The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired prospect Keegan Kolesar from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the 45th overall selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, which the Jackets used to select French forward Alexandre Texier.
Vegas is trading No. 45 to Columbus for prospect Keegan Kolesar.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 24, 2017
Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Keegan Kolesar for Draft Pick
Kolesar was the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. A winger with a big 6 foot 2, 223-pound frame, Kolesar is a gritty two-way winger. In his four-year career as a Seattle Thunderbird, the native of Brandon, Manitoba registered 338 PIM in 243 games.
This past season, as a 20-year-old, Kolesar recorded 26 goals and 60 points in 54 games before tearing it up in the WHL postseason. In 19 games, Kolesar scored 12 and a whopping 31 points, helping the Thunderbirds to reach the Memorial Cup. He struggled in the three games Seattle played, however, only scoring a lone goal.
The Vegas Golden Knights continue to build up their prospect pool with the acquisition of Kolesar. After making four selections in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft prior to trading the 45th pick, Vegas was looking to acquire a professional ready prospect. Columbus came looking to trade up, obviously to select Alexandre Texier, and Vegas was willing to deal.
Kolesar is already under contract for the next three seasons on his entry level deal. Signed after the draft in 2015, his contract slid twice with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kolesar is eligible to play in the American Hockey League in 2017-18 with Vegas’ affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. That is his most likely destination, but depending on how many moves the Golden Knights make, he could push for bottom six minutes as a call-up.
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