Fantasy
Fantasy Hockey: Is Trevor Connelly Worth Adding After His First Multipoint Game?
Connelly’s power-play goal and assist against Los Angeles put him on the waiver radar. League depth and his continuing role should guide the claim.
Trevor Connelly is worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues after his first NHL multipoint game. In a shallow league with reliable scorers still available, he remains a player to monitor rather than an automatic replacement for an established contributor.
Connelly had a power-play goal and an assist in Vegas’s 2–1 overtime win over Los Angeles on Saturday. That result supplies two useful signals: he contributed in a tight game and had a scoring opportunity on the power play.1
Look for a role that can repeat
The box score is the start of the decision. What matters next is whether the minutes, linemates and special-teams work continue. A single productive appearance can lift a young player’s visibility without establishing his weekly fantasy floor.
Vegas’s projected Monday lineup listed Connelly with Tomas Hertl and Raphael Lavoie.2 Treat a projected combination as a guide, not a guarantee that the same trio will remain together throughout the game.
The power-play contribution is especially relevant in formats that separately reward those points. Managers should check his actual special-teams usage in the next games rather than assuming that one goal establishes a permanent spot on a particular unit.
Match the pickup to the format
In a deep points league or a keeper competition, adding him before a longer productive stretch can be worthwhile if the cost is a replaceable bench player. The smaller the pool of available forwards, the more useful it becomes to act before everyone sees a sustained run.
In a shallow league, a watch-list spot may be enough. Compare Connelly’s opportunity with the player you would drop, especially if that player has dependable minutes or helps in categories Connelly has not yet shown he can supply consistently.
For a short-term stream, start with how many games each option can actually enter your lineup. A player with more usable appearances can be the better choice even when another player has the more interesting recent highlight.
The recommendation is a conditional add: deeper leagues can take the chance now, while shallow leagues should seek another sign that the role is holding. His first multipoint game earns attention; the continuing workload will determine how much fantasy value follows.
