The Golden Knights selected forward Trevor Connelly from the Tri-City Storm 19th overall on Friday night, despite the young forward being a source of scrutiny from prior off-ice incident.

The Vegas Golden Knights used their 19th overall pick to select left wing Trevor Connelly from the USHL's Tri-City Storm on Friday night at the Sphere in Las Vegas. 

Connelly is a skilled forward who is coming off a season in which he finished second in the USHL in scoring with 78 points, but he comes with some controversy.

About two years ago, Connelly posted an image on the social media platform Snapchat, in which the photo depicted a friend posing in front of building blocks that was formed in the shape of a swastika. Connelly was also accused of making a racial slur in a game in 2021, but after an investigation was unable to verify the incident, it resulted in the initial suspension for the violation to be lifted. 

The now 18-year-old Connelly has seemed to learn from his prior transgressions. In his media availability after being drafted he spoke of how much he has grown, saying "I owe everything to my family, my little brother, my sister, my girlfriend. I wouldn't be here without them and have helped me grow a lot as a person." 

Connelly also said that he talked to his parents about starting his own foundation and "giving back to young kids in some aspect."

Connelly is now part of an NHL organization and can look forward to moving forward with his career. He will be going to Providence College in the fall, where he figures to be a big part of that program and an important player to their success. If he continues to grow as a player and a person, this pick could end up being a steal for the Knights in long run.