Connolly

[Eleven]

You're better than this.

 

No, it's pretty much dead on accurate.

[Snowmobiler97]

No, it's pretty much dead on accurate.

Agreed. People want a whole new team, just root for a different team if you want 50% of them gone.

[LGR4GM]

Agreed. People want a whole new team, just root for a different team if you want 50% of them gone.

I dont want a whole knew team. I want a different center other than connolly. I want 1 top 2 def man (Erhoff) and I want someone younger than grier or niedermyer on the 3/4th line. thats 3-4 players.

[beerme1]

Agreed. People want a whole new team, just root for a different team if you want 50% of them gone.

 

 

I could probably get there if I thought enough. Most of our parts can be exchanged for other parts.

Keep in mind I am a fan and like our team but we may just barely make the playoffs afetr a maniac three month push.

[papazoid]

Connolly is HORRIBLE !!....can't wait til he's gone (i admit he has improved to mediocre of late).

 

CONS: physically WEAK, is second WORST on team for plus/minus, has only scored 10 goals, makes $4.5 million, is a defensive liability. one hit away from missing alot of games (concussion prone).

 

 

PROs: has a nice handle on stick.. "looks" good along half wall during power play.

[darksabre]

I don't care if he scores the game winner in the Stanley Cup, I still don't want him back. The experiment with Captain Inconsistent needs to end.

[Stoner]

No, it's pretty much dead on accurate.

 

"Demanding explanations" for why the Sabres didn't win in four games instead of five? No.

 

But here's a scenario. Wonder what you'd say about this.

 

The Sabres go 2-25 on the power play and allow two shorthanded goals in said final. In Game 5, the Sabres are up 3-2 in the third, allow a shortie, then go on a four minute power play and don't score. They do win the Cup in overtime (Costanza says he always wanted to pretend to root for a team that wins the Cup in overtime.)

 

A couple days later, someone posts that the Sabres' power play stunk in the finals, that if it had been any good, they would have swept the thing and that Dineen really needs to hire a power play coach.

 

Is that person a troll, crusader and/or contrarian? A bad fan?

 

(I say "couple days," because if the comment were made within 24 hours of winning said Cup, I'd probably be lighting the torch along with you.)

[X. Benedict]

Connolly is HORRIBLE !!....can't wait til he's gone (i admit he has improved to mediocre of late).

 

CONS: physically WEAK, is second WORST on team for plus/minus, has only scored 10 goals, makes $4.5 million, is a defensive liability. one hit away from missing alot of games (concussion prone).

 

 

PROs: has a nice handle on stick.. "looks" good along half wall during power play.

 

 

He might just be the Sabres best penalty killer of late. I would say thats a Pro.

 

He hasn't been a defensive liability the past month at all.

 

Not saying it is time to re-sign him. But he's been good for about 5 weeks now, which is a good thing. (about the same time we got Boyes, things improved for Tim because the lines became more balanced).

[Taro T]

He might just be the Sabres best penalty killer of late. I would say thats a Pro.

 

He hasn't been a defensive liability the past month at all.

 

Not saying it is time to re-sign him. But he's been good for about 5 weeks now, which is a good thing. (about the same time we got Boyes, things improved for Tim because the lines became more balanced).

Agree w/ the 1st point.

 

Disagree w/ the 2nd point. He is very shaky when at the point, either on the pp or while covering for a pinching D (typically Myers). As poorly as Butler played the 2-on-1 at the beginning of the Caps game, if Timmy plays more soundly while covering for Tyler it is a 2-on-2 at worst. When he isn't playing the point, he hasn't been a liability defensively.

 

I was convinced that he wouldn't be a Sabre after the deadline. I don't have a good feel for whether he'll be back next year or not. Wherever he ends up, I expect he'll be making over $3MM/yr but less than $4MM. I'd prefer to see him gone, as I think he and the team both would be better off. If he has a good playoff, I'd expect to see him back.

[X. Benedict]

Agree w/ the 1st point.

 

Disagree w/ the 2nd point. He is very shaky when at the point, either on the pp or while covering for a pinching D (typically Myers). As poorly as Butler played the 2-on-1 at the beginning of the Caps game, if Timmy plays more soundly while covering for Tyler it is a 2-on-2 at worst. When he isn't playing the point, he hasn't been a liability defensively.

 

I was convinced that he wouldn't be a Sabre after the deadline. I don't have a good feel for whether he'll be back next year or not. Wherever he ends up, I expect he'll be making over $3MM/yr but less than $4MM. I'd prefer to see him gone, as I think he and the team both would be better off. If he has a good playoff, I'd expect to see him back.

 

I've never really liked Connolly on point. He's much better higher on the half-wall on PP.

 

I'm not ready to say they should resign him...even with a potentially great playoff run. The price better be nice. Is all I can think at the moment.

[Figster]

I'm just glad Darcy Regier and in smaller part Lindy Ruff make the decisions when it comes to player personnel.

 

Now that Pegula has made it perfectly clear money is not an object, TC is not going anywhere in my opinion.

[X. Benedict]

I'm just glad Darcy Regier and in smaller part Lindy Ruff make the decisions when it comes to player personnel.

 

Now that Pegula has made it perfectly clear money is not an object, TC is not going anywhere in my opinion.

I'm usually in favor of letting go of a veteran player a year too early rather than a year too late.

 

I don't think market value will pose a problem as much as roster space. To shop you have to have roster room.

[LabattBlue]

I'm just glad Darcy Regier and in smaller part Lindy Ruff make the decisions when it comes to player personnel.

 

Now that Pegula has made it perfectly clear money is not an object, TC is not going anywhere in my opinion.

Money is not an object except for that little ole' thing called a salary cap. Do you really want to piss away 5-8% of the cap on Connolly? No thanks.

[Figster]

Money is not an object except for that little ole' thing called a salary cap. Do you really want to piss away 5-8% of the cap on Connolly? No thanks.

 

I was thinking the salary cap was higher then it actually is, and while I like TC's play as of late, I agree, 4.5 mill is to much for TC. Especially considering we have a 30 goal scorer (50 points) with only 59 games played in Drew Stafford making half as much.

[nobody]

Maybe they can pay Connolly to be a shooting coach.

[beerme1]

I hate Tim. I hope he rocks on throughout the playoffs. Whether we win the cup or bow out of the playoffs, his money will be better spent elswhere no matter what he does in this years playoffs. ###### Off Timmay!

But thanks for getting one tonight buddy :thumbsup:

[LGR4GM]

So tc has been playing better along with every other member of the team since the all star break. What are we since then? 29-9-4 or something like that? So this obviously means that we should resign him to a huge deal worth millions right? I mean we should trade roy cuz obviously we don't need him but TC come on! Hes so amazing. He works hard every game, he has never been lazy, he doesnt stand for everything the sabres should no longer stand for... Basically what I am saying is unless he will sign for say 1.5-1.75mil for a year or two let him go. I am not nor will I ever be convinced he has the will (didnt say talent) to play 82+ games like he has played the past month. I have conceded that he is not the devil so thats something.

[CallawaySabres]

If a player was EVER to take a hometown discount, it's Connolly. The Sabres made him a 2 huge offers when his career was on the line and he is darn lucky to have gotten what he already has. Yes, he is playing much better and I think if they want him, they should not go over 2.5 mill.

[Stoner]

If a player was EVER to take a hometown discount, it's Connolly. The Sabres made him a 2 huge offers when his career was on the line and he is darn lucky to have gotten what he already has. Yes, he is playing much better and I think if they want him, they should not go over 2.5 mill.

 

You could say it's going to be a big test of the notion of Hockey Heaven.

[LGR4GM]

If a player was EVER to take a hometown discount, it's Connolly. The Sabres made him a 2 huge offers when his career was on the line and he is darn lucky to have gotten what he already has. Yes, he is playing much better and I think if they want him, they should not go over 2.5 mill.

TC is from Syracuse so maybe he will stay for a drastically reduced price. However I could live without him here. Ug idk I have major doubts about him playing well going forward (after this year) Interesting thing to consider.

[nfreeman]

As I said in another thread, I'm fine with them keeping him, but NOT with a contract or a lineup slot that makes him a critical part of the team. He's not built to handle that role, either mentally or physically. He will always let the team down. $2MM per year x 2 years to be the #3 center (or #2 in a pinch)? That works fine. $3.5MM x 2 years to be the #2 center (or #1 in a pinch)? NFW.

[LabattBlue]

As I said in another thread, I'm fine with them keeping him, but NOT with a contract or a lineup slot that makes him a critical part of the team. He's not built to handle that role, either mentally or physically. He will always let the team down. $2MM per year x 2 years to be the #3 center (or #2 in a pinch)? That works fine. $3.5MM x 2 years to be the #2 center (or #1 in a pinch)? NFW.

 

Not that I want him back at any salary, but do you really think Connolly would accept 2 mil per year when a guy with no offensive skills(Gaustad) is making more than that?

[Taro T]

As I said in another thread, I'm fine with them keeping him, but NOT with a contract or a lineup slot that makes him a critical part of the team. He's not built to handle that role, either mentally or physically. He will always let the team down. $2MM per year x 2 years to be the #3 center (or #2 in a pinch)? That works fine. $3.5MM x 2 years to be the #2 center (or #1 in a pinch)? NFW.

My guess is that somebody will give him ~$3.5/ for 2-3 years. The $7MM question is Buffalo that somebody?

 

My guess is that will depend on how he plays in the postseason and who they are targeting in the offsesaon. If he plays well in the postseason and they think they have the $'s for the upgrades they are trying to land in the offseason, then I expect a lot of people's heads (probably mine as well) will be exploding this July.

[nfreeman]

Not that I want him back at any salary, but do you really think Connolly would accept 2 mil per year when a guy with no offensive skills(Gaustad) is making more than that?

I don't. I expect someone to give him $3MM or so x 2 years and for him to be gone (and frankly I wouldn't be stunned if he had a good playoffs which led to someone giving him a bigger deal than that). I'm just saying that as a Sabres fan I'd be OK with keeping him at $2MM x 2 years.

[james duncan]

I don't. I expect someone to give him $3MM or so x 2 years and for him to be gone (and frankly I wouldn't be stunned if he had a good playoffs which led to someone giving him a bigger deal than that). I'm just saying that as a Sabres fan I'd be OK with keeping him at $2MM x 2 years.

 

I've got no problem with bringing him back if he wants to come back and for the right price.

It's pretty clear that the organization doesn't have NHL-ready centers in Portland.

Which makes this run all that much more impressive plugging the position with the likes of Boyes and Hecht (when healthy).

It's easy to say dump this guy or that guy. But you have to have a plan and options.

Where are you going to come up with a better option than Connolly? I don't see the free agent market stocked with replacements this off-season. The team is still paying the price for letting two top flight centers walk as UFA's without compensation.