The Vegas Golden Knights® have achieved a level of early success that has not been matched throughout the NHL’s post-expansion era as the franchise needed only six seasons to win the Stanley Cup. While many teams become champions by building around their draft picks, this club has defied conventionality by often leveraging those picks into the pieces that were needed to win.

During the NHL Draft, the Golden Knights rarely have high picks throughout franchise history due to their winning ways. Their roster has been a tough one for prospects to crack and they take their time in developing talent. It has been a recipe for success despite the traditional notion that a winner needs to be built through the draft first.

During their 2017-18 expansion season, they avoided the typical fate of every first-year team by becoming an immediate contender and piled up victories on the way to an unprecedented first-place finish in the Pacific Division. The hockey world continued to be shocked as the team stormed their way through the playoffs and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

This early success did not come through drafting amateur players, but rather through smart trades by former General Manager and current team President George McPhee. Before the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, deals were set up with some established clubs, which ensured certain players were selected over others and franchise legends like Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, and Marc-Andre Fleury were picked.

These transactions also resulted in several selections in the 2017 NHL Draft being acquired. McPhee managed to gain two additional first-rounders along with three more choices. Heading to the podium for the first time, the team took Cody Glass sixth overall before taking future Upper Deck spokesman Nick Suzuki seven picks later. At 15^th, defender Erik Brannstrom was chosen and later choices included franchise mainstay Nicholas Hague (34^th overall) and goaltender Jiri Patera (161^st overall) – who filled in nicely while the club’s starters went down at times in 2023-24.

While Glass would only see limited action with the club before being dealt to Nashville three years ago, both Suzuki and Brannstrom would ultimately debut with other teams. However, their return paid off perfectly for the franchise as Suzuki brought over lots of scoring from Max Pacioretty and Brannstrom was a key piece in acquiring current captain Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators®.

Both Glass and Suzuki have rookie cards in 2019-20 Upper Deck releases, including the ever-popular Young Guns. Glass was the first to appear as part of Upper Deck NHL Series One while Suzuki was placed into the subsequent release as a member of the Canadiens®. Collectors searching for a card of Suzuki with the Golden Knights have limited options to choose from as he is shown wearing the club’s jersey as part of the Draft Day Marks collection from 2019-20 SP Game-Used NHL, the Rookie NHL Journey insert set from 2019-20 Synergy NHL, and a promotional card from the 2021-22 Upper Deck NHL Draft Day Moments set, which was available through participating Canadian shops.

Brannstrom’s first NHL cards also came out in 2019-20 while sixth-rounder Patera’s Young Guns card can be found on store shelves now in packs of 2023-24 Upper Deck NHL Series One.

In their second NHL Draft, the Golden Knights chose Paul Cotter during the fourth round and he has become a consistent contributor for the club over the past two seasons. Cotter’s debut came in time to have a Young Guns card in 2021-22 Upper Deck NHL Extended and there are plenty of other options to consider from that season. While he was not on active duty during the playoffs in 2023, he played enough regular season games to have his name carved into Lord Stanley’s Mug.

The 2019 NHL Draft saw the Golden Knights add two players, which are seeing more action as of late in defenseman Kaedan Korczak and winger Pavel Dorofeyev. Both have spent time developing with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, and were regulars at the NHL level in 2023-24. While both players made their NHL debut in 2021-22, only Dorofeyev’s rookie cards are from that season since Korczak arrived later in the season and his first NHL card was saved for 2022-23.

However, the first pick by the Golden Knights in 2019 played a pivotal part in one of the most significant trades in franchise history. Peyton Krebs had been the 17^th overall pick and was allowed to slowly develop into an NHL talent before being sent to the Buffalo Sabres® as part of a package with Alex Tuch for Jack Eichel. Krebs does have rookie cards with Vegas that were released throughout 2020-21, but he ultimately only played 13 games with the team before being traded away.

The most recent Golden Knights picks to debut with the team are 2020 draftees Brendan Brisson and Lukas Cormier. While both of these players will not see their official NHL rookie cards until Upper Deck’s 2024-25 collections start hitting shelves, they do have some great cards on the market already. Brisson was a part of 2022-23 Upper Deck AHL while Cormier has been a part of many AHL, CHL, and Team Canada products since 2019-20.

The Golden Knights will be selecting 19^th overall, and they are certain to celebrate the arrival of a new prospect in person. Will this player become a franchise fixture? Based on tradition, there is no clear answer – but hopes are high as the team continues on a seemingly relentless mission to win.