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Golden Knights Prospect Report: Erik Brannstrom getting comfortable in SHL

It’s time for another installment of the Golden Knights Prospect Report! Let’s see how the baby Knights are doing with their respective clubs.

Notable CHL Prospects

Cody Glass: C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Drafted: First round, No. 6 overall, 2017
Last Week: 4 GP | 5 G | 7 A | 12 P | +7

Glass had himself a whale of a week. In just four games, the 18-year-old forward scored five goals and registered seven helpers, guiding his team to a 3-0-0-1 record. Glass hit somewhat of a dry spell in mid-February, but he’s clearly rebounded from it in a big way.

Nick Suzuki: C, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Drafted: First round, No. 13 overall, 2017
Last Week: 3 GP | 1 G | 2 A | 3 P | +3

It was somewhat of a quiet week by Suzuki’s standards, but he still ranks fourth in the OHL with 89 points through 58 games. With six games left in Owen Sound’s regular season, it wouldn’t be surprising if Suzuki catches fire and ends the year with 100-plus points for the first time in his junior career.

Nicolas Hague: D, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Drafted: Second round, No. 34 overall, 2017
Last Week: 3 GP | 3 G | 2 A | 5 P | +2

Another week, another batch of solid performances by the 19-year-old. The 6-foot-5, 216-pound blueliner ranks second out of all OHL defensemen with a very nice total of 69 points through 61 games and leads all OHL defenders with a whopping 32 goals.

Jake Leschyshyn: C, Regina Pats (WHL)
Drafted: Second round, No. 62 overall, 2017
Last Week: 2 GP | 3 G | 0 A | 3 P | Even

Leschyshyn only played in two games last week, but he made his presence felt with three goals. The 18-year-old hasn’t had the season he was likely hoping for, but that may be partially a result of the ACL injury he suffered last season.

Ben Jones: C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Drafted: Seventh round, No. 189 overall, 2017
Last Week: 3 GP | 2 G | 1 A | 3 P | +1

Not bad production for a guy drafted in the seventh round. Jones averages over a point per game this season (68 points through 62 games) and ranks third on his team with 46 assists.

Notable International Prospects

Erik Brannstom: D, HV71 (SHL)
Drafted: First round, No. 15 overall, 2017
Last Week: 3 GP | 2 G | 2 A | 4 P | +3

What a stretch it’s been for Brannstrom. The 18-year-old has registered a point in six of his last seven games and continues to improve against top-level competition. This is exactly the type of production the Golden Knights were likely hoping to see from the 15th overall pick.

Jonas Rondbjerg: W, Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)
Drafted: Third round, No. 65 overall, 2017
Last Week: 0 GP

Rondbjerg didn’t play in any games last week, but it’s hard not to be impressed with what the Danish winger has accomplished through 35 games in the SHL. Six goals and 11 points is nothing to sneeze at for an 18-year-old.

Notable USHL Prospects

Maxim Zhukov: G, Green Bay Gamblers
Drafted: Fourth round, No. 96 overall, 2017
Last Week: 2 GP | 1-1 record

It wasn’t the best week for Zhukov, but he finished strong with a solid 24-save performance against the Madison Capitols. The Golden Knights’ fourth-round draft selection now has a .913 S% with a 2.34 GAA on the season.

Jiri Patera: G, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
Drafted: Sixth round, No. 161 overall, 2017
Last Week: 1 GP | 0-0 record

Patera took over the goal crease after Cedar Rapids’ starter allowed four goals in 28 minutes. Patera went on to stop 19 of 20 shots, but the RoughRiders still lost by a score of 5-1.

Notable AHL Prospects

Reid Duke: C
Drafted: Sixth round, No. 169 overall, 2014
Last Week: 1 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 P | -1

Duke finally made his season debut for the Wolves last week. While he didn’t play his best game, it’s certainly good to see the 22-year-old on the ice again after suffering an injury in training camp.

Keegan Kolesar: RW
Drafted: Third round, No. 69 overall, 2015
Last Week: 3 GP | 1 G | 2 A | 3 P | +2

After a largely uneventful start to the season and a stint with ECHL’s Quad City Mallards, Kolesar has really turned it on as of late. He now has three goals and six points through 25 games, and his most recent goal was a beauty.

Tyler Wong: RW
Undrafted
Last Week: 2 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 P | -1

Not the best week for Wong. The 22-year-old has managed just three goals and seven points on the season. Maybe he can channel some of the magic we saw from him during training camp to finish the season strong?