The Vegas Golden Knights have signed forward prospect Ben Hemmerling to a three-year, entry-level contract, per a team release. A natural right-winger, Hemmerling will remain on loan to the WHL’s Everett Silvertips for the remainder of the season, meaning the contract will likely slide to 2024-25. His deal would then break down as follows, per PuckPedia:
2023-24: $70K signing bonus
2024-25: $775K NHL salary, $82.5K minors salary,
2025-26: $775K NHL salary, $82.5K minors salary, $67.5K signing bonus
2026-27: $775K NHL salary, $82.5K minors salary
Hemmerling, 19, was selected by the Golden Knights in the sixth round of the 2022 draft. Some had viewed him as a potential selection as early as the third round, considering his good offensive production with Everett during the prior season. Elite Prospects was not optimistic about his NHL future in a 2022 scouting report, though, calling him a skilled but “inefficient” playmaker prone to costly turnovers. However, they did praise his physical game and his “proactive” defending style away from the puck.
Since then, Hemmerling’s stock hasn’t seen a meteoric rise, but it does appear he’s on his way to a pro career. Serving as a member of the Silvertips’ leadership team beginning in 2022-23, Hemmerling has notched over a point per game in junior play since his draft day and saw preseason action with the Golden Knights in September. After beginning this season with seven goals, 18 assists, and 25 points in 24 games for the Silvertips, an entry-level contract comes to avoid Hemmerling re-entering the draft next summer.
He will be a restricted free agent when his entry-level deal expires in 2027. Expect him to spend at least one season with the Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate in Henderson before looking at a potential NHL call-up.
Wasn’t this guy a utility player with the Angels in “Angels in the Outfield”?