Vegas Golden Knights sign prospect Jakub Demek to entry-level contract

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed right winger Jakub Demek to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The 20-year-old is about to kick off his first professional hockey season with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. In two WHL seasons between Edmonton and Kamloops, Demek had 65 points in 70 games, highlighted by a 54-point campaign with the Oil Kings in 2021-22.

Demek was limited to just 15 regular season games due to injuries last year, but had a solid 11 points in 14 postseason contests.

Internationally, Demek represented Slovakia at the 2022 world juniors, registering one assist in four games during the summer tournament.

Demek had three points at the 2023 Memorial Cup with Kamloops, recording three points in a 10-2 win over Peterborough. Demek is a 6-foot-4, 203-pound winger that likes to use his size to his advantage. He skates well and plays a reliable two-way game, but his offensive game is still a work in progress. If he makes the NHL, Demek will be more of a bottom-six forward that can bring physicality and solid defensive acumen to the lineup.

The Golden Knights are $4.9 million over the cap as they stand, but will be $76,683 under with Robin Lehner getting put on long-term injured reserve, according to CapFriendly. Vegas aren’t expected to have any players on ELCs play on a full-time basis, but Brendan Brisson is one of the top prospects in the system. Winger Pavel Dorofeyev