Florida Panthers: Brett Connolly is finding his groove

It’s safe to say that veteran Brett Connolly is making his mark on the Florida Panthers. The well-traveled right-winger has succeeded almost everywhere he’s been. Now, he is making sure that he brings his good fortune to the Florida Panthers.

Connolly had a career year for the Washington Capitals in 2018-19. In 81 games, he recorded 22 goals and 24 assists. Tallying a total of 46 points, he had five game-winning goals.  He cashed in on his big year in the offseason, signing a four-year, $13 million deal on July 1. Given his previous track record, it could have easily been viewed as a risky signing. However, it has appeared to have been a smart move.

Over the last five games, Connolly has really played well for the Florida Panthers. He has five goals and an assist for six points in his last five games. In the team’s most recent game against the Buffalo Sabres, he recorded a goal.

Furthermore, his veteran presence has definitely been an asset on a young team.  He broke into the league in 2011-2012 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. That Lightning group went on several deep playoff runs. He then was traded by Tampa Bay to Boston on March 2, 2015. His Boston tenure was not all that memorable as he suffered a broken hand which caused him to play only nine games for the rest of the 2014-15 season. Although he would go on to play in 71 games the following year, the Bruins certainly did not get the Brett Connolly they were expecting.

A pleasant surprise

Connolly has been a pleasant surprise for Florida because of his track record of not producing a ton of points. If he can at least keep pace with the numbers he is putting up currently, year one of this contract looks like a win for the Panthers. Sometimes, players just need the right situation to succeed in. So far, Connolly has delivered, and his experience may be a key asset as Florida looks to make a playoff push in the second half of the season.