The Tampa Bay Lightning has a wealth of young, offensively minded talent coming up through the ranks with the Syracuse Crunch. During this National Hockey League lockout, the Crunch has inspired Bolts Nation with spirited comebacks, excellent offensive performances and all-around entertaining hockey. Because of this, many Crunch forwards are being considered for the Lightning’s final top-six roster spot. However, given the Bolts’ strengths and weaknesses, one candidate jumps off the page as a potentially perfect fit for the job; that man is Brett Connolly.
Drafted sixth overall in 2010 after an injury plagued end to his junior career, Connolly’s career with the Lightning has been anything but spectacular. Last year, in his first full National Hockey League season, Connolly only managed to put up 15 points in 68 contests. Many were quick to jump on Connolly for his seeming lack of inspiration and drive; confidence was clearly an issue. This 2012-13 NHL lockout has changed all that.
When the Lightning drafted Connolly, it envisioned a player who was confident, willing to use his size and offensively dangerous. Right now, with the Syracuse Crunch, Brett Connolly is that player. With 22 points through 23 contests, he is currently the second leading scorer on the team. More than that, he has shown an incredible willingness to use his size to protect the puck, create chances and convert on opportunities. The Brett Connolly we are seeing right now is the Brett Connolly that put up 73 points in his final year of junior with the Prince George Cougars.
As mentioned, there is only one top-six roster spot left up for grabs on the Lightning roster. With Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, Teddy Purcell, Vincent Lecavalier and Ryan Malone all considered locks, the Lightning have to look at which prospect or player would be the best fit with that grouping.
Bolts Nation has been quick to suggest that Cory Conacher, one of the AHL’s most dominant players, or Tyler Johnson could fill the void; it has also been suggested that JT Brown, the college standout who closed last season with the Lightning, could slot in. The reality, though, is that all of these players are undersized guys who are not going to intimidate anyone at the NHL level.
Looking at the players described above as locks, it becomes painfully obvious that the Lightning lack an element of toughness and ruggedness in the top-six. While physically tall and daunting, Ryan Malone is hardly a dominating physical presence. Given that, neither Conacher nor Brown nor Johnson fit the bill as an adequate option for the Lightning’s top-six. At some point in the future, these players will all fit in; there’s just too much talent there not to. However, right now, that’s not the case.
Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing in at a bulked up 200 pounds, Brett Connolly is exactly what the Lightning is missing in the top-six. He’s not a power forward, but he’s a physical presence with size. He’s the kind of player willing to dig deep in the corners and use that size to win puck battles. Commentators have expressed a ton of respect for his knack for sticking with the puck and never giving up on a play. Given the incredible play making and sniping abilities of some of the Lightning’s other top-six players, Connolly’s style appears to be a perfect complement.
Watching Connolly absolutely dominate the American Hockey League with his smart physical play, keen offensive instincts and defensive awareness has opened the eyes of many in the Lightning family. Having re-discovered his confidence, offensive ability and physicality that made him a consistent threat in junior, Brett Connolly is ready to be a top-six NHL forward. When the puck drops on the next NHL season, look for the Bolts’ coaching staff to give Connolly a long look in the top-six. Not only does he deserve it, but he might just be the perfect fit.
As always, thanks for reading!
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