2018 Stanley Cup Champion and unrestricted free agent right-wing Brett Connolly joined the Washington Capitals’ informal skates before training camp at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Friday. However, the 30-year-old told The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir that there is no arrangement to come back to Washington and just came to skate while in town.
Among those on the ice for today’s informal skate at MCI: Carlson, Eller, Hagelin, Hathaway, Lapierre, Snively, Anas, Alexeyev and, interestingly, former Cap Brett Connolly, who is currently a free agent. #Caps
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) August 19, 2022
The Chicago Blackhawks bought out the final year of his contract, which carried a $3.5 million cap hit, on July 11.
Connolly earned one assist in nine NHL games and 17 goals and 35 points in 37 AHL games last season.
Connolly set career-highs in goals (22), assists (24), points (46), and games played (81) in his final season with the Capitals in 2018-19 before signing a four-year contract with the Florida Panthers as an unrestricted free agent.
Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Capitals in 2016, Connolly recorded 52 goals, 96 points, and a +27 rating in 217 career games with the team. In 536 career NHL games with the Blackhawks, Panthers, Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Boston Bruins, Connolly has recorded 101 goals and 195 points. He scored at least 15 goals in each of his three seasons in Washington while primarily playing on the third line with center Lars Eller and forward Andre Burakovsky.
The Lightning drafted Connolly sixth overall in the 2010 NHL Draft.
During the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run in 2018, Connolly recorded six goals and nine points. He has posted eight goals and 11 points in 42 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Connolly earned the primary assist on Eller’s Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final vs. the Vegas Golden Knights.
Expect Connolly to sign a professional tryout with a team before training camps open across the league next month.
Spoke to Connolly briefly. He’s in town for personal/family stuff, not #Caps, who are pretty stacked up front. The veteran RW needed somewhere to skate.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) August 19, 2022
By Harrison Brown
Connolly sucks. Scratch that. Put him on roster to ensure no playoffs and to secure high draft pick.
Connolly was a high pick, which just in case you didn’t realize your thoughts were dumb, points out the 50/50 nature of “high” draft picks….
I mean if he’s willing to play for Hershey that’d be great lmao
It’s sad news..