Lawless: Prospects Added To Vegas Pipeline

Just like that, a dress rehearsal turned into a live performance for Vegas Golden Knights Director of amateur Scouting Raphael Pouliot and his scouts.

Pouliot arrived in Vegas this weekend with just one pick in the first three rounds of the 2026 Draft and four in total (3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th). Then, VGK GM Kelly McCrimmon swung a deal sending winger Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers for three draft picks. McCrimmon wasn't done and traded down and up a number of times.

In the end, Pouliot and the Golden Knights found themselves with an additional first, third, and fourth in the 2026 draft as well as a third in 2027 and a conditional first in 2028. McCrimmon also moved up in the fourth from 117th to 113th and used his 2026 seventh-round pick make the deal. In all, McCrimmon netted four additional picks over the weekend.

Pouliot prepared his list like he would be picking in every round and that dedication to the task paid big dividends when his boss handed him a number of surprises.

Instead of waiting until the third round, Pouliot got to make a pick on Friday night and took Finnish defenseman Juho Piiparinen with the 29th-overall selection.

Just 17, Piiparinen played for Tappara in the top tier pro league in Finland and helped his club to a championship.

Piiparinen is described as a leader with potential to play as a second pairing defender in the NHL. Competitive and responsible with more offense to give as he matures, Piiparinen has already played hard minutes against men in Finland.

"I think when I played with the men in the pro league, I did a pretty good and solid job there," Piiparinen said. "Playing too in the World Juniors, I think those two were big for this draft."

Vegas had two selections in the third round and chose center Ben Wilmott and defenseman Sean Burick.

Wilmott popped in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, scoring 11 goals and 22 points in 20 games for Barrie. The 19-year-old is heading to Ohio State next year.

"It's unbelievable. It's a dream come true. As a little kid growing up playing the sport you love, this is what you dream about. I'm just so grateful to be here and do this with my family. It's an unreal experience. It's awesome," Wilmott said.

"It's amazing. It's such a great feeling, such a great organization. I can't put into words how I'm feeling right now. It's unreal. I would say just the winning culture. I want to do whatever it takes to win, whatever it takes to get the W every single night. Go in, have fun, enjoy the game, and just compete and work every single day."

Burick is 6-foot-8 and will return to Penticton next season. The native of San Clemente, California is raw but a strong skater.

In the fourth round, Vegas chose 17-year-old Jonah Sivertson from the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. Sivertson scored 24 goals and 53 points in his first full season with the Raiders.

Vegas took 18-year-old defenseman Will McLaughlin in the fifth round. The native of Canmore, Alberta played last season with Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, scoring nine goals and 30 points in 68 games.

In the sixth round, the Golden Knights took 6-foot-5 goalie Matthew Minchak from the Kingston Frontenacs. Finally, after swapping next year's seventh-round selection with Detroit for the 207th pick, Vegas chose Finnish forward Noel Pakarinen.