Just when you thought the Golden Knights were finished, George McPhee went out and acquired a seventh-round selection in this year’s NHL Entry Draft.
McPhee shipped a 2019 seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Pittsburgh’s seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.
With that pick (No. 208), Vegas selected goaltender Jordan Kooy of the London Knights (OHL).
Kooy, 18, was ranked as the No. 15 goalie among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting. He posted a 3.11 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in 24 games with the London Knights last season.
Standing at 6-foot-1 and 184 pounds, Kooy has average height and size for a goalie. However, he still has plenty of time to fill out and develop more in junior hockey. The Bradford, Ontario native has been the London Knights’ backup for two seasons now, although he does seem poised to take over the starting role next year.
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It will be interesting to see how he handles a starter’s work load, but based on how he’s fared thus far in the OHL, he should do quite well. Kooy has also had great mentors sitting behind touted goalie prospects like Tyler Parsons and Joseph Raaymakers.
It’s always tough to project goalie prospects, especially since they often require more time for development. But if Kooy can continue to improve and develop his game to the level people envision, he could eventually become an NHL-level goalie.
The fact that he already plays for a team called the Knights doesn’t hurt, either.