Trevor Connelly has already done enough this season to make a bigger role feel less like a gamble and more like a natural next step for the Vegas Golden Knights.
The rookie has put up seven goals and five assists, and that total has him tied with James Hagens of the Boston Bruins for the most points by an NHL rookie this season with 12, entering Friday’s slate of games. He’s shown he can handle the spotlight, score goals, and keep producing in a way that suggests Vegas has another young piece it believes can grow into something even bigger.
That’s why the idea of giving him a look on the top line makes sense. If Brett Howden keeps struggling the way he has over the past two weeks - one goal in his last eight games - the Golden Knights have every reason to consider moving Connelly up with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.
The fit is easy to see. Eichel and Connelly together would give Vegas a line built on speed, rush chances, and pressure at the net. Stone could feed Connelly with a stretch pass, and the rookie has the kind of game that can turn that into a clean look before defenses can recover.
There’s also a balance to it. Eichel and Stone are at their best when they’re creating and finding openings, while Connelly brings the kind of aggressive edge that can lighten the load on both stars. He’s willing to crash the net and go right at the goalie, and he doesn’t need much space to make something happen.
That’s part of what makes him such an intriguing piece for Vegas. He can slide into different spots and still matter. Before Thursday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, he was lined up with Tomas Hertl and a returning Victor Olofsson on the third line, giving that group scoring versatility whether the play developed in the bumper or at the point.
The same kind of versatility could work on the top unit, too. Stone has been shooting more and leads the Golden Knights in goals with 10, while Eichel has also taken on more finishing responsibility with seven goals this season. Connelly, for his part, has already shown he can handle the responsibility without any problems.