Graphic: HC Lugano

HC Lugano announced today that the team has signed former Washington Capitals forward Brett Connolly to a one-year contract for the 2022-23 season.

Connolly, 30, played three seasons for the Washington Capitals, including the Capitals Stanley Cup run in 2018. During the Capitals’ Stanley Cup run, Connolly recorded six goals and nine points. He recorded 52 goals in 217 games before signing with the Florida Panthers in free agency in 2019.

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.

Connolly spent parts of the last two seasons in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, where he ended up playing just 19 NHL games and 37 AHL games for the Rockford IceHogs. He recorded just a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks and recorded 35 points for the IceHogs. The Blackhawks bought out the final year of his contract, which carried a $3.5 million cap hit, on July 11.

Connolly joined the Washington Capitals’ informal skates before training camp at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in late August. 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. He would later attend Tom Wilson’s wedding.

The Lightning drafted Connolly sixth overall in the 2010 NHL Draft.

By Jon Sorensen