Tim Connolly is a good player

[Peter D.]

I wasn't fond of his signing (more the money aspect) based on his durability, but knew full well if he could be relatively healthy he'd reward the team with some great play.

Exactly my feeling.

Well, Peter... We were right not being fond of this signing. We were also right in thinking if healthy he'd reward us with some great play. - If by "some" we meant slightly more than "nothing."   

HA!  Funny you bumped this as I was thinking this same thing as the game started.

I see Bozak centering Kessel and Lupul, then see Connolly on the 3rd line and think what a complete disappointment.  He was supposed to be that talented playmaker who complemented Kessel nicely for the time being.  They have had a few moments, but certainly not to the extent we were hoping.  It was definitely worth the gamble, but it's turned out to be one heck of an expensive one.

 

[Al14]

Tim Connolly is currenty not earning his paycheque! 

He needs to be a difference maker at his salary. 

His impression of 'The Invisible Man' is wearing thin.  :-*

He needs to step up or GTFO this team. 

 

[caver]

how long until the next injury hits? Maybe Colbourne comes up?

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

how long until the next injury hits? Maybe Colbourne comes up?

I have a theory that this is why Wilson put Connolly in front of the net to screen while Phaneuf took a slapper yesterday.

 

[pnjunction]

how long until the next injury hits? Maybe Colbourne comes up?

I have a theory that this is why Wilson put Connolly in front of the net to screen while Phaneuf took a slapper yesterday.

Hah a few practices trying to tip/screen Phaneuf slap shots might be just what the cap doctor ordered?

 

[cap44]

the guy has been a total bust just as I thought when we signed him. Bad deal all around and all we can do now is some damage control. (ie: trade) Kulemin has also been a total bust this season but I really like the kid and think he should get a chance at resurrecting his career elsewhere! We should get a good return on him as well. Other than that I like this team a lot......if we could just get some coaching

 

[Bonsixx]

how long until the next injury hits? Maybe Colbourne comes up?

I have a theory that this is why Wilson put Connolly in front of the net to screen while Phaneuf took a slapper yesterday.

If that's the case, shouldn't he have put him as far away from the net as possible?

 

[Tigger]

He was supposed to be that talented playmaker who complemented Kessel nicely for the time being. They have had a few moments, but certainly not to the extent we were hoping.  It was definitely worth the gamble, but it's turned out to be one heck of an expensive one.

That brings up another key point to the insurance policy, as much as Bozak was a question mark, so was Lupul. It's worked out and there's no long term consequences, should turn out fine.

Wishing for Connolly to get injured? I don't get you guys.

 

[caver]

He was supposed to be that talented playmaker who complemented Kessel nicely for the time being. They have had a few moments, but certainly not to the extent we were hoping.  It was definitely worth the gamble, but it's turned out to be one heck of an expensive one.

That brings up another key point to the insurance policy, as much as Bozak was a question mark, so was Lupul. It's worked out and there's no long term consequences, should turn out fine.

Wishing for Connolly to get injured? I don't get you guys.

I don't think anyone wishes for Connolly to get injured. Just having some fun at his expense. I do hope he starts playing better. He shows those flashes of great play and then disappears for long stretches of games. That might be what drove Sabre's fans nuts. 

 

[Tigger]

Well fair enough but Wilson seems to appreciate his contributions and it's not like he's been playing with top goal scorers or anything recently, he's been a defense first centre, especially since Lombardi returned, while contributing nicely to a pretty successful pk in last month and a half.

I get the argument about price performance and I largely agree with it but he was an ufa and the Leafs had a need, it's not like they're in a cap crunch of any real concern at this point or down the road either.

Contribution to team success is what the doctor ordered to me.

 

[Bender]

the guy has been a total bust just as I thought when we signed him. Bad deal all around and all we can do now is some damage control. (ie: trade) Kulemin has also been a total bust this season but I really like the kid and think he should get a chance at resurrecting his career elsewhere! We should get a good return on him as well. Other than that I like this team a lot......if we could just get some coaching

He's still a good hockey player, he's not crap. He's been buried under the first couple of lines, but he's not a bad player and was hovering around a ppg for a while in the season. We're so populist sometimes, whatever the prevailing wind is, that's our opinion. If he scored consistently for  a few games you guys would still be on his ass.

 

[Ronco]

It's been the last couple of weeks  i have noticed Connolly is MIA i just do not see the set-up guy i was expecting.
He is not feared at all when he get's the puck. I mean the guy is basically floating most games.
I've watched him rush up the ice only to float back the other way after trying to make a pass, or take a shot.
The guy's head is not in the game.

He's not performing as i thought he would. There is no danger when you put Connolly out there.
Instead of pushing us ahead he's dragging us along.
I'm hoping this get's better otherwise the "2010 -  65 pts" Connolly is long gone.
He's not a goal scorer, but he should be setting em up for his line mates better than this.

 

[Jalili]

It's been the last couple of weeks  i have noticed Connolly is MIA i just do not see the set-up guy i was expecting.
He is not feared at all when he get's the puck. I mean the guy is basically floating most games.
I've watched him rush up the ice only to float back the other way after trying to make a pass, or take a shot.
The guy's head is not in the game.

He's not performing as i thought he would. There is no danger when you put Connolly out there.
Instead of pushing us ahead he's dragging us along.
I'm hoping this get's better otherwise the "2010 -  65 pts" Connolly is long gone.
He's not a goal scorer, but he should be setting em up for his line mates better than this.

I think a lot of people wondered how such a high skill kind of player like Connolly could be so disliked in Buffalo by their fans and media. Now we're starting to see why. Call it a stupid cliche but he doesn't seem like one of those guys you win with. Or as the saying goes, he is "soft".

I was in favour of signing him in the off-season though, so I can't complain. I still have hope for him that he can turn it around for the rest of his short stint in TO.

 

[nutman]

Why has he not been tossed to the press box.

 

[Zee]

Why has he not been tossed to the press box.

Good question. He needs to be cut.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Why has he not been tossed to the press box.

You already paying Komisarek 5.5 million dollars to sit in the press box, Armstrong at 3 million was recently scratched too. If you add another 4.75 million in Connoly then that just makes Burke look bad. Paying 12 million dollars for guys not to play. Burke has too big of an ego to make himself look inept.

 

[Bullfrog]

Why has he not been tossed to the press box.

Good question. He needs to be cut.

In place of whom?

 

[slapshot]

Crabb is a good energy guy, but I think Connolly needs someone more like Frattin or Kadri on that line with him and Lombardi to generate some offence.

Problem is 4th line is already too crowded Steckel, Brown, Boyce to some extent Armstrong to send Crabb there.

I really think Burke does some kind of deal this week or next, especially after that 5-0 drubbing and third straight loss. Burke wants to even things out so there are more high peaks and less deep valleys in the game results.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Hmm.  Seems like this is how one media person wrote of Connolly...

...Tim Connolly?s lack of production. Anyone who has watched Connolly or followed his career ? including Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke before he signed Connolly to a two-year deal worth $9.5 million ? could plainly detect a pattern. Connolly always has been, and always will be, a player whose production is measured on the feast or famine scale.

And those who took a real critical look at this player would also know this facet of his game had nothing to do with injuries and everything to do with the fact he seems to pick his spots when to be inspired.

Agree?


Source:  THN

 

[moon111]

To me, streaky players usually have one common trait, they don't get dirty.  Connolly is a pretty game player, but don't expect him to do much when things get ugly.  He's not the type to charge the net, throw huge body-checks on the forecheck, or intimidate anyone.  A soft player on a way too soft roster.