How Trevor Connelly can help the Golden Knights' power play unit
The Vegas Golden Knights got the worst news possible on Thursday. Head coach Ryan Craig told the media that winger Victor Olofsson was out on a week-to-week basis after taking a nasty cross-check from Seattle Kraken forward Ben Meyers on Tuesday.
That meant that somebody had to step up in his absence. Raphael Lavoie was inserted into the lineup and took his third-line slot. But what about the power play? What about the unit that desperately needed a proficient shooter? Enter Trevor Connelly.
The rookie winger has impressed with his swagger and confidence. When you look at last season's resume with the Henderson Silver Knights, he scored 14 goals and 35 assists. Fans know he's excellent on the playmaking front. But he can also score goals.
The spotlight will be on the native of Tustin, California, since he'll be on the top power play unit. The game plan is much simpler than initially thought, too. It involves relying on your strengths and the system put in place.
Continue to be his aggressive self with the puck
Trevor Connelly has six shots on goal entering Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He hasn't shied away from putting pucks on net, making him a solid offensive contributor. That's good news for a Golden Knights team that will miss Olofsson for some time.
He's also one of the smartest rookies with the puck, knowing when to shoot and set up a scoring chance. That acumen will come into play as teams look to take away Tomas Hertl in the bumper.
So why not stick to his strengths and fire the puck? The Golden Knights need someone who can take on being the aggressor. Connelly has shown that he's capable of taking on the role, whether it's with the Golden Knights or with Henderson.
Don't be afraid to lean on your veteran teammates
The good thing about Connelly being on the first power play unit is that veterans surround him. As mentioned, he has Hertl in the bumper and can rely on Eichel to set up quality scoring chances. Mitch Marner and Mark Stone can also give him a boost when called upon, making life much easier for the rookie.
Just look at the numbers. If you want a deflection or a rebound, Hertl can feast on these. He scored 14 power play goals in 2024-25, the single-season record for Vegas at the time. Eichel, Stone, and Marner combined for 64 power play assists last season, adding more juice to the man advantage.
Connelly can't be afraid to rely on his veteran teammates to set up plays. It doesn't hurt to defer to those who've been in the game longer, especially when you're going up against tougher penalty kills.
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