4 Golden Knights Prospects Headed to World Juniors 2023

The Vegas Golden Knights will have four prospects in action at the 2023 World Junior Championship in Halifax and Moncton. They are Zach Dean, Matyas Sapovaliv, Jakub Brabenec, and Carl Lindbom. The tournament will begin, as usual (minus last year's COVID mess), on Canadian Boxing Day, December 26, 2022. 

In the 2022 World Junior Championships, which were played in the summer due to COVID-19, four Golden Knights participated in the tournament: Sapovaliv, Lindbom, Jakub Demek, and Lukas Cormier, who won Gold with Team Canada.

Five members of the current Golden Knight's roster have won Gold at the World Juniors; Jack Eichel, Brett Howden, William Karlsson, Alex Pietrangelo, and Shea Theodore.

Here's a quick overview of what to expect from each VGK prospect at the tournament.

Zach Dean- Canada

A 2021 first-round pick Zach Dean 19-year-old forward Zach Dean made Team Canada this season after only being on the team's extended roster last season. His development was been a little shaky, given some injury troubles as he was hurt in development camp this summer.

But this season with Gatineau of the QMJHL, Dean has scored 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 27 games. Given the full-of-talent roster Team Canada already has, look for Dean to be a solid bottom-six forward at the WJC.

Matyas Sapovaliv- Czechia

Matyas Sapovaliv is one of two Golden Knights prospects who will be playing for Team Czechia. Sapovaliv was the Golden Knight's first pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, coming in at no. 48 overall in the second round.

He's a defensive-minded center who will be a big part of matching up against other teams' top stars. This season with the Saginaw Spirit, he has 11 goals, 19 assists, and 30 points in 30 games.

Jakub Brabenec- Czechia

A much more offensive-minded player, 2021 fourth-round pick Jakub Brabenec will also play for Team Czechia. The 19-year-old just signed his entry-level contract with the Golden Knights. 

A speedy winger, Brabenec will be looked at as a top offensive contributor for Czechia. He can pass and skate well and will likely be a key member of Team Czechia's powerplay. 

This season with the Charlottetown Islanders, he has eight goals, 17 assists, and 25 points in 28 games played.

Carl Lindbom- Sweden

Lastly, 2021 Golden Knights seventh-round pick Carl Lindbom is the expected starting goaltender for Team Sweden over Ian Blomquist and Marcus Brännman. Sweden has always had a good track record when it comes to developing goaltenders, as they have given the NHL the likes of Henrik Lundqvist, Jacob Markstrom, and the Golden Knight's own Robin Lehner.

Playing in Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan league this season, Lindbom has a .935 save percentage and a 1.78 goals-against average.

Consensus 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard, Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken, Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, Brandt Clarke of the Los Angeles Kings, and Dylan Guenther of the Arizona Coyotes are top names playing in this tournament.

The first game of the tournament will be between Finland and Switzerland on 12/26 at 8:00 p.m. Lindbom and Team Sweden take on Austria at 10:30 a.m., and the final Golden Knights prospects will play in Team Canada's game against Team Czechia at 12:30 p.m. Games can be watched on NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada.