What ultimately matters for the 18-year-old is the work he has put in through volunteer work and diversity training to further his career in hockey after being selected. Drafted 19th overall by the draft host Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night.
“I think I could have gone higher, if maybe a few things hadn’t happened. But, honestly, it’s the happiest I would have been where I got selected,” said Connelly, whose draft stock has dropped in the two years since he posted an image on Snapchat — it hastily Before being removed – A friend was shown posing in front of a collection of building blocks formed in the shape of a swastika.
He was also accused of making racial comments during a game in 2021, although the suspension was lifted when an investigation was unable to confirm what happened. Connelly has apologized for posting the photo and disputed making the racial comment.
“I made mistakes as a kid and I’m a different person now,” said Connelly, who is from Tustin, Calif. and has committed to attend Providence this year. “I think everything I’ve been through over the years is for a reason. I think this will be the best for me and I will do anything for the organization, anything for the people and I am very excited to get started.
GM Kelly McCrimmon said Vegas officials conducted a “very extensive” background check on the player while meeting with Connelly at the scouting combine in Buffalo, New York, and again this week.
“I think (he) showed some growth and recognized some areas where he made mistakes and recognized that,” McCrimmon said. “He was very candid and transparent, he didn’t dodge any of the questions we asked him.”
There’s no questioning the 6-foot, 156-pound forward’s abilities.
Connelly is coming off a season with the Tri-City Storm in which he finished second in the USHL in scoring with 78 points (31 goals, 47 assists) in 52 games. She has also represented the United States, most recently winning a silver medal at the 2024 U-18 World Championships.
cap unfriendly
Washington Capitals general manager Brian McClellan uses CapFriendly all the time to look up salary information and other data around the NHL. Soon, he and members of the organization will be the only people with access Capitals bought the website this month,
Suffice it to say, his coworkers aren’t thrilled to have this tool taken away from them.
“I don’t think anybody is happy,” McClellan said on a video call with reporters Thursday. “The whole industry is not very happy about it.”
Capfriendly is still available through the draft and will begin free agency next week before the public side kicks off in July.
“Our biggest fear was that it would run out and we wouldn’t be able to use it,” McClellan said. He said the front office was considering creating their own site before realizing it would be too expensive and time-consuming. “We can build it. We have the people who built it, so we can build on it and hopefully we can become more efficient as an organization on salary cap decisions, CBA decisions and then use it on our analytics side as well Are: Create a format that works for us this way. ,
first from norway
Detroit’s pick at No. 15, Mikael Brandsegg-Nygaard, made history as the first Norwegian player taken in the first round. Brandsegg-Nygård played in the Swedish Hockey League last season, and the Scandinavian nation had his name called in the draft by Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom.
Stiaan Stolberg became the second Norwegian player to be selected in the first round, when Anaheim traded up to select him at No. 23. Goaltending coach Sudarshan “Sudsy” Maharaj, who recently defeated cancer, announced the Ducks’ selection.
Crosby Extension?
Sidney Crosby is a little more than a year away from potentially becoming a free agent. But the three-time Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins captain and his camp have discussed an extension with general manager Kyle Dubas that couldn’t actually be signed until Monday.
“We’re talking,” Crosby said on a video call with reporters Friday to discuss the situation ahead of the upcoming 4 Nations faceoff. “I think there’s been a little bit of conversation about the draft and free agency and things like that. This is something that I’ll keep between Kyle and myself, but we’ve had some conversations and I’ll just leave it at that. … We’ll see what happens.”
The Penguins are still in a position to win under Dubas. Center Evgeni Malkin is signed through 2026 and defenseman Kris Letang through 28.
Crosby turned 37 before the next season.
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno and AP freelance writer WG Ramirez contributed to this report.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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