F Trevor Connelly - Tri-City Storm, USHL (2024 Draft)

[Pink Mist]

Strang (and Westhead) only report on negative things. Very slanted journalism. Connelly has red flags no doubt, I'm just not a fan of Strang overall, never has anything positive to report.

Their jobs aren't to write fluff pieces or PR for teams/NHL... they're investigative journalists.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

An investigation into his background was released by The Athletic this morning. Not sure if it's any new information to you folks, but to me it's red flag after red flag from him and his camp regarding his behaviour (seems like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with his parents)
Teams should definitely do some heavy due diligence before putting him on their draft board

Who will draft Trevor Connelly? Inside the NHL's evolving scrutiny of top prospects

Hoping the Preds draft Connelly and he silences the Mob ON AND OFF the Ice while ascending to our #1 Center of the future

This is the Athletic's version of DeadSpin canceling the Chiefs Kid who had the WarPaint on

 

[clevelandcane]

I don't know this kid from Adam but hopefully your favorite NHL team does it's due diligence. If so, nothing to worry about.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

All I can say is it must be very tough to be a hockey journalist and put out regular, meaningful content.

 

[WeThreeKings]

The main takeaway is that it confirms that some NHL teams have him on their no-draft list.. I've already speculated on who those teams would be, in the past, and it's not hard to connect dots between the no-draft list and teams who have recently had public backlash against them.

 

[TLEH]

A reporter reporting on events that did happen, with investigation and quotes from plenty of people involved, is not "ruining a kids life". One incident is fine to look past. This is a handful of incidents and plenty of them cannot be written off by "kids being kids". You ruin your own life by doing stuff like this and just being a bad person.

Peeing on another students stuff? That isn't normal. Tweeting racist shit or the swastika thing? I can forgive a kid on that for sure. Show that you've grown and you were being immature/not understanding how it affects others and don't do it again. The stuff in this article is different, and its a pattern.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

My review of what I've watched from him this season. Has 21+33=54 points in 38 games (second in the league per game).

Very dynamic skater and puck-handler. Arguably the best player in the USHL at this very thing. He’s been better this season at creating offense with his passing or shooting. It’s not just a lot of aimless skating and puck-handling, like I often felt he did last season. I didn’t previously realize how good his compete level is is. He’ll stick his nose in there to win the puck back, despite all the offensive ability. My main question is the hockey sense. I don’t think it’s terrible or anything like that, but I question if it’s below average. He can sometimes throw pucks aimlessly on goal or try to force passes that aren’t there. I think he’s a clear round one player, and has been one of the best players in the USHL this season, but I also have some slight hockey sense concerns with how he plays and if that will hold him back.

 

[95snipes]

Big weekend for Connelly. 8 points in 2 games. Now up to 2nd in the USHL in scoring, 2 points behind Gridin with 2 games to go. They moved Cooper Simpson ('25 draft) up to the top line and Connelly-Beckner-Simpson were simply dominating. Connelly-Simpson in particular were magic together.

Some highlight reel moments from Connelly-

 

[Rabid Ranger]

As skilled a player as there is in this draft. Will be interesting to see how the "chatter" affects where he goes.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Speculation on teams that definitely won’t draft him? Arizona and Boston come to mind after the Mitchell Miller debacle, and Montreal after the Logan Mailloux draft backlash. Any teams or GMs out there who have any type of history of taking chances on kids with character red flags?

 

[TLEH]

Speculation on teams that definitely won’t draft him? Arizona and Boston come to mind after the Mitchell Miller debacle, and Montreal after the Logan Mailloux draft backlash. Any teams or GMs out there who have any type of history of taking chances on kids with character red flags?

Chicago won't touch him. I would bet my house on that.

 

[57special]

It's never a good time, but now is a really bad time to draft a player who posted a Swaztika on his social media. It may have been semi- innocent(I have still not heard from the other person involved), but I can't imagine any GM wants to sign up for that.

Let's face it, this guy is a vg prospect, but he's not the McDavid, or even the next Hischier. Maybe the next Tuch? He'll probably get drafted in the 20's by a GM who is in a quiet market(not NYC), and, if he's smart, will have a program in place to ehlp him rehab his image.

 

[pgfan66]

Speculation on teams that definitely won’t draft him? Arizona and Boston come to mind after the Mitchell Miller debacle, and Montreal after the Logan Mailloux draft backlash. Any teams or GMs out there who have any type of history of taking chances on kids with character red flags?

It's never a good time, but now is a really bad time to draft a player who posted a Swaztika on his social media. It may have been semi- innocent(I have still not heard from the other person involved), but I can't imagine any GM wants to sign up for that.

Let's face it, this guy is a vg prospect, but he's not the McDavid, or even the next Hischier. Maybe the next Tuch? He'll probably get drafted in the 20's by a GM who is in a quiet market(not NYC), and, if he's smart, will have a program in place to ehlp him rehab his image.

Never underestimate how stupid hockey men are.

 

[TLEH]

It's never a good time, but now is a really bad time to draft a player who posted a Swaztika on his social media. It may have been semi- innocent(I have still not heard from the other person involved), but I can't imagine any GM wants to sign up for that.

Let's face it, this guy is a vg prospect, but he's not the McDavid, or even the next Hischier. Maybe the next Tuch? He'll probably get drafted in the 20's by a GM who is in a quiet market(not NYC), and, if he's smart, will have a program in place to ehlp him rehab his image.

Posting a Swaztika is the least of the things he has done that I would be worried about if I was a GM. Its immature and kids not understanding how doing that affects others. Urinating on other peoples things does not fall into that category.

 

[95snipes]

It's never a good time, but now is a really bad time to draft a player who posted a Swaztika on his social media. It may have been semi- innocent(I have still not heard from the other person involved), but I can't imagine any GM wants to sign up for that.

Let's face it, this guy is a vg prospect, but he's not the McDavid, or even the next Hischier. Maybe the next Tuch? He'll probably get drafted in the 20's by a GM who is in a quiet market(not NYC), and, if he's smart, will have a program in place to ehlp him rehab his image.

He's more talented than Hischier or Tuch. Think Barzal.

 

[Castle8130]

I'm just waiting for the "don't draft me" stance coming from his agent just to get drafted by the Canadiens again. Mailloux is really talented and so is Connelly.

I have Connelly in the 12-20 range, but he could very well fall to the end of the 1st because teams want to look good. If he's there in the 20's and you care about winning, grab him. All these off-ice shenanigans can be a telling sign, but he's worth the risk in the 20's at the very least.

EDIT; None of these guys did as much as Mitch miller did, but I think Miller could still play in the NHL eventually. He is doing pretty well in the KHL.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Posting a Swaztika is the least of the things he has done that I would be worried about if I was a GM. Its immature and kids not understanding how doing that affects others. Urinating on other peoples things does not fall into that category.

Wait, it's the LEAST of the things he's done? Other than the swastika incident, what else has he done?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Big weekend for Connelly. 8 points in 2 games. Now up to 2nd in the USHL in scoring, 2 points behind Gridin with 2 games to go. They moved Cooper Simpson ('25 draft) up to the top line and Connelly-Beckner-Simpson were simply dominating. Connelly-Simpson in particular were magic together.

Some highlight reel moments from Connelly-

So glad Simpson is finally getting his chance. He’s going to make a splash next season.

 

[95snipes]

So glad Simpson is finally getting his chance. He’s going to make a splash next season.

I've been impressed. Lots of good attributes to his game. Good vision/passer, can make plays, and a good, hard shot. He can play with Connelly. I imagine he'll be a big piece on the Hlinka team.

 

[jfhabs]

I'm just waiting for the "don't draft me" stance coming from his agent just to get drafted by the Canadiens again. Mailloux is really talented and so is Connelly.

I have Connelly in the 12-20 range, but he could very well fall to the end of the 1st because teams want to look good. If he's there in the 20's and you care about winning, grab him. All these off-ice shenanigans can be a telling sign, but he's worth the risk in the 20's at the very least.

EDIT; None of these guys did as much as Mitch miller did, but I think Miller could still play in the NHL eventually. He is doing pretty well in the KHL.

I'd be extremely happy to draft him with Winnipeg's first round pick!

 

[Brodeur]

Any teams or GMs out there who have any type of history of taking chances on kids with character red flags?

My own speculation, but I have wondered about Lou Lamoriello if only for the Providence College connection with Connelly.

Jon Merrill dropped in the 2010 Draft seemingly for personality red flags and the Devils took him at #38. It sounded like New Jersey had him ranked much higher. I was at the 2010 Draft and Lou gathered Merrill's family as the draft was still going on for a quick chat. That felt a little abnormal. I could overhear Lou asking a Staples Center employee if there was a conference room that they could use, but they ended up finding an emptier section of seats. Unfortunately Merrill managed to get suspended and missed the first half of his sophomore year due to an undisclosed off ice incident.

Devils also took Myles Bell with a later pick a couple years after his reckless driving led to a car accident that killed his passenger a couple months before the 2011 Draft. Bell was thought to be a 2nd-3rd rounder on talent in 2011 (he was #39 on Central's final ranking for North Americans). Teams passed on him in 2011 and 2012.

And then going back a ways, New Jersey took the former Mike Jefferson with a late round pick. Although I forget how apparent the red flags were at the time although I vaguely recall him having a bit of reputation. Around the 2000 draft he was probably more known for talking trash to the press about Brad Richards before the Memorial Cup and then refused to shake Richards' hand after being beat. Jefferson then caused his own headaches within the Devils after refusing an assignment to the AHL. That summer he changed his last name to Danton after a long feud with his parents. Lou gave him one more chance in 2002 but Danton became too much of a distraction. And then a couple years later Danton would be arrested for trying to hire a hitman.

But obviously a different conversation between using a 1st rounder vs. a Day 2 pick. Especially nowadays that seems a situation where the team owner would have to be consulted ahead of time if only be be ready for the PR answers.

 

[JiggsNY]

Non- NTDP U-18 scoring over last 20 years.

Name	Year	Age	Team	GP	G	A	P	PPG
Macklin Celebrini (C)	2022-2023	16​	Chicago Steel	50	46	40	86	1.72
Bobby Brink (RW)	2018-2019	17​	Sioux City Musketeers	43	35	33	68	1.58
Taylor Cammarata (C/LW)	2012-2013	17​	Waterloo Black Hawks	59	38	55	93	1.58
Trevor Connelly (LW)	2023-2024	17​	Tri-City Storm	52	31	47	78	1.50
Cole Sillinger (C)	2020-2021	17​	Sioux Falls Stampede	31	24	22	46	1.48
Mac Swanson (F)	2023-2024	17​	Fargo Force	53	25	50	75	1.42
Michael Hage (C)	2023-2024	17​	Chicago Steel	54	33	42	75	1.39
Matvei Gridin (F)	2023-2024	17​	Muskegon Lumberjacks	58	36	44	80	1.38
Jaden Schwartz (LW)	2009-2010	17​	Tri-City Storm	60	33	50	83	1.38
Adam Fantilli (C)	2021-2022	17​	Chicago Steel	54	37	37	74	1.37
Kyle Connor (LW)	2013-2014	17​	Youngstown Phantoms	56	31	43	74	1.32
Steve Whitney (C)	2008-2009	17​	Omaha Lancers	12	4	11	15	1.25
Andrei Svechnikov (RW/LW)	2016-2017	16​	Muskegon Lumberjacks	48	29	29	58	1.21
Johnny Gaudreau (LW)	2010-2011	17​	Dubuque Fighting Saints	60	36	36	72	1.2
T.J. Tynan (C)	2009-2010	17​	Des Moines Buccaneers	60	17	55	72	1.2
Aaron Palushaj (RW/LW)	2006-2007	17​	Des Moines Buccaneers	56	22	45	67	1.2
Brock Boeser (RW)	2014-2015	17​	Waterloo Black Hawks	57	35	33	68	1.19
Jayden Perron (RW)	2022-2023	17​	Chicago Steel	61	24	48	72	1.18

 

[95snipes]

Non- NTDP U-18 scoring over last 20 years.

Name	Year	Age	Team	GP	G	A	P	PPG
Macklin Celebrini (C)	2022-2023	16​	Chicago Steel	50	46	40	86	1.72
Bobby Brink (RW)	2018-2019	17​	Sioux City Musketeers	43	35	33	68	1.58
Taylor Cammarata (C/LW)	2012-2013	17​	Waterloo Black Hawks	59	38	55	93	1.58
Trevor Connelly (LW)	2023-2024	17​	Tri-City Storm	52	31	47	78	1.50
Cole Sillinger (C)	2020-2021	17​	Sioux Falls Stampede	31	24	22	46	1.48
Mac Swanson (F)	2023-2024	17​	Fargo Force	53	25	50	75	1.42
Michael Hage (C)	2023-2024	17​	Chicago Steel	54	33	42	75	1.39
Matvei Gridin (F)	2023-2024	17​	Muskegon Lumberjacks	58	36	44	80	1.38
Jaden Schwartz (LW)	2009-2010	17​	Tri-City Storm	60	33	50	83	1.38
Adam Fantilli (C)	2021-2022	17​	Chicago Steel	54	37	37	74	1.37
Kyle Connor (LW)	2013-2014	17​	Youngstown Phantoms	56	31	43	74	1.32
Steve Whitney (C)	2008-2009	17​	Omaha Lancers	12	4	11	15	1.25
Andrei Svechnikov (RW/LW)	2016-2017	16​	Muskegon Lumberjacks	48	29	29	58	1.21
Johnny Gaudreau (LW)	2010-2011	17​	Dubuque Fighting Saints	60	36	36	72	1.2
T.J. Tynan (C)	2009-2010	17​	Des Moines Buccaneers	60	17	55	72	1.2
Aaron Palushaj (RW/LW)	2006-2007	17​	Des Moines Buccaneers	56	22	45	67	1.2
Brock Boeser (RW)	2014-2015	17​	Waterloo Black Hawks	57	35	33	68	1.19
Jayden Perron (RW)	2022-2023	17​	Chicago Steel	61	24	48	72	1.18

Yeah, I was going to wait until the season was over to make a similar post. Gridin, Swanson, and Hage are also great players, but it is clear who has the least help amongst those 4 this year. Fargo is possibly the best team in USHL history and Muskegon has a loaded top 6. Connelly leads his team in scoring by 32 points. He's 5th all time in scoring for U18 players in the 'Tier 1 era' with a chance to finish 3rd or 4th. Or even tie Celebrini for 2nd if he has another 8 point weekend.

Also paints how impressive Celebrini is.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Yeah, I was going to wait until the season was over to make a similar post. Gridin, Swanson, and Hage are also great players, but it is clear who has the least help amongst those 4 this year. Fargo is possibly the best team in USHL history and Muskegon has a loaded top 6. Connelly leads his team in scoring by 32 points. He's 5th all time in scoring for U18 players in the 'Tier 1 era' with a chance to finish 3rd or 4th. Or even tie Celebrini for 2nd if he has another 8 point weekend.

Also paints how impressive Celebrini is.

Only thing I’d disagree with is that he doesn’t have much help.

Tri-City purposely tries to build a team with players who have next level potential, while the other teams load up with older, bigger, faster, more experienced USHL players. Tri-City has like 5 guys who have a chance to be drafted this year, players for next year, others who’ve played international hockey for the USA, and four draft picks. I think they actually have a very talented roster, but they aren’t that good of a team. That is true. Probably coaching/lack of USHL experience compared to some of the other teams.

Chicago isn’t even good this year. They are worse than TC. Muskegon is a little better than TC. Fargo, sure, but it’s a lot of older guys. I think if you looked at the four rosters that would look like the least talented one, although they are definitely a powerhouse and what gets you junior wins doesn’t also translate to future pro ability.

 

[95snipes]

Only thing I’d disagree with is that he doesn’t have much help.

Tri-City purposely tries to build a team with players who have next level potential, while the other teams load up with older, bigger, faster, more experienced USHL players. Tri-City has like 5 guys who have a chance to be drafted this year, players for next year, others who’ve played international hockey for the USA, and four draft picks. I think they actually have a very talented roster, but they aren’t that good of a team. That is true. Probably coaching/lack of USHL experience compared to some of the other teams.

Chicago isn’t even good this year. They are worse than TC. Muskegon is a little better than TC. Fargo, sure, but it’s a lot of older guys. I think if you looked at the four rosters that would look like the least talented one, although they are definitely a powerhouse and what gets you junior wins doesn’t also translate to future pro ability.

I would take a hard under on the bolded. Connelly obviously will and 1 or 2 more might sneak in the later rounds. Very possible it's only Connelly.

We mentioned Simpson earlier in the thread. He's the most talented player Connelly's played with all year and it's only been 2 games and he's an '07. Also they have 2 draft picks on the roster unless I'm missing something. Zhigalov is terrible and was rightfully sent to the NAHL. Keohane I don't really remember, but don't remember him being good or else he would have stuck.

I actually like Tri City's team as a whole though and think they could make some noise in the playoffs. They have a first line that's currently buzzing, I like their defense top to bottom and think Korpi is good in net. As a whole though, they don't have the most talented forward group compared to other USHL teams in terms of high end talent. Also Tri City's head coach Noreen is taking over Miami FWIW.

Chicago is bad, I agree with that. Too easy to play against. But Hage took off once he was put with Major and Thompson who are good USHL players despite not having next level potential. Connelly hasn't had that type of linemate support. Same thing with Gridin who's played largely with Joe Connor and Swanson who plays on a team that always has the puck.

Not trying to take anything away from those other guys, they've all had good years and deserve the praise they've gotten. Just watching Connelly, I feel the gap between him and his linemates has been noticeable.