Trevor Connelly has plenty of cards stacked against him. He's a 20-year-old rookie who's waiver-exempt and could be sent down to Henderson by the Vegas Golden Knights any second. If he goes on a cold streak? As Forrest Gump would say...
"Just like that, the dream was over."
Or, something to that effect. I'm paraphrasing, of course.
Anyway, Connelly had a strong Opening Knight game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Tustin, California, native scored a goal in his NHL debut, exciting the T-Mobile Arena crowd in a 5-2 win.
That was enough to convince Golden Knights fans that he was the real deal. When you score 14 goals and 35 assists with the Henderson Silver Knights the season prior, you're bound to attract some fans. That's especially true when people don't expect a rookie to do much in his NHL debut.
Alas, he proved them wrong. After a turbulent amateur career, Connelly is enjoying his second chance with the Golden Knights. He's already on the score sheet and is on pace for 84 goals this season (okay, he's not going to reach that mark, but it'd be hilarious).
So, what can Connelly do to maintain that momentum? Fans want to see him stick around with the big boys and add some youth to the Golden Knights' lineup. Here are some pro tips on how the young winger can make that happen.
Don't let overconfidence get to your head
The funny thing about being a young player is you think that you're on top of the world. You think that nothing can stop you when you score a goal or two. But reality brings you crashing down to earth and leaves you on a cold streak.
One shining example is Braeden Bowman, who was spectacular in his rookie campaign early last season. We're talking about scoring seven goals and 12 assists in his first three months. After that? One goal and six assists.
That must be the same mentality that Connelly carries during his Vegas residency. He can't let overconfidence be the enemy here. Otherwise, he'll run on fumes for the remaining months and become a liability.
Stick to your strengths
Connelly does many things right as a Golden Knights winger. He attacks the net without hesitation and has incredible puck-handling abilities. That makes him the perfect replacement for Pavel Dorofeyev in Vegas's offensive scheme.
Combine that with downhill skating and a power play penchant and he becomes the threat that fans want him to be. So the rookie's objective is simple: Stick to what you do best. That means attacking the net and being on top of your offensive game at all times.
If the native of Tustin, California, does this, there's no denying that he'll stick around longer. The Golden Knights are in a peculiar spot regarding the wing position. They don't have well-known goal-scorers and are banking on some injected youth at the position. Connelly can learn a lesson from Bowman and not be overconfident through his strengths.
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