Former first rounder Brett Connolly has been inked to a one-year, two-way contract, the Lightning announced this afternoon. Connolly, 22, has spent the past two seasons in Syracuse with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate. He did well there, too, putting up 52 goals and 120 points in 137 AHL games.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Brett Connolly to a one-year, two-way contract, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today.
Connolly, 22, skated in 11 games with the Lightning last season, posting a goal and four penalty minutes. His lone goal during the 2013-14 season came on November 2 against the St. Louis Blues. Connolly also skated in 66 games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, recording 21 goals and 57 points to go along with 50 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 193-pound forward ranked first on the Crunch for both points and assists (36).
The Campbell River, B.C. native has skated in 84 career NHL games, all with the Lightning over three seasons, notching six goals and 17 points go along with 34 penalty minutes. Three of his six career goals have been game-winners. Connolly has also skated in 137 career AHL games, collecting 52 goals and 120 points.
It is unclear what this contract means for Connolly. Many observers had slotted him in for a roster spot in the NHL. A two-way contract, however, indicates that the team might be hedging their bets on this one. Connolly is not waiver exempt, however, and is unlikely to clear waivers if he should be sent down. Which makes things a bit murkier than expected.
Requires waivers. RT @dball4u29 Brett Connolly
— CapGeek (@capgeek) July 9, 2014
No information yet on salary numbers.
