Remember when NHL Draft scouts were faced with the ultimate dilemma of whether to pick Trevor Connelly or not? They were put in a hard place because of a scandal surrounding Instagram and a swastika, leaving everyone at a pause. But it wasn't just the anti-Semetic controversy that stopped them from picking him.
It was also the alleged racial incident involving another player.
It was also his poor character.
Such things can lead people to hesitate on giving you another shot. They think, "Oh my goodness. It's this guy again. He's gonna ruin my franchise's reputation."
Well, fear no more, dear reader. It seems like the Vegas Golden Knights prospect is turning things around. The 19-year-old was featured in an article from Times of Israel, highlighting his remarkable growth journey.
Originally bouncing from team to team during his amateur days, the Providence Friars player was seen as a problem. He only lasted a week in a specialized hockey high school aimed at developing players. However, this was a different person. Connelly was a new man.
How, you ask? Well, it involved two people that helped him reform. It started with Connelly's mom coming across a Los Angeles Times article concerning apologies when saying something anti-Semetic. It also led to the wildest character development you'd ever see.
How Trevor Connelly is building a promising future with the Vegas Golden Knights
After Connelly's mom read the Los Angeles Times article, she contacted Rabbi Josh Stanton and Cantor Olivia Brodsky. The duo rehabilitated numerous Hollywood celebrities who made anti-Semetic remarks, engaging with them in teshuva, i.e. the Jewish practice of repentance.
That included educating the Golden Knights prospect on World War II and the perpetrators involved. It also involved watching "Schindler's List" and visiting the Museum of Tolerance (Beit HaShoah) in Los Angeles. The 19-year-old evolved into a better person because of it, learning to check his blind spots regarding other cultures.
It's a promising prospect for Kelly McCrimmon, who picked the Providence Friars forward in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. The hope? Make him into the next big forward on the fastest-rising team in the league. Teshuva is the first step towards making that happen.
Connelly is growing with the Providence Friars
This season has seen various ups and downs for Trevor Connelly. The Tustin native has seen personal growth, learning about different cultures and their historical significance. Of course, there's also the hockey side of things that he's learning to get the hang of.
The forward has four goals and nine assists in 22 games with the Friars in 2024-25. They recently lost to the UConn Huskies in the Hockey East quarterfinals on Friday, marking a successful campaign. He also had a decent World Junior Championship, scoring a goal and three assists for the United States U20 team. It might not seem like much compared to the stats he put up during his amateur days. But it's simple baby steps.
However, there's one thing he should watch for heading down the road: Being another first-round draft pick traded. McCrimmon hasn't shied away from trading away such prospects and picks to obtain better players. That includes Tomas Hertl and Ivan Barbashev, both of whom have become long-term pieces. Still, Connelly is doing his best to ensure that doesn't happen in the future. After all, there is such a thing as a second chance.