by shutout, and was named to the 2020 WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team.
Welcome to the NHL, @jiri_patera!!! ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/yxL00qquUR
— NHL (@NHL) March 12, 2023
Christoffer Sedoff
Defenceman Christoffer Sedoff signed a free agent contract with the Vegas Golden Knights in March after eclipsing the 50-point mark with the Red Deer Rebels for the second consecutive season. Sedoff, who hails from Helsinki, Finland, put up 112 points (12G-100A) from Red Deer’s blue line over the past two WHL campaigns, adding four goals and seven points during the 2023 WHL Playoffs. He was named to the WHL Central Division First All-Star Team in each of the last two years. Sedoff is set to make his North American professional debut this fall; he skated in 26 games in Finland’s top pro league during the 2020-21 season.
Christoffer Sedoff. Oh my.@Rebelshockey | @GoldenKnights#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/w3fx5jR55n
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 2, 2023
Jesper Vikman
A fifth-round selection by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2020 NHL Draft, goaltender Jesper Vikman signed an entry-level contract with the Club in April. Vikman, from Stockholm, Sweden, made 80 regular season appearances in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants over the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, winning 19 games last season en route to being named the B.C. Division Goaltender of the Year. Vikman made his North American pro debut with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights this past spring. He was originally selected eighth-overall by Vancouver in the 2021 CHL Import Draft.
Upon further deliberation, we deem this a save by Jesper Vikman…
And now, with that out of the way…
OH MY, WHAT A SAVE!@WHLGiants pic.twitter.com/Ha672u4bKR
— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 4, 2022
