Vegas Golden Knights fans were extremely worried about Trevor Connelly after he didn't register a single point on Saturday. Granted, the Golden Knights won because of Jackson Hallum and Viliam Kmec stepping up. But fans were a little concerned about the former first-round pick.
Okay, perhaps "concerned" and "worried" aren't the correct words. Perhaps a better word for Connelly's performance on Saturday would be "disappointing." After all, he's only 20 years old and just kicked off his AHL campaign with the Henderson Silver Knights last season. However, there wasn't much meat on the bone for the native of Tustin, California.
The winger didn't record a single point in Saturday's 4-2 win. He remained relatively quiet after the Golden Knights gave him the keys to the Lamborghini and tested him out with the veterans. That performance might've signaled to management that he's not quite ready for the show yet.
The good news? The Golden Knights have another preseason game on Tuesday. This time, they're playing against the San Jose Sharks, which should give the top prospect another shot. Let's devise a game plan to help Connelly get back on his feet. He's got a bright future ahead of him, after all.
How Trevor Connelly can rebound and help the Vegas Golden Knights
One thing that Trevor Connelly can't do is let up on the shooting. He might've gotten no points against the Kings. But that shouldn't discourage him from attacking the net. In fact, shooting the puck is a must since he's become more aggressive with his shots.
Getting three shots on goal is a good start for Connelly. He led the charge for the Golden Knights and was productive when given the puck. It was just a matter of the pucks not going past the net.
Of course, that also means the former first-round pick must stick to his strengths. Connelly has a penchant for slipping past defenders and getting open. His smooth skating makes him a consistent threat to score, which should benefit his preseason work.
Connelly must stay confident throughout his preseason session
The most important thing to Connelly's development is that he stays confident during the remainder of the preseason. Yes, there's more pressure on the young winger to perform and show that he's ready for the NHL. In fact, it might mess with his mind during the preseason.
However, staying the course and sticking to his strengths will help Connelly with his confidence. That also means firing pucks at the net and making minor adjustments as needed. If he must make a defender miss and have the goaltender second-guess, understand the psychology of both positions. That way, you're further prepared for the NHL level.
It's no secret that the Vegas Golden Knights are higher on the native of Tustin, California, than most prospects. You can say they have more faith in their former first-round pick than in other prospects, making him a high commodity for fitting into the Golden Knights' lineup. Nothing says, "I'm ready for the NHL" like having a bigger game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
Add us as a preferred source on Google