With the World Juniors 2023 underway in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick, the Vegas Golden Knights have four players from three different countries participating.
- Zach Dean ( Canada )
- Carl Lindbom ( Sweden )
- Matyas Sapovaliv ( Czechia )
- Jakub Brabenec ( Czechia )
Vegas being a team up against the salary cap and looking to make a run at the Stanley Cup, no better time than now to see what they have as potential trade chips at the March 3, 2023, NHL trade deadline or how far along their prospects have developed this season to determine what they may have in the prospect pipeline going forward.
Zach Dean
Drafted in round one, 30th overall in the 2021 NHL draft. Dean will be looked upon to provide bottom-6 energy for Canada and should be a valuable penalty killer.
Playing for the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL, Dean has proven he can chip in offensively, scoring 17 goals and 18 assists in 27 games.
Providing Dean can stay in games. He could be a player Canada could move into the top six if they need to shake up their lines as the tournament progresses.
Carl Lindbom
Drafted in round seven, 222nd overall in the 2021 NHL draft. Lindbom will be relied upon to provide solid goaltending as the starting goalie for team Sweden and possibly steal a game or two.
Playing for HockeyAllsvenskan in Sweden, Lindbom has a 15-6-0 record in 21 games played, including four shutouts. With a 1.76 GAA and a .936 save percentage.
Lindbom could be the top goalie of the tournament conversation if Sweden can provide enough scoring in front of him.
Jakub Brabenec
Drafted in round four, 102nd overall in the 2021 NHL draft. Brabenec won’t be expected to fill the net with goals, but his high hockey IQ allows him to create plays and find his teammates to provide scoring chances.
Playing for the Charlottetown Islanders in the QMJHL, Brabenec has scored eight goals and 17 assists in 28 games played.
Matyas Sapovaliv
Drafted in round two, 48th overall in the 2022 NHL draft. Sapovaliv, much like Vegas’ other prospect from Czechia in the tournament, won’t score a lot but will still be relied on to be a distributor to help create scoring for Czechia.
Scoring at a point-per-game pace in the OHL for the Saginaw Spirit with 11 goals and 19 assists in 30 games played.
Sapovaliv could provide unexpected reliable secondary scoring for Czechia if called upon later in the tournament.
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