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Part Three on who the Minnesota Wild Should Sign

By Lake Martin

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 29: Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates with teammates after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on March 29, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wild won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 29: Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates with teammates after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on March 29, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wild won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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9. Brett Connolly, RW (100pts)

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: Brett Connolly #10 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2019, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: Brett Connolly #10 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2019, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

In 2010, with the 6th overall pick, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected, Brett Connolly from Campbell River, British Columbia, with the expectation that he would join the likes of Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman in returning the Lightning to Stanley Cup greatness. Over 4 years with the organization, he would only play 134 games in a Tampa Bay sweater, spending most of his time with the Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate team) where he would play 137 games. In the AHL, he was electric, earning a 63 point season (31G, 32A) and a 57 point season (21G, 36A), but it seemed that he was only lightning in a bottle in Syracuse. The scoring and play-making never transitioned to the NHL, where he only tallied 32 points (18G, 14A) in his 134 games in his young career.

He was traded to the Boston Bruins for two second-round picks and the lack of production followed him, where he would tally 27 points in 76 games.

The Capitals would sign him to a 1-yr/$850,000 contract, prior to the 2016-2017 season, and sparked a bit of balance and production in his game. In 66 games, he would produce 15 goals and 8 assists and earn himself a new contract for 2-yr/$3,000,000. He’d then produce back to back career high point seasons with 27 (15, 12) in 2017 and 46 in 2018 (22, 24), impressive while playing behind guys like Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie, and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The two biggest questions in Brett Connolly’s game is his ability to continue producing at a 2nd/3rd line rate and can he stay on the ice. Until last season, he’s never finished a season with more than 70 games, whether it be an injury, a healthy scratch, or spending time in the minors, he just couldn’t stay in the lineup. After the success of this past season, he’s looking for top-6 money, which the Capitals may not be able to afford. The 6th highest contract for the Caps is a tie for T.J. Oshie and Matt Niskanen at an AAV of $5,750,000, so Connolly is expecting a similar or greater level of compensation.

Brett Connolly comes in at number nine because of the goals he scored last season(22), his age (27), the number of games he played (81), and the fact that he’s right-handed. He isn’t a constant scoring threat on the ice, but more of someone who can help generate opportunities for others but isn’t foreign to the concept of burying the puck. Not exactly what the Wild need, but could be someone who helps generate opportunities for Parise, (if he’s still with the team) Zucker, Donato, Fiala, and/or Kunin. Is he worth $5,000,000? Well…

If I were Paul Fenton, I would let Brett Connolly sit in free agency for a bit, and see if he’s willing to take a cheaper deal, like 4-years/$16,000,000. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to pass on him.

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