With the No. 32 pick, the Vegas Golden Knights select Jayden Perron.
Vegas Golden Knights
With the No. 32 overall pick, the Vegas Golden Knights select …
Jayden Perron, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Why pick him? If there’s a team that looks past someone’s size, it’s Vegas. Perron is built similarly to Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault in stature and plays on the right wing as well, giving them a near like-for-like player in the system. The thing to like about Perron is that he does not need to be the star or help of the team immediately, allowing him to develop his game, which has grown over the past few years. He scored 72 points this season for Chicago, which if reproduced at the NHL level, would have led the Golden Knights.
Scouts say: “He’s a good player. A lot of people may question his size, but I don’t. He played a lot with (top 2024 NHL draft prospect) Mack Celebrini, but he contributes a lot on that line. He’s from the Matt Coronato bloodline a bit, but not as hard, but he hast he ability to create offensively and make plays.” – Scout 1
“More quick than fast. He has really deceptive skating. It doesn’t look like he’s going very fast, but then he beats guys, cuts back and uses his edge work. Good vision. He has really asserted himself as a go-to guy on that team, which is tough.” – Scout 2
Who are the other options? Given the Golden Knights are in the midst of a championship window, Vegas could look to trade the pick, but given the cap space situation, that seems unlikely. Vegas is looking to restock the system with young players, so they could realistically take the best available player on the board rather than a player who fits a specific need. That said, they could also look to develop a goalie or another defenseman. The options for Vegas fall within what the first 31 picks do. That will ultimately dictate what Vegas does with its pick.
What else is on the agenda? The Golden Knights do not have a second, fourth, or fifth, but do have two third-round selections. After trading away top prospects for players who can help now, the Golden Knights will look at this an opportunity to fill up its coffers with young players who could either A) help them in the future or B) be used as trade pieces for more win-now players. The team will likely have to choose between forward Ivan Barbashev and goalie Adin Hill as to which player to re-sign. Early signs point to Hill, though. They also have to figure out what to do with Robin Lehner’s contract, which is on their books for $5 million unless they move it, buy it out, or place Lehner on LTIR. All in all, the draft will be one of the more exciting times for the Stanley Cup Champions, as it gives a glimpse into what the future could look like.