You know, I was going to post a pic of Jack Eichel smiling like he was going back to school. It was a wholesome pic of the Vegas Golden Knights forward, as he looked like he was happy to get out of Buffalo. I can only imagine how Connor Hellebuyck feels right now with the Winnipeg Jets.
Alright, I'm going to show it anyway. Prepare to have your day brightened up by a happy Jack Eichel.
Look at how happy he looks! Now that's a guy who looks like he works great from home. It's no wonder he won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights.
Anyway, Thursday marked the first day of the Golden Knights' training camp. It actually felt like the first day of school, where the players returned to the ice to prepare for the upcoming season. Names like Eichel and Mitch Marner graced the fans' presence with their greatness. But they weren't the only names that stepped onto the ice.
The Golden Knights had 66 players vying for a roster spot on Thursday, getting their kicks in before Saturday's exhibition game against the Los Angeles Kings. Think of names like Juho Piiparinen trying to earn a roster spot—or at least some experience. Most players won't make the main roster this season, whether it's with a European team or in the minor leagues.
With that, let's dive into the superlatives and see what happened during the first day. Who stood out the most for the Golden Knights? What happened that made for some memorable moments on Thursday? It's time to see what went down on the best day of the year (aside from Opening Knight, of course).
Here are some noteworthy things that went down during the first day of the Vegas Golden Knights training camp
First, there was a nice lil' collision between Jonas Rondbjerg and Ivan Barbashev in the second session. Golden Knights fans held their collective breaths as the two players got up, shook it off, and had a good laugh about it. No harm, no foul, as the saying goes.
Barbashev and Rondbjerg bowled over in a corner. Everybody is good. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/fhT3HsQiBg
— Y- Vegas Hockey Knight (@FSVegasHockey) September 17, 2026
But the main focus was Trevor Connelly. Slated to be on the third line, the young winger didn't disappoint. Despite adding some bulk to his frame, the native of Tustin, California, still moved smoothly on the ice. He slipped past defenders and buried easy wristers that impressed the City National Arena crowd.
If he keeps impressing the coaching staff, there's no reason why he can't make the 12-forward group. Considering that Alexander Holtz has been shaky during his Vegas residency, that leaves an opening for the young winger to take a spot. Watch for the former first-round pick in the upcoming weeks.
Finally, Juho Piiparinen looked as good as advertised. He looked comfortable on the ice and had little trouble moving the puck. If the Golden Knights' young prospects develop and grow in the right direction, that's a promising sign for a Golden Knights team that isn't getting any younger.
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