With the 19th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Vegas Golden Knights select...
...Trevor Connelly, a winger from the Tri-City Storm. The prospect is sure to draw up some controversy for his past. Some fans aren't on board with his previous antics, where he had xenophobic tendencies.
While the young winger has visited Holocaust museums and taken diversity training, his true progress will be tracked with the Golden Knights. Has he learned from his past mistakes and developed into a better person? Will he become a key player or yet another former first-round draft pick sent away for a bona fide star?
These are questions that'll be answered down the road. But for now, the Vegas Golden Knights have themselves a goal scorer who also doubles as a playmaker. It's desperately needed for an organization largely void of top-end scoring talent. If Trevor Connelly becomes a home run, he can break Vegas's contention window wide open.
But let's look at the overall history of their draft picks. Heading into Friday's draft, which position did they favor the most? Which one did they pick the least? Diving into Vegas's NHL Draft history will reveal plenty of interesting nuggets. Here's who was picked the most by the team heading into this year's draft.
The Vegas Golden Knights have favored centers the most in the NHL Draft
There's no denying the Vegas Golden Knights love having great centers on their team. It doesn't matter if it's Jack Eichel or Tomas Hertl, the team always finds a way to acquire key offensive pieces. Of course, these are by trades, yet it still drives home the point. The Golden Knights love picking centers in the NHL Draft.
How much? They've picked 23 centers in their seven-year history. That includes names like Nick Suzuki (first-round pick in 2017, 13th overall) and Brendan Brisson (first-round pick in 2020, 29th overall). Paul Cotter has also been picked by Vegas, where he's grown into a key lower-line player.
In second place are defensemen with 14 picks. Nicolas Hague and Kaedan Korczak are notable names selected by the franchise. Surprisingly, goaltenders ranked third with seven picks. That includes Jiri Patera and Carl Lindbom. Surprisingly, wingers are the least favored position, with only six selected entering this year's draft (four left wing players and two right wing players).
But Trevor Connelly, a winger, is set to change the position's draft reputation within the Vegas Golden Knights. He brings a lot of promise and skill to his new team, carrying offensive weapons that can win Stanley Cups. Of course, it depends on if he can change for the better. Kelly McCrimmon is hoping that's the case, which would lead to another Stanley Cup.