On one hand, Brett Connolly of Prince George is pleased to be millionaire after signing a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins for $1,025,000.
On the other hand, the 23-year-old former PG Cougar will be under the microscope to produce with no long term security.
The Bruins are in transition as rookie GM Don Sweeney puts his stamp on the team taking over from Peter Chiarelli, who is now running the Edmonton Oilers.
Sweeney started to change the complexion of the Bruins when he surprisingly dealt Dougie Hamilton to Calgary, Milan Lucic to LA and Reilly Smith to Florida.
Connolly, who was born in Campbell River but played much of his minor hockey in P.G., will be given a chance to be a core player in the Boston line-up, but there is a clear message it comes with a short leash.
Sweeney and coach Claude Julien don’t want to hear about Connolly’s potential. They want results in the 2015-16 season and are looking for him to shake an up and down career by becoming a bona fide top six forward.
“They believe in me and what I can do, and it’s just exciting to get reassurance and sign the deal and hopefully have a good start to the season and get back in the playoffs. It’s exciting for everybody,” Connolly told a Boston reporter this week.
It may seem exciting in the summer but come the winter that enthusiasm could vanish unless the 6-foot-2 winger excels.
The Lightning had high hopes for their 6th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, however, just prior to this year’s trade deadline on March 2nd, Tampa gave up on Connolly by unloading him to the Bruins for a pair of second round picks.
The Lightning, under Prince George born coach Jon Cooper, did not miss a beat winning the Eastern Conference Championship, falling two victories shy of the Stanley Cup.
Patience ran thin for GM Steve Yzerman who witnessed first-hand Connolly excel at the AHL level (63 and 57 point seasons with the Syracuse Crunch) but struggle many nights in the NHL. He has just 34 points (including 18 goals) in 139 career NHL games, a reflection that Connolly has not been a regular on the power play while being spotted for 12 to 14 minutes a game on the 3rd or 4th line.
Cougars fans will remember Connolly as a pure goal scorer in junior. In his last season in P.G (2010-11), he racked up 46 goals in just 59 WHL games.
Connolly was a very confident gifted offensive player with the Cougars. He had natural talent to find the opening and tally clutch goals.
The Bruins are hoping some of that magic rubs off with them. If Connolly succeeds, he will certainly cash in with a much bigger deal next year as a restricted free agent.
If he doesn’t, his NHL career could very well be in limbo.
From the Quote Rack:
Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs says that tennis elbow caused by his iPhone led to his poor shooting. Tennis elbow from an iPhone–is that a case of ‘server error’?
Joe Theismann compares a Redskins name change to ‘Caitlin Jenner’. Only if the ‘skins join the Lingerie League.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Donovan McNabb, 38, was arrested for his 2nd DUI in 2 years. Sounds like the former Eagles, Redskins and Vikings’ QB is trying just a bit too hard to act like he still belongs in the NFL.
David West signs with San Antonio for $1.5 million, turning down $12 million with the Indiana Pacers. Either West really wants a ring, or he’s really bad at math.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel said he was “a bit of a distraction” last season. That’s like Wilt Chamberlain saying he was a bit of a flirt.
Wimbledon saw another opening round exit for Eugenie Bouchard, who also drew a dress-code violation for her black bra. That’s rough: penalized for the one thing in her game that’s been uplifting.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
A guy named Konstantinos Papastathopoulos went into a bank in Athens to withdraw some cash. By the time it took him to sign his name, they ran out.
If C.J Wilson and Jason Pierre-Paul don’t re-sign with their current teams, they certainly won’t end up with Green Bay. The Packers are still trying to recruit players for their onside kicks “all hands” team.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver (http://alwaysfunny.com/)
And in case you missed it:
New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul on his fireworks fiasco: “No need to start pointing fingers.”
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller