The Vegas Golden Knights selected center Ben Wilmott at No. 92 and defenseman Sean Burick at No. 95 in the third round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft Saturday morning in Buffalo.
They were the first picks made by Vegas on the second day of the draft after the organization was forced to forfeit its second-round pick as a result of violating the NHL’s media policy during their recent Stanley Cup playoff run.
The Golden Knights completed three trades on Day 1 of the draft, sending Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers in exchange for the No. 26 pick, the No. 92 pick and a 2028 top-10 protected first. The Golden Knights then traded back in the first round twice, ultimately acquiring No. 29 (which they used to draft defenseman Juho Piiparinen), a 2027 third and a 2026 fourth-round pick No. 117.
The Golden Knights drafted Wilmott with the No. 92 overall selection and then used their own third-round pick (No. 95) to take Burick.
No. 92 — Ben Wilmott, C, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Wilmott was ranked 71st on the NHL Central Scouting’s list of North American skaters.
Wilmott split his time last season between the London Knights and Barrie Colts of the OHL, recording 12 goals and 34 points in 37 games with London as well as 15 goals and 32 points in 27 games with Barrie. He added 11 goals and 22 points in 20 playoff games in Barrie’s postseason run.
The 6-foot-1, 191-pound center went undrafted in each of the last two years, but the 19-year-old (who will be 20 in August) from New Jersey finally heard his name called late in the third round on Saturday.
“It’s unbelievable,” Wilmott said. “It’s a dream come true. As a little kid growing up playing the sport you love, it’s what you dream about. I’m just so grateful to be here and do this with my family. It’s an unreal experience.”
Wilmott was very enthusiastic about being drafted by Vegas and admires the “winning culture” Vegas has established.
“It’s such a great feeling,” he said. “Such a great organization. I can’t put into words how I’m feeling right now. It’s unreal.”
His work ethic is evident, and he said he’s determined to do “whatever it takes to win, whatever it takes to get the W every single night. Go in, have fun and enjoy the game and just compete and work every single day.”
He brings strength and physicality and is a strong passer and playmaker. He’s competitive, effective on the rush and has great offensive instincts. He was especially impressive during Barrie’s playoff run, which ended in a sweep in the championship against the Kitchener Rangers.
He finished the OHL playoffs fifth in goals (11) and tied for eighth in points (22) with 10 power-play points.
Wilmott believes his superb play in the OHL playoffs helped make this moment possible.
“The best time of the year is playoff hockey, and that’s where I like to have the most fun, and it’s the most meaningful games,” he said. “I just go out there and play the game I love and do whatever it takes to win, and I think it did help me a lot.”
Wilmott thrives in front of the crease and has excellent instincts around the net.
He also isn’t afraid to drive to the net, and he has a powerful and accurate shot.
He also has a solid one-timer and is adept at finding open ice to put himself in a position to produce.
Having said that, Wilmott describes himself as a “play-driving two-way forward who likes to make a lot of plays and be really good in the defensive zone and super reliable all around the ice.”
His passing was on full display in the OHL playoffs, particularly on this saucer feed to set up linemate Emil Hemming in the championship round.
Wilmott’s play away from the puck needs improvement, and he needs to work on his foot speed. However, there’s a lot to like about his game.
Scouts expect him to be a middle-six or bottom-six forward who delivers an all-around game and can contribute offensively. His physicality, competitive nature and physicality are assets, and he will continue to develop as a commit to Ohio State in 2026-27.
Elite Prospects highlighted his net-front play:
Wilmott doesn’t lose battles. He’s a machine around the net, constantly creating space for himself by shoving opponents out of the way and spinning off check tie-ups for deflections and rebounds.
The Hockey News had this to say about Wilmott’s game:
Wilmott can create offense in multiple ways. His passing was on full display in the OHL Finals against Kitchener with a great saucer pass to Emil Hemming to create a goal on the rush. But then, he can set himself up to be in position to finish.
Interest in Wilmott does go beyond the offensive ability he’s shown. He’s a late bloomer which shows the continuous willingness to improve even when teams have passed him by before. He’s very competitive and has a physical presence to him that can translate to the next level. His versatility will also be attractive to teams as he can play in all important situations including key faceoffs and both special teams units. As with anyone at this stage, he needs to add speed to his game. He also needs to put in the work away from the puck. He’ll have every opportunity to do that against better competition in the Big-10.
It’s not always the easiest thing to do to be drafted as an overage player. Strong, versatile centers are valuable in the later rounds. Wilmott has done plenty this season and has put himself on the map to hear his name called in Buffalo.
No. 95 — Sean Burick, D, Penticton Vees (WHL)
Three picks later, the Golden Knights drafted Burick, a 6-foot-8, 209-pound monster defenseman who is extremely physical, frequently drops the mitts and was a finalist for the for Daryl K. Seaman Memorial Trophy, which is annually awarded to the WHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year.
Burick tallied four assists and a plus-25 rating in 50 games with the Penticton Vees of the WHL, adding two assists in 12 playoff games. His offensive upside may not be a selling point, but the defensive defenseman appears to move well, particularly for a player of his size.
In fact, Elite Prospects focused on his movement in its scouting profile:
Burick is a mobile backwards defender with immense reach. Unlike other towering defenders, he’s not relying on his reach solely; instead, he uses his feet to take the middle and force opponents across, showing the rush defence skills of much smaller defencemen.
Burick’s overall physicality is a key part of his game.
He was ranked 126th overall on NHL Central Scouting’s list of North American skaters. Burick will play next season in the WHL but is committed to the University of Denver for 2027-28.
Photos courtesy of @GoldenKnights (left) and @PentictonVees (right) on X