• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Washington Capitals
Capitals Transactions

Capitals: Brett Connolly Worth the Gamble

By Bradley Davis July 2nd, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

As expected, the Washington Capitals were relatively quiet on the first day of the 2016 free agency period. They made several depth signings to stock the shelves in Hershey, including a starting goaltender and a few skaters for their AHL affiliate. Among these signings, though, one stood out from the rest as one that could greatly benefit the Capitals in 2016-17.

A former 6th overall pick, Brett Connolly has struggled to find consistency at the NHL level. After a few years with the team that drafted him in 2010, the Tampa Bay Lightning, he was shipped off to the Boston Bruins at the 2015 trade deadline. After just one full season with the Bruins, he was not tendered a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, leaving him free to sign with any team once free agency hit.

@Capitals @nhl Can’t wait to get to DC!! Very excited for this opportunity

— Brett Connolly (@bconnolly8) July 1, 2016

While several teams vied for the likes of Andrew Ladd, Kyle Okposo and Loui Eriksson, the Capitals signed the 24-year-old forward to a 1-year, $825,000 contract just hours after free agency opened. Connolly is coming off of his best season as an NHL player in 2015-16, where he tallied nine goals and 25 points in 71 games in Beantown.

Lingering Upside

Connolly began his career in Tampa Bay before moving on to Boston. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Connolly began his career in Tampa Bay before moving on to Boston. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

At first glance, this is a great signing for the Capitals. Though Connolly hasn’t lived up to expectations given where he was drafted, it is important to remember that he is a young player with a lot of skill who hasn’t necessarily been given the right opportunity. He has largely split time between the third and fourth lines of his two previous teams. With the Capitals changing their style to utilize more speed and skill moving forward, Connolly will likely have much better linemates than he has had in the past.

Despite the fact that fellow right-winger Tom Wilson was re-signed to a two-year extension on Thursday, there is likely going to be a three-way competition for a spot on the third line between Wilson, Connolly and Stanislav Galiev. In fact, you might even be able to throw Capitals prospect Jakub Vrana into that conversation. Given the relative inexperience of the latter two, and the inconsistency and mind-boggling decisions of the former, Connolly has a really good shot at seeing significant time on the third line.

Connolly was touted as a prospect with great hands and a good shot coming into the league, and unfortunately hasn’t been able to stay healthy and thus has been unable to carve out anything more than a bottom six role. He is also a strong skater, so there is hope remaining that he can begin to tap into his true potential.

Fitting Into The System

The Capitals entered the offseason aiming to add speed and skill to their lineup. As with many of the smarter teams around the league, it is important to find players that are strong possession-wise as well. The Capitals have addressed those needs in both the Lars Eller trade and the Brett Connolly signing.

Simply put, you can never have enough skill. Gone are there days where an enforcer is taking up a team’s 12th or 13th forward spot – at least, that is, for teams that plan on challenging for a championship. If the Capitals ice a third line of Marcus Johansson, Eller, and Connolly, that would be an extremely fast line with some good possession forwards on it. Perhaps Connolly could find his scoring touch and be the finisher on this line.
 

His HERO chart essentially agrees with that sentiment. While his production to this point matches what you would expect from a third liner, he is great at owning the puck and his team generates shots while he is on the ice. It is also worth mentioning that his team’s shot suppression stats are also really good when he is on the ice.

What’s The Risk?

Connolly is a solid low risk, high reward signing for the Capitals. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

Connolly is a solid low risk, high reward signing for the Capitals. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

Realistically, Brett Connolly will remain a bottom six player with the Capitals. This is a similar role to what he has been in for his entire career, and he has yet to figure his game out within that role. With that said, there is a very real chance that he ends up being nothing more than an average third or fourth liner for the team this year.

However, this signing was the definition of a low risk, high reward move. At worst, the Capitals have a skilled forward capable of bottom six minutes on an extremely cheap contract for the next year. At best, Connolly finds his game on a winning team and becomes an impact player. Something interesting to note is that he will still be an RFA at the conclusion of this one year contract, so if he is successful, he could conceivably find a home in Washington on a longer-term basis.

At a cap hit of $825,000, and given the upside he still has, Connolly would basically have to start putting the puck in his own net for this to end up being a bad deal for the Capitals. There is essentially no risk with this signing, and the potential rewards are much greater. While there were certainly much bigger fish at the market, all things considered, Brett Connolly is a great signing.

  • Tags
  • Brett Connolly
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 26th 6:20 PM
Calgary Flames

Tkachuk Shows His Ignorance Discussing Maple Leafs’ Campbell Injury

Jan 26th 6:10 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Reaping the Rewards of Zach Whitecloud’s Development

Jan 26th 6:00 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Outlook After First 6 Games of 2020-21

Jan 26th 5:50 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets’ 2021 Offseason Free Agent Preview

Jan 26th 5:05 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Unlikely to Call Up Former Fan Favourite Darling

Jan 26th 4:40 PM
Archives

The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked – 2020-21 Season Update

Jan 26th 4:32 PM
Archives

Jimmy Howard’s Red Wings Legacy

Jan 26th 4:25 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Not Playing to Full Potential in Comeback Wins

Jan 26th 4:15 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Mediocre Avalanche Road Trip Plagued by Inconsistency

Jan 26th 4:05 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Coach Ralph Krueger is a Jack of All Trades

Editor’s Picks
Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information