Tim Connolly

[That Aud Smell]

The only important thing is that the team charter gets back to Buffalo in a hurry, so Connolly can get a few in before the 4AM closing.

so maddeningly on point re: our gifted frat boy.

 

Ruff just said there was nothing wrong with Connolly physically, and that he had time to get in condition.

love the new avatar.

 

i was holding out hope (if you can call it that) that we were going to hear that he was playing with broken bones in his foot or something like that. we're now left to infer that he was slow to get re-started after hittin' the strip HARD while he was recovering from his late-season injury.

 

Ennis makes Connolly expendable.

did portland play ennis at center this year? i know he was a winger in juniors. the idea of forcing him to move to center isn't one i like all that much -- i feel as though roy's game was diminished (although not by too, too much) when he was forced to move in from right wing (remember when his center was drury? good times).

[shrader]

Hi,

 

I've never posted here before but have been an avid reader of the forum. Connolly's terrible play has prompted me to chime in on the discussion.

 

He needs to be traded. On paper he does have some value. I can see some desparate GM's going after him. To use an NBA term he is an expiring contract.

 

Examples trades:

1) NYR - needing a center to feed Gaborik. Maybe Connolly for a 2nd round pick/Girardi/Callahan.

2) Calgary - same thing for Iginla

3) Colorado - They have a lot of young players plus a goalie who they need to pay. That makes Statsny at 6.6 mill until 2015 a big problem. Maybe Connolly/Gerbe/1st round pick for Statsny?

 

Statsny and Vanek while each aren't speed demons seem to be a good fit.

 

If you spend 15 minutes on nhlscap.com you can create a bunch of possible trades. I hope Regier/ownership make it happen.

 

You're overvaluing Connolly quite a bit. There will be a return out there for him, but it will be nowhere what you've suggested.

[sgersten19]

You're overvaluing Connolly quite a bit. There will be a return out there for him, but it will be nowhere what you've suggested.

 

Really?

 

Player GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW OT S S% TOI/G Sft/G FO%

Tim Connolly 73 17 48 65 10 28 7 1 5 2 206 8.3 18:37 24.1 46.9

 

That is a solid year for a second line center. What is he worth on paper?

 

For example if I am the Rangers:

Player GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW OT S S% TOI/G Sft/G FO%

Vinny Prospal 75 20 38 58 8 32 6 1 4 0 180 11.1 20:06 24.3 51.2

Brandon Dubinsky 69 20 24 44 9 54 6 2 5 0 165 12.1 19:33 23.8 51.4

Chris Drury 77 14 18 32 -10 31 2 0 1 0 148 9.5 17:46 23.1 52.9

Artem Anisimov 82 12 16 28 -2 32 1 0 2 0 124 9.7 12:54 17.5 44.9

Erik Christensen 49 8 18 26 14 24 1 0 1 0 77 10.4 15:28 20.2 49.4

Olli Jokinen 26 4 11 15 1 22 1 0 1 1 74 5.4 16:28 19.8 49.6

Brian Boyle 71 4 2 6 -6 47 0 0 1 0 73 5.5 8:25 12.0 38.7

 

Hard to say it, but Connolly would be a big upgrade in center for them. And their focus is now just making the playoffs not advancing (again Connolly is an expiring contract).

 

There is decent demand for a perceived playmaking center (.66 assists/game, positive +/-).

 

I stand by that Connolly is worth the Rangers' second round pick or Callahan or Girardi.

 

The same analysis can be done for a lot of other teams.

[That Aud Smell]

one thought to add to the mix (i had intended to add it to my post above): last offseason, there was near unanimity around here in predicting the craptastic 09-10 season that tallinder was destined to have. i know that myers had much to do with his re-birth, but i maintain that his need to get another contract was a bigger factor in his game's improvement.

 

could connolly have a monster year in him now that he'll be playing for a big UFA offer? it's not out of the question.

[Kristian]

one thought to add to the mix (i had intended to add it to my post above): last offseason, there was near unanimity around here in predicting the craptastic 09-10 season that tallinder was destined to have. i know that myers had much to do with his re-birth, but i maintain that his need to get another contract was a bigger factor in his game's improvement.

 

could connolly have a monster year in him now that he'll be playing for a big UFA offer? it's not out of the question.

 

Exactly what the Sabres GM, hopefully not Regier, should be using as a sales pitch.

[shrader]

That one did seem to be the most realistic of your options. I originally read it as a 2nd + either of the two players, which would definitely change things. The other two suggestions don't make much sense to me at all, but I'm guessing you laid those out in that order for a reason. Iginla is the face of the Calgary organization and if they do ever decide to move him, you better believe they're going to get a much better longterm option than Tim Connolly. Stastny is much the same with Colorado, granted, Duchene may quickly move past him. They have a lot of space going into next year, so if that contract does become trouble at some point, that's still years off. If they did move him now, it would have to be one of those offers that floors them. Connolly+Gerbe+1st isn't it.

[That Aud Smell]

Exactly what the Sabres GM, hopefully not Regier, should be using as a sales pitch.

touche'.

[sgersten19]

Iginla is the face of the Calgary organization and if they do ever decide to move him, you better believe they're going to get a much better longterm option than Tim Connolly.

 

Sorry for the confusion. I wasn't proposing a Connolly-Iginla swap but Connolly-for someone(I am not very educated on the Calgary roster) to pair Iginla and Connolly together.

 

quote name='shrader' date='27 April 2010 - 01:19 PM' timestamp='1272392367' post='207194']

They have a lot of space going into next year, so if that contract does become trouble at some point, that's still years off.

 

While they have only $29 mil in payroll for 2010-2011 they only have 8 forwards, 4def, and 1 goalie under contract.

 

So they are going to need 4-6 forwards, 2-3 def, and 1-2 goalies just to fill the roster and they are now expected to make the playoffs so they cannot go in the bargain bin for players. I don't think they are in that flexible a situation over the next two years.

 

Svatos, Mueller, Hendricks, Clark, Quincey are all going to want raises this year.

[shrader]

While they have only $29 mil in payroll for 2010-2011 they only have 8 forwards, 4def, and 1 goalie under contract.

 

So they are going to need 4-6 forwards, 2-3 def, and 1-2 goalies just to fill the roster and they are now expected to make the playoffs so they cannot go in the bargain bin for players. I don't think they are in that flexible a situation over the next two years.

 

Svatos, Mueller, Hendricks, Clark, Quincey are all going to want raises this year.

 

I'd have to imagine that one of their early moves will be to extend that contract for Anderson. After that, they go the cheap backup route. Svatos is gone. They've got a lot of young talent in guys like Yip and Porter that they'll be able to fill a lot of those holes with cheaply. With Mueller's struggles the last two years, he could easily end up signing his qualifying offer and then going out and trying to earn that next contract. The blue line might be a bigger question mark, but again, they've got a couple good young guys in the system. Their big question doesn't hit until after two more seasons when Duchene and O'Reilly need new deals. By that point, the Tim Connolly in Buffalo ship will have sailed.

 

If they really wanted to free some money, Hejduk is your prime candidate.

[LabattBlue]

could connolly have a monster year in him now that he'll be playing for a big UFA offer? it's not out of the question.

Yes he could...and then DR/LQ would offer him an even longer and richer contract than the one he currently has. :thumbdown:

[Assquatch]

love the new avatar.

 

i was holding out hope (if you can call it that) that we were going to hear that he was playing with broken bones in his foot or something like that. we're now left to infer that he was slow to get re-started after hittin' the strip HARD while he was recovering from his late-season injury.

 

Thanks. I'd love to change "top prospect" to read "the core is rotten" instead of putting it in my signature but I think I need 500 posts to do that, and at my current pace that won't be for another three years (sorry DeLuca).

[shrader]

Thanks. I'd love to change "top prospect" to read "the core is rotten" instead of putting it in my signature but I think I need 500 posts to do that, and at my current pace that won't be for another three years (sorry DeLuca).

 

I miss Barney, but it was time for that one to go.