After reaching the Stanley Cup Final, the bottom of the Golden Knights roster got a bit of a makeover. Veterans Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Cole Smith, Colton Sissons, and Keegan Kolesar all left the organization while leading goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev was shipped off in a trade. That’s left several openings in the everyday roster that new head coach Ryan Craig is looking to fill.
On the first on-ice day of Training Camp, Craig rolled out a new look bottom-six, including one decision that could be viewed as somewhat of a surprise. 2024 1st round pick, 20-year-old Trevor Connelly, was placed alongside Tomas Hertl and Victor Olofsson on what is slated to be the VGK 3rd line.
Trevor gets the first kind of crack at that spot and we’ll see where it goes. -Ryan Craig
It’s an early indication that he is not only in the running to make the team directly out of Training Camp, but he may be a frontrunner.
We wanted to put him with two veteran guys to start today. We may move him around. He may get a chance in a game with those guys. We don’t know exactly yet, but we wanted to take a look at it. We talked about the urgency of our camp. We have to get a look at certain things. -Craig
Connelly was placed on his natural left wing, which flips left-shot Olofsson onto the right, where he played about 25% of his games with VGK in 2024-25. With Connelly’s playmaking ability, Olofsson’s shot, and Hertl’s net front presence, the line makes a lot of sense as an offense-focused 3rd line.
I think (Connelly’s) ceiling is tremendously high. It’s going to be a matter of what the timing is. Does he kick the door down and be part of it immediately? Does it take a little more time? Those are the things that we’ll watch play out. -Kelly McCrimmon
Vegas’ first preseason game is tomorrow against the LA Kings at their AHL rink in Ontario, CA. Craig would not commit to whether Connelly, Hertl, and Olofsson would play in that game, but his recurring emphasis on urgency suggest they could be in the lineup for the preseason opener.
It’s an incredible experience playing with Hertl and Olofsson. Being my first camp, having those guys talking to me between drills helps a lot, and so credit to them. They were awesome with me today, and I had a lot of fun. -Trevor Connelly
With camp eight days shorter than previous years, cuts will occur quickly, and new lines will be rolled out consistently over the next week. Connelly is getting the first shot at what is the most coveted open spot on the VGK roster heading toward Opening Night. The door is open; now, it’s up to Connelly to kick it down.
vgk21
they will need at least 15 goals and lots of assists by Connelly
at least 20 goals or more and PP production from Olofsson
and more than 30 goals and PP production from Hertl
Knights fan in minny
That’s for sure
larry
Thats a lot of production be be asked for out of a 3rd line…might as well aim high rather than the alternative I guess….personally Im not sold on Oloffson being in that spot….Im hoping he is supplanted by one of the HSK players sooner than later.
Pistol Pete
I agree Olofsson could be the weak link.
It’s my understanding iat practice (I was not there) it was:
Bowman-Dowd-Gatcomb
This is all potentially in flux depending on if Connelly works out. Bowman could end up RW on the Hertl line depending on how Connelly and Olofsson pan out. Olofsson is actually a LW. In any case I like the depth here even if Connelly is not ready quite yet. If Connelly works this could be really good. I really get that McCrimmon and Craig are bullish on him. I already knew McCrimmon was based on an email response from him a few months ago.
Pistol Pete
Should have checked Ken’s X update first. Yes it was Bowman-Dowd-Gatcomb:
Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Howden-Karlsson-Marner
Connelly-Hertl-Olofsson
Bowman-Dowd-Gatcomb
McNabb-Theodore
Wotherspoon-Andersson
Lauzon-Hanifin
Hart
Hill
Pistol Pete
Whether Connelly makes the roster or not we are in dire need of an offensive rebirth from Olofsson whose numbers last year were way down from his career .54 pts/game and excellent 22G/82 games.
If Connelly makes the Hertl line it may not take much to replace Olofsson with Bowman at RW in which case one would have to wonder how much sense it would make to put the undersized Olofsson who is not known for his fore or back check on the normally heavy defensive-oriented fourth line. We just have to hope if Connelly makes the Hertl line that Olofsson can get set up to shoot. I am a bit skeptical.
“Lack of Physicality & Intensity:
A strong forecheck requires high-energy pacing, physical engagement along the boards, and a willingness to win puck battles. Olofsson has historically lacked the physical edge, size, and aggressive motor needed to consistently disrupt opposing defensemen deep in their own zone.”
“Defensive and 200-Foot Deficiencies: He has frequently been identified as a 5-on-5 liability whose back-checking and overall defensive detail have historically kept him in limited depth roles or on the bench during critical defensive situations.”
“Elite “One-Timer” Specialist: Rather than creating offense through hard-nosed forechecking, Olofsson is an elite catch-and-shoot weapon. His value comes almost entirely from his heavy, highly accurate shot—especially his power-play utility in the right circle.”
Contrast the above with Bowman who has the makings for being strong in all the areas Olofsson is not.
If Olofsson does not make the Hertl line he is probably off the roster as the heavy defensive-oriented Dowd line would not be the place for him.
Emmanuel
Id hesitate to ice em on the road, opposingbteams will stack their top line against them.