When Daily Faceoff’s lineup projections for the Vegas Golden Knights surfaced, one name stood out for more than just curiosity. Marc Gatcomb being in the mix was eyebrow-raising on its own, but the bigger takeaway was Trevor Connelly finally cracking the projected lineup.
The first-round pick is slated to skate on a line with Tomas Hertl and Victor Olofsson, a spot that would give the 20-year-old plenty of proven finishing talent around him. If that combination clicks, Vegas could be looking at a dangerous scoring trio right out of the gate.
Connelly also looked the part at Thursday’s practice. Working in a drill alongside Hertl and Olofsson, he carried the puck with confidence before choosing to fire rather than dish, beating Adin Hill with the shot. That kind of play fits what the Golden Knights need from him: speed, skill and the willingness to attack off the rush.
He also makes sense for a roster that leans old by NHL standards. Vegas is entering the 2026-27 season with an average age of 30, tied for third in the league, which opens the door for younger players like Connelly to grow into bigger roles.
The help around him matters too. Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin and William Karlsson are among the veterans who can help guide him, while the team also needs younger forwards such as Braeden Bowman to help fill the pipeline as older pieces move on.
And Connelly has already shown he can produce. Last season with the Henderson Silver Knights, he posted 14 goals and 35 assists. His track record goes back well before that, including 87 goals and 50 assists with the San Diego Saints 14U AA 1 team in 2019-20, plus 55 goals and 70 assists across two seasons with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.
For Vegas, that resume makes the case pretty cleanly: Connelly has the skill, the upside and the scoring touch to belong in the lineup.
In Other News...
Adin Hill Just Made One Golden Knights Concern Much Harder To Ignore
The Golden Knights opened their first home preseason game with a 5-4 overtime comeback against the Utah Mammoth, a result that at least let them leave the night with some momentum. But the more revealing part of the evening may have been in net, where Adin Hills performance fell well short of what Vegas needs from someone expected to be in the mix behind Carter Hart.
Hill already has a contract extension in hand, and the organization is counting on him to compete for playing time after Hart led the club to the Stanley Cup Final last season. If Vegas is going to feel comfortable with its goaltending depth, though, nights like this only make the question harder to brush aside, because the concern is no longer just about form in one exhibition game but about how dependable Hill can be when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Suddenly Have A Trade Target Fans Will Watch Closely
Elliotte Friedmans latest 32 Thoughts podcast put Kirill Marchenko squarely on the radar for a few teams, and the Golden Knights are among the clubs reportedly linked to the Columbus Blue Jackets winger. The timing makes sense from Vegas perspective, too, with Marchenko in the final year of his contract and carrying the kind of offensive profile that tends to draw attention when teams start looking for help.
The competition could make things interesting, since Boston, Montreal, the Islanders, Seattle and Winnipeg were also mentioned as interested parties. For the Golden Knights, the appeal is obvious: Marchenko is a 26-year-old winger who could fit into a contending roster, but whether Vegas can separate itself from the rest of the market is the part worth watching next. [Read more 🡒]
Three Golden Knights Still Have Something To Prove Before Final Cuts
With one preseason game left before the regular season starts, the Golden Knights are right on the edge of their final roster decisions. Cuts are expected to trim the group to 23 players, and the last tune-up now looms especially large for a handful of skaters who have already spent the exhibition slate under the microscope.
Adin Hill, Alexander Holtz and Rasmus Andersson have all been singled out as players with work still to do before the final call is made. Their preseason showings have put them in a spot where the closing game matters, and the pressure is no longer just about getting through camp, but about making sure the coaching staff has seen enough to keep them around. [Read more 🡒]