The Golden Knights have been one of the most aggressive trading teams since their inception in 2017 and because of it the NHL Draft has typically become an afterthought for VGK fans. Tonight is no different as Nashville will select 26th overall, the pick originally held by the Golden Knights.
VGK’s history of moving 1st round picks has been successful to this point.
(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
2017
#6 – Cody Glass
Traded to Nashville for Nolan Patrick
The only time the Golden Knights truly participated in the NHL Draft Lottery went as poorly as it could have for Vegas. They dropped from the 3rd pick down to 6th and it cost them dearly as Cale Makar, Nico Hischier, Miro Heiskanen, and Elias Pettersson went off the board before they selected.
Glass is currently an RFA with the New Jersey Devils but reports have indicated he will not receive a qualifying offer. His new team will be his 5th in just seven years in the NHL. He has 35 goals and 93 points in 252 NHL games.
#13 – Nick Suzuki
Acquired from Winnipeg for 2017 1st round pick (#24) and 2019 3rd round pick
Traded to Montreal with Tomas Tatar and 2019 2nd round pick for Max Pacioretty on September 9th, 2018
Suzuki is the lone 1st round pick in Vegas history that has gone on to have a standout career in the NHL thus far. He was named captain of the Habs just four years after the trade from Vegas and became the youngest player in Montreal history to wear the “C.”
He remains the captain of the Canadiens and posted a career high 89 points last season while receiving votes for Byng (5th), Hart (9th), and Selke (13th). He has scored 138 goals and 375 points in 455 NHL games.
#15 – Erik Brannstrom
Acquired at Expansion Draft from New York Islanders for Mikhail Grabovski’s contract
Traded to Ottawa with Oscar Lindberg and 2020 2nd round pick for Mark Stone
The diminutive defenseman never found a true home in the NHL and after a disappointing year in Vancouver that included trades to New York and then Buffalo, Brannstrom is headed to Switzerland for the 2025-26 season to play for Lausanne HC.
Brannstrom scored 10 goals and 77 points in 294 games in the NHL, mostly with the Ottawa Senators. He never played for either New York nor Buffalo after the deals at the 2025 deadline.
2018
#30 – Joe Veleno
Traded to Detroit Red Wings with 2019 2nd and 2021 3rd round picks for Tomas Tatar
It took a few years before Veleno broke into the NHL but once he did he’s became a mainstay in the Detroit lineup. He played 283 games in four seasons with the Wings before being moved to Chicago in a deadline deal in March. This summer, he was part of a deal that sent Andre Burakovsky to the Chicago Blackhawks landing Veleno in Seattle.
Veleno has scored 38 goals and 81 points in 306 NHL games. His career high in a season was 12 goals and 28 points in 2023-24.
2019
#19 – Peyton Krebs
Traded to Buffalo Sabres with Alex Tuch, 2022 1st, and 2023 2nd round picks for Jack Eichel and 2023 3rd round pick.
The day Krebs was drafted, he hobbled up to the stage to accept his VGK jersey after tearing his Achilles in a training session preparing for the draft. He eventually made his way through the Vegas system and carved out a place in the lineup to begin the 2021-22 season. He was sent to Buffalo in the Eichel trade and has been there since.
Krebs has scored 30 goals and 94 points in 296 NHL games with a career high 10 goals and 28 points last season.
2020
#29 – Brendan Brisson
Traded to New York Rangers with 2025 3rd round pick for Reilly Smith
Brisson wowed many in his junior and college career with his fantastic shot but it has yet to translate at the NHL level. He played just 24 games with the Golden Knights over two seasons and scored just twice. Following the trade to New York he did not make an NHL appearance with the Rangers. He remains a Ranger to begin the 2025-26 season.
2021
#30 – Zach Dean
Traded to St. Louis Blues for Ivan Barbashev
The 22-year-old from Alberta has yet to break through to the NHL, playing just nine games with the St. Louis Blues since the trade. He suffered a fairly serious lower-body injury in the 3rd game of the year which forced him to miss most of the AHL season. He is pointless in his time in the NHL and has scored 10 goals and 18 points in 60 AHL games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
2022
#16 – Noah Ostlund
Traded to Buffalo Sabres with Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, and 2023 2nd round picks for Jack Eichel and 2023 3rd round pick.
In the Eichel trade the Golden Knights gave up a top-10 protected 1st round pick in 2022. When VGK missed the playoffs the season heading into the 2022 Draft, they could have won the lottery to keep that pick, However, the 0.5% chance didn’t come through and instead the selection was transferred to the Sabres.
Ostund played eight games in the NHL down the stretch last season with the Sabres without recording a point. He has posted excellent offensive stats both in the SHL (Sweden) and AHL as well as World Juniors. He remains a highly-touted prospect that will likely break through to the NHL full-time either this season or next.
2023
#32 – David Edstrom
Traded to San Jose Sharks with 2025 1st round pick for Tomas Hertl and 2025 3rd and 2027 3rd round picks
After the trade that sent Edstrom to San Jose, he was then moved along to the Nashville Predators in a deal for goalie Yaroslav Askarov. He played four games in the AHL playoffs as a 20-year-old last season and is expected to compete for a roster spot in Nashville this season. More than likely, he’ll head to the AHL to begin this year. Edstrom shined in the 2025 World Junior Championships with Sweden scoring four goals and six points in seven games.
2024
#19 – Trevor Connelly
Despite off-ice concerns on draft day that caused him to slip much lower than expected, Connelly has been the model citizen since becoming a part of the Golden Knights system. Injuries limited his playing time in his only year at Providence College as he scored four goals and 13 points in 23 games. Late in the year he signed an entry-level contract with the Golden Knights and played six games in the AHL. He scored a goal and added three assists with the Henderson Silver Knights.
Connelly will participate in Development Camp next week with the Golden Knights and then will be given a shot to earn a roster spot at Training Camp in September. He is, however, expected to begin this season in the AHL.
2025
#26
Traded to San Jose Sharks with David Edstrom for Tomas Hertl and 2025 3rd and 2027 3rd round picks
2026
#TBA
Trade to Calgary Flames with Daniil Miromanov and 2025 3rd roung pick for Noah Hanfiin
