Trevor Connelly appears to be on the brink of his first NHL game after the Vegas Golden Knights placed five players on waivers Sunday, a move that reduced the opening-night picture to 22 players and cleared a path toward the 20-year-old forward making the roster.
Connelly, a first-round pick in 2024, has had a strong preseason and gave the organization another reason to keep him around. He missed the past two years because of injuries, so this training camp has been a significant step for him just to get back into a position to compete for an NHL job. If he does make the team, it would be a notable milestone after a long layoff.
Why Connelly is pushing for a roster spot
Connelly has looked more and more comfortable as camp has gone on. He said Friday that he was having fun and called the experience a dream come true, and he backed that up Saturday by skating on the second power-play unit against San Jose. He also had seven shots in three preseason games, which helped show the offensive upside that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place.
“Try not to do too much or too little. Just going out there and playing the game I love,” Connelly said, explaining the approach that has helped him stay steady through camp.
Ryan Craig said Sunday that Connelly is “checking boxes for the first time,” a clear sign that the Golden Knights see real progress from a player who has been working his way back after missing so much time. Craig also said the day off Sunday should help him, as it does the rest of the team.
The roster picture in Vegas
The five players placed on waivers were Jonas Røndbjerg, Alexander Holtz, Tanner Laczynski, Ville Heinola and Antti Tuomisto. Those moves left the Golden Knights at 22 players for opening night, but the final roster was not fully locked before Monday’s practice. That means there is still some room for movement, including at the 13th forward spot.
Raphael Lavoie had been projected as that extra forward if nothing changed. He had a busy 2024 with the Golden Knights, was claimed by the team, placed on waivers, claimed by Edmonton two days later and then re-claimed by Vegas two days after that. Lavoie also scored against Los Angeles in a preseason game on Sept. 19 before leaving with an undisclosed injury.
The five players are scheduled to clear waivers at 11 a.m. Monday if they go unclaimed, and the Golden Knights are then expected to submit their final roster. Even so, Monday’s practice could still influence the last decision, including whether Connelly is part of the opening-night group.
What comes next
The Golden Knights open the season Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena in a 7:30 p.m. start. If Connelly is included, it would mark the next step in a story that has already gone from injury recovery to a legitimate NHL opportunity.
For a player who has spent two years trying to get back on the ice and into the lineup, that is exactly the kind of opening-night development that can change the tone of a season.
