The Macho King
Back* to Back** World Champion
- Jun 22, 2011
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I wouldn't mind using both picks to move up, but at the same time, I trust Murray with as many bullets we can give him. Basically, I trust the Yzerplan.
Speculation: Nice problem to have: Our depth and the question of who we will send down eventually
- Thread starter LightningStrikes
- Start date
I wouldn't mind using both picks to move up, but at the same time, I trust Murray with as many bullets we can give him. Basically, I trust the Yzerplan.
The Macho King
Back* to Back** World Champion
- Jun 22, 2011
- 48,776
- 29,312
How has Connolly earned a spot over Namestnikov and Paquette when both have outperformed him and are strong defensively?
LTIR Trickery
Plz stop pucks
It's not all about what they've done this season. Connolly has paid his dues in the organization and was playing well before getting hurt. Both have cooled off the past few games, both could still use some developing. Just because they have played on the PK doesn't mean they're strong defensively. Brown plays PK and I don't think he's strong defensively. Connolly does enough in our zone he's not a liability.
That doesn't mean much, I'm sure he didn't sign a long lease. Players shouldn't get too comfortable as you never know if you'll be traded or demoted.
With Filppula going back to center where does Namestnikov play? I've can't recall him playing anything but center in junior, AHL and NHL.
IdealisticSniper
Registered User
- Nov 9, 2008
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Lets all be honest with ourselves. The ONLY reason Connolly is on this team is because of his waiver status plus his draft status. They dont want to lose him for nothing. Especially after they lost Panik for nothing.
I would be extremely surprised if he was on this team at the start of next year unless he has some miraculous turnaround the rest of this season.
I would be extremely surprised if he was on this team at the start of next year unless he has some miraculous turnaround the rest of this season.
CarpeNoctem
Chilling w The Chief
The problem is that Connolly has been better, but not so much improved that he's bumped other players out of the way entirely. It's a tough situation actually.
The reason he is on this team is because he has earned it by excelling in the AHL. We don't need a top 6 RW this year...or next. We have a team/organization that is willing to develop talent in the NHL on the third line. We don't have any other "natural" RW prospects even close to being ready or half as talented.
People were sh!tting on Killorn about a week ago then goes on a tear. Amazing to me how you are willing to give up on a 22 year old PROSPECT that played a good 8 games to start the season and played on fourth line...then misses a month and is three games back.
Connolly trade talk is unwarranted and premature...
IdealisticSniper
Registered User
- Nov 9, 2008
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He hasnt looked like a useful NHL player in his nearly 100 NHL games. Its that simple.
Could he eventually turn it around and become productive? Sure. Im not denying that he has talent, he just doesnt have the hockey IQ IMO.
There are prospects in this organization that have passed him every single year and it wont stop next year either.
How hasn't he looked useful this year? I'll give you prior to this season but he's been playing well in his role.
You can see in his play that he's turned it around, he has more goals then the past two seasons. He's creating chances so the assists will start coming and the goals will continue.
The only prospect that has passed him is Kucherov. Paquette/Brown/Namestnikov haven't passed him. Connolly is set as our 3rd line RW for the season, I expect him to go 15-15 for the season. Good but not great numbers but showing improvement.
Sky04
Registered User
- Jan 8, 2009
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What? Palat, Johnson, Kucherov, Drouin along with Killorn passed him over the past 2 years, Namestnikov is equal if not better than him right now.
You think he'll score 28 points in the remaining 58 games? That's nearly 0.5PPG for a guy who's career averages 0.2 and this year averaging 0.18. That's some lofty expectations for Connolly, I wouldn't bet on over 20 points this year.
IdealisticSniper
Registered User
- Nov 9, 2008
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I'll take it one step further. I would put money on him being part of a trade package that lands us something at the deadline.
Oh and for the record he no longer a "prospect". Firstly, his games played and secondly and more importantly his waiver status. He is a player not a prospect. Like it or not it's now or never, this organization has way too many options to just sit and hope with him.
Palat, Killorn and Drouin are left wings, Johnson is a center, like I said Kur is the only one who's passed him as a RW. Killorn is also 3 years older, Johnson is a 2, Connolly is progressing but slower than most wanted because of where be was drafted.
Like I said he wasn't good his prior to this season so his ppg average from the past I'm not worried about. He had 2 goals the first 6 games so he was on a 30 point pace before the injury. As he shown in the A he can go on a scoring tear in a few games and put up big points, don't think he'll score at those rates but a good 10 game stretch he can get a lot of those points.
I'm not so sure he's going to last until the deadline. I feel like we're now seeing Connolly's "last chance." I can't fathom any reason for him to be on the top PP unit except to either prove he can hang in a premium offensive role or to boost his point total so we don't have to trade him for scraps. Paquette has outplayed him in a limited role to this point, so it could make us a worse team to demote Paquette and keep Connolly around. All that said, I feel like Connolly was one of our more dangerous players last game. If he can build on that he might finally start paying off.
