NHL Prospect Watch: Vegas Golden Knights
Ahead of the 2024-25 hockey season, we’re diving into the WHL prospect pool for each of the NHL’s 32 teams. Throughout the series, we’ll highlight WHLers who have been signed to an NHL contract, were recently drafted, or are included in the NHL’s definition of a rookie.
Fun fact: the term ‘gentry’ refers to the class of medieval society just below knights. With that said, let’s check in on the gentry aiming to one day become *golden* knights.
Jakub Demek
Slovakian forward Jakub Demek made the jump to professional hockey in 2023-24 with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. Clocking in at a formidable 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Demek potted seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 15 regular-season contests. The points may not jump off the page, but it’s a strong return to form for the 21-year-old after missing a large chunk of his final junior season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Demek earned a call-up to practice with the Golden Knights in October and told Hockey Slovakia in an offseason interview that his goal is to make his NHL debut in 2024-25. He scored his first professional goal and registered his first multipoint game with a goal and assist in a 4-3 overtime win against the San Jose Barracuda in October. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Demek signed his three-year, entry-level contract in 2023. He won a WHL Championship with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2022, burying 20 goals and 34 assists for 54 points in 55 games before adding another 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 19 postseason tilts.
Jakub Demek for the win in the shootout! @HSKnights | #TUCvsHSK pic.twitter.com/FIezgfgxjM
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) March 2, 2024
Jordan Gustafson
Centreman Jordan Gustafson entered the season with a new role and a new contract, earning the ‘C’ for the Seattle Thunderbirds and inking his entry-level deal with Vegas in November. Despite having his season shortened by injury, Gustafson put up 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 32 games, finishing fourth on the team in powerplay goals (5) and in points-per-game (.88). The 6-foot, 183-pound 18-year-old went on a strong roll at the end of the campaign with a six-game point streak that saw him net five goals and five assists. The Ardrossan, Alta. product was drafted 79th overall in the third round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Gustafson helped the Thunderbirds lift the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions in 2023 with 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 40 games and another pair of goals and assists in the postseason. He came through with two goals and an assist as Seattle reached the Memorial Cup final that spring.
Since returning from injury February 24th Jordan Gustafson has compiled 14 points (8g, 6a) in 13 games including a power play goal Saturday in Portland. pic.twitter.com/60mOQbWoBo
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) March 24, 2024
Ben Hemmerling
Everett Silvertips Captain Ben Hemmerling is looking to make his professional debut this season after another successful year in the WHL’s U.S. Division. The 5-foot-11, 176-pound winger snagged 30 goals and 61 assists for 91 points and a +25 rating in 65 games, leading the ‘Tips in points and assists while finishing second in game-winning goals and fourth in total goals. The 20-year-old recorded an eight-game point streak in January that saw him score six goals and ten assists in addition to a pair of seven-game point streaks with a combined 11 goals and 21 assists. The Sherwood Park, Alta. product also piled up 11 games with three or more points, highlighted by a hat trick in October and three two-goal, two-assist outings. Chosed by Vegas in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Hemmerling inked his entry-level deal in late November. His monster season helped the Silvertips finish second in the U.S. Division, while Hemmerling earned U.S. Division Second Team All-Star honours.
🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥
Stay gold, Ben Hemmerling!@WHLsilvertips | @GoldenKnights | #WHLHoN | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/vXbvEvPlWe
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 16, 2024
Christoffer Sedoff
Finnish blueliner Christoffer Sedoff made his AHL debut with Henderson in 2023-24, earning his first North American pro point with an assist against the Iowa Wild in his second game. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound blueliner would close his rookie season with 10 assists in 46 games and plenty of lessons learned. Sedoff led all Henderson rookie skaters in assists and finished fourth in points among all Silver Knights defencemen. Now 22 years old, Sedoff suited up for three seasons with the Red Deer Rebels, racking up 17 goals and 114 assists for 131 points in 185 games. He was named a WHL Central Division First-Team All-Star twice and signed with Vegas as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
"I was [at camp] last year, and they always tell us that every year you have to grow as a player if you want to keep getting better in your career. Improving the team is a huge part of that.”
Sedoff on his first pro season, camp, and goals for next season! ⚔️ #ForgeTheKnight https://t.co/A81kiFpakI
— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) July 10, 2024
Jesper Vikman
Former Vancouver Giants All-Star Jesper Vikman split his first professional season between the pipes in the AHL and with the ECHL’s Savannah Ghost Pirates. The Swedish netminder went 6-9-2 with a 3.48 goals-against average, a .891 save percentage and put up his first professional shutout in 19 appearances with Henderson. Vikman won his first three contests with the Silver Knights and slammed the door on the Calgary Wranglers with a 32-save clean sheet in January. In his time in the ECHL, the 22-year-old posted a 7-8-0 record with a 3.01 goals-against average, .899 save percentage and another shutout- turning aside all 26 shots he faced against the Atlanta Gladiators in February. The 202 fifth-round pick is expected to battle for more time in the AHL in his sophomore season. The Stockholm product suited up for 80 regular-season games with the Vancouver Giants over two seasons, winning 19 games in 2023 to win B.C. Division Goaltender of the Year.
Jesper Vikman doing Jesper Vikman things. pic.twitter.com/waCddvWpKU
— Savannah Ghost Pirates (@SavGhostPirates) February 3, 2024
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