The Vegas Golden Knights have signed defenceman Connor Corcoran. The deal is for three years and will take Corcoran through the 2022-23 season. The NHL is taking steps to return, which means the lower levels might as well. The team announced the news earlier Monday morning.
✍️ We have signed defenseman Connor Corcoran to a 3-year entry-level contract!!! #VegasBorn 😃
Corcoran was a VGK 5th round pick in 2018 and led the Windsor Spitfires in scoring by a defenseman with 54 points (19G, 35A) this season! 👍https://t.co/K1oiCZtrJX
— 🏆 – Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 1, 2020
Golden Knights Sign Connor Corcoran
Corcoran spent 2019-20 with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. He had a very good year for a defender with 19 goals and 54 points in 62 games. That is a significant increase over 2018-19’s 10 goals and 32 points in 68 games. The 20-year-old probably benefited from being older than chunks of his competition but it’s still great production from the blueline. Corcoran ends his junior career with 37 goals and 120 points in 252 career games. He also had three goals and six points in 12 career playoff games.
The Golden Knights originally selected Corcoran in the fifth round of the 2018 Draft. His stats reflect an immense improvement in his ability to play both offence and defence with energy. Corcoran was able to cover rushes more effectively and operated the team’s power play. He has NHL size at 6’2″, 185 pounds so some additional development will put him in a position to fight for a roster spot in the next several years.
What This Means for the Future
Corcoran will spend the next year or two with Vegas’ new AHL affiliate in Henderson, Nevada. Vegas’ blueline is one of the strongest in the league but Corcoran will battle prospects like Dylan Coghlan and Kaedan Korczak for roster spots over the next three years.
The Golden Knights still have several decisions to make regarding current NHL players. Defender Jon Merrill needs a new deal and the team still has to determine how much to pay impending free agents like Nick Cousins and Chandler Stephenson. Expect more moves like this as Vegas adjusts its roster going into an uncertain 2020-21.
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