I think Connolly is a very solid 4RW. I would love to see caps trade winnik for picks and sign brandon pirri to a contract
Confirmed with Link: Brett Connolly 1 year 850k
- Thread starter hockeykicker
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Dr John Carlson
Registered User
I know people love their sarcastic comments about how the Capitals' additions lately are going to put them over the top, but their bottom-6 is pretty clearly better after these moves. Connolly may not end up being their 3RW but he will at least provide more competiton for Wilson/Galiev/Vrana.
A 3rd line of Johansson - Eller - Connolly is pretty decent and there's some possibility of upside with all three of those players. Good signing.
A 3rd line of Johansson - Eller - Connolly is pretty decent and there's some possibility of upside with all three of those players. Good signing.
Carlzner
Registered User
I think that the pro scouting staff has enough credibility at this point under GMBM that I trust them on this move. I think they see Connolly as a guy whose play style and slight scoring touch could thrive playing on that line you drew up. I like the reports I've been reading on him.
I also agree with those that feel another move is still coming.
BiPolar Caps
Registered User
third man in
Registered User
Eller is much better than Richards. Maybe they're close defensively but Richards just can't produce offense anymore.
Corby78
65 - 10 - 20
Broken down like that and its hard to argue the bottom 6 wont be better. And depending on how well GmBm does with mojo/orlov we could be in a nice spot to make a move at the TDL
ovikovy817
Registered User
txpd
Registered User
broken down like that, sure. I think most here are assuming Connolly is replacing Chimera and not Latta. Latta played as often as he was scratched. I am leaning in the direction that Galiev is going to play and Connolly catch games when they are available, but most here see Connolly pushing Wilson to the 4th line.
If that's the case Eller is better than Richards but Connolly is not better than Chimera.
Connolly and Wilson had almost the exact same production numbers last season. I am not sure why everyone concludes he is the 3RW and Wilson not.
I bet all my vCash Connolly will outscore Wilson this season.
Also I think Connolly has a good chance to play above Wilson in the lineup.
Better shot, hands, probably skating too. Maybe he's a guy who can play in PP2 in a slot. Guy is offensively talented.
If something goes wrong - can be buried in the AHL. Compensates for Wilson's 2M (which could be a bit worse than some hoped).
Totally OK with this 3RW-4RW combo. Physical, defensively capable young guys. Sign me up. Can get some tough minutes off of Oshie/Williams.
Also I think Connolly has a good chance to play above Wilson in the lineup.
Better shot, hands, probably skating too. Maybe he's a guy who can play in PP2 in a slot. Guy is offensively talented.
If something goes wrong - can be buried in the AHL. Compensates for Wilson's 2M (which could be a bit worse than some hoped).
Totally OK with this 3RW-4RW combo. Physical, defensively capable young guys. Sign me up. Can get some tough minutes off of Oshie/Williams.
txpd
Registered User
Langway
In den Wolken
- Jul 7, 2006
- 32,413
- 9,128
Galiev 26 GP 1-3-4 career
Connolly 210 GP 27-32-59 career
At the very least Connolly is an upgrade over Galiev/Latta and should be the 4RW. Best case he breaks out and gives them a cheaper scoring-line RW next season when there may be a lot of turnover at the position next summer.
Connolly 210 GP 27-32-59 career
At the very least Connolly is an upgrade over Galiev/Latta and should be the 4RW. Best case he breaks out and gives them a cheaper scoring-line RW next season when there may be a lot of turnover at the position next summer.
WeThreeKings
Habs cup - its in the BAG
This is a good gamble, obviously this guy is not the top 10 pick he was drafted to be.. but his cap hit is so low that if he's waived and sent to the AHL, it won't count against the cap. Up to him to make the most of his audition in camp.
txpd
Registered User
lets see. i think galiev beats connolly out for the available sweater. time will tell.
Yes. I don't think they are done yet.
And Winnik is part of it too (he wasn't for most of last year).
Winnik = Chimera
Caps bottom 6 start of last season:
Johansson - Beagle - Wilson
Chimera - Laich - Latta
Caps bottom 6 start of this season:
Johansson - Eller - Wilson
Winnik - Beagle - Connolly
That's far improved, IMO, and costs less.
Richards came and went (swing and a miss), and the extra forwards are are still in system (upgraded by time...Vrana, Stephenson, Walker, Galiev should all be better).
Hivemind
We're Touched
You're alone in thinking that. I can't really think of any area where Galiev is superior to Connolly. Perhaps dekes.
Hivemind
We're Touched
Jason Chimera scored 20 goals last season.
Daniel Winnik has scored 21 goals in the last three seasons combined.
Meh. Winnik took Chimera's salary slot. Chimera got PP time. Winnik won't.
2014-15 they scored the same amt of goals (granted, Chimera out scored him 15-9 previous year). Winnik is a better PK'er, and is def slotted 4th.
I like Chimera better, don't get me wrong, but Winnik is a different player and adds different values.
What's their fancy stat comparison, since I know how much that matters to you?
txpd
Registered User
I think the Caps have kept Galiev for a reason. I bet Galiev and Connolly play every pre season game and Galiev out performs. We will see
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BrooklynCapsFan
No more choking!
At this point I'm pretty excited about the Connolly project. Seems like a Perreault type player.
Hivemind
We're Touched
Only 4 of Chimera's goals came on the PP. He had the same amount of 5on5 goals (12) as TJ Oshie, and more than Kuznetsov (11) or Johansson (10).
I think Winnik is most certainly a different player, and I think he's definitely better than the 4LW alternatives currently in the system. But I don't think he's really on par with Chimera. Chimmer can play anywhere in the bottom nine, can play both special teams, and still provides some value even when he's not on the score sheet. When he is on the score sheet, he was one of the best contracts in the NHL. I fully understand moving on from him, but I don't think Winnik really replaces Chimera.
As for the possession metrics, they do not reflect kindly on Chimera. Winnik was largely neutral, despite rather tough deployments/utilization. That's a net plus for Winnik. However, much of his stats (both "fancy" and otherwise) have been in decline for the past couple years, which gives me a lot of pause. Winnik's days as a top flight defensive forward are pretty much over, IMO. At the minimum he should provide value on the PK, which is worthy of a roster spot.
That wasn't their bottom 6 at the start of last season.
Johansson was 2LW up until Beagle went down and they needed a new 3C.
Chimera played 3LW pretty much the entire season.
And while Burakovsky got a couple starts up the lineup at the very start of the season because Backstrom was out as soon as he came back he went back to the 4th line until Beagle went down.
I corrected it in the other thread, and frankly it makes it look even better this year re: last
2015:
Chimera-Beagle-Wilson
Burakovsky-Laich-Latta
2016:
Johnasson-Eller-Wilson
Winnik-Beagle-Connolly
Even more of an improvement, frankly.
