Knights make final cuts, paving way for Trevor Connelly to make NHL roster

The Vegas Golden Knights have their roster all but settled heading into opening night.

Forwards Jonas Røndbjerg, Alexander Holtz and Tanner Laczynski and defensemen Ville Heinola and Antti Tuomisto were put on waivers Sunday.

There were 71 players put on waivers league-wide Sunday, according to PuckPedia. Teams can put in claims and add players to their roster. They would have to take on the player’s contract.

Should the five clear waivers at 11 a.m. Monday, they will report to the Henderson Silver Knights.

That gives the Knights 13 forwards and seven defensemen heading into Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. The final roster will be submitted Monday, but these cuts give clarity to the look of the roster.

Top prospect Trevor Connelly is in line to make his NHL debut Tuesday after a strong preseason. The 20-year-old forward had no points but had seven shots in three games. He skated on the second power-play unit Saturday against San Jose.

“I’m having so much fun. I’m having an absolute blast. This is a dream come true, for sure,” Connelly said Friday. “It’s why I’ve had some success in training camp.

“Try not to do too much or too little. Just going out there and playing the game I love.”

Coach Ryan Craig said Connelly was among a number of players who had good training camps. This was Connelly’s first with the team since being taken in the first round in 2024. He missed the past two years due to injuries.

“He’s checking boxes for the first time,” Craig said. “I think that’s where this day off (Sunday) comes at a good time for him, just like it does the rest of our guys.”

Barring any changes to the roster ahead of Monday’s practice, the 13th forward spot will belong to Raphael Lavoie. The 26-year-old played in one preseason game and scored on Sept. 19 against Los Angeles.

Lavoie left that game with an undisclosed injury and has been day-to-day since.

A former second-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2019, Lavoie was part of a roller coaster waiver claim situation in 2024. He was claimed by the Knights, then placed on waivers and claimed by Edmonton two days later, then re-claimed by the Knights two days after the Oilers tried to send him back to the AHL.

Lavoie led the Silver Knights with 30 goals last season. He has appeared in 17 career games and does not have a point in the NHL.