Tim Connolly
Encyclopedia
Tim Connolly is an American
professional ice hockey
player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
of the National Hockey League
.
of the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL) for two seasons, beginning in 1997–98
. After recording 68 points in 46 games in his second OHL season, he was drafted fifth overall by the New York Islanders
in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
.
On June 24, 2001, at the NHL Entry Draft
, Connolly and Taylor Pyatt
were traded by the Islanders to the Buffalo Sabres
for captain Michael Peca
. After missing only three regular season games total in his first four seasons in the league, injuries began to plague Connolly's career beginning in 2003–04. He missed the entire season with post-concussion syndrome
after suffering a concussion in a pre-season game versus the Chicago Blackhawks
. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he played the second half of the season with SC Langnau in the Swiss
Nationalliga A.
In the 2006 playoffs
, he recorded 11 points in 8 post-season games including the game-tying goal with 10.7 seconds left in game one of the second round series against the Ottawa Senators
(which Buffalo won 7–6 in overtime). In game two, however, Connolly was injured with another concussion and missed the rest of the playoffs. Continuing to suffer from post-concussion syndrome, Connolly missed the first 80 games of the 2006–07 season. Connolly was known in the NHL for his puck-handling skills, however, he had been criticized for playing with his head down which many link to his concussion problems. Often called out for being a fragile player, Connolly has missed many games because of subsequent injuries.
He returned to action on April 7, 2007, against the Washington Capitals
, recording 13 minutes of ice time and scoring a goal; he was named second star
for the game, which the Sabres won, 2–0. Connolly had bone spur
problems with his hip all throughout the 2007–08 season and had season-ending surgery to have them removed on March 21, 2008.
The 2008–09 season
season has seen the continuation of Connolly's injury problems. He began the season with two cracked vertebrae from a stick-butt to the back in a pre-season game, which forced him to miss the first 10 games of the regular season. After five games, in which he registered six points, he suffered a broken rib from a devastating hit by the St. Louis Blues' Keith Tkachuk
. Despite playing through the pain in the next game, the injury subsequently pulled Connolly out of the lineup once again. On January 9, 2009, Connolly returned to the lineup to finish the season with 47 points in 48 games.
On March 4, 2009 at the NHL Trade Deadline, Connolly was re-signed by the Buffalo Sabres to a two-year, $9 million contract. In 2009–10
, Connolly had a career-high 65 points in 73 regular season games.
On July 2, 2011, Connolly was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs
to a two-year, $9.5 million contract.
On November 7, 2011, it was reported that Connolly was injured again, this time with an upper-body injury, and would miss between 10 days and two weeks.
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" | Regular season
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" | Playoffs
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season
! Team
! League
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
1996–97
Syracuse Stars
MTJHL
50
42
62
104
34
—
—
—
—
—
1997–98
Erie Otters
OHL
59
30
32
62
32
7
1
6
7
6
1998–99
Erie Otters
OHL
46
34
34
68
50
—
—
—
—
—
1999–00
New York Islanders
NHL
81
14
20
34
44
—
—
—
—
—
2000–01
New York Islanders
NHL
82
10
31
41
42
—
—
—
—
—
2001–02
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
82
10
35
45
34
—
—
—
—
—
2002–03
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
80
12
13
25
32
—
—
—
—
—
2004–05
SC Langnau
NLA
16
7
3
10
14
—
—
—
—
—
2005–06
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
63
16
39
55
28
8
5
6
11
0
2006–07
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
2
1
0
1
2
16
0
9
9
4
2007–08
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
48
7
33
40
8
—
—
—
—
—
2008–09
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
48
18
29
47
22
—
—
—
—
—
2009–10
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
73
17
48
65
28
6
0
1
1
2
2010–11
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
68
13
29
42
20
6
0
2
2
2
NHL totals
627
118
277
395
260
36
5
18
23
8
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year
! Team
! Comp
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|- ALIGN="center"
| 1999
| United States
| WJC
| 6
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 8
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2001
| United States
| WC
| 9
| 3
| 3
| 7
| 4
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | Junior int'l totals
! 6
! 1
! 0
! 1
! 8
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | Senior int'l totals
! 9
! 3
! 4
! 7
! 4
|}
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
Playing career
Connolly played for the Erie OttersErie Otters
The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL) for two seasons, beginning in 1997–98
1997–98 OHL season
The 1997–98 OHL season was the 18th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Eighteen teams each played 66 games. The Guelph Storm won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's. The Toronto St. Michael's Majors name is re-activated when they are awarded a franchise, they would play in the...
. After recording 68 points in 46 games in his second OHL season, he was drafted fifth overall by the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
1999 NHL Entry Draft
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. According to Sports Illustrated and other sports news agencies, at the time the 1999 draft was considered one of the deepest in talent in years, headed by Patrik Stefan and the Sedin twins. However, the...
.
On June 24, 2001, at the NHL Entry Draft
2001 NHL Entry Draft
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...
, Connolly and Taylor Pyatt
Taylor Pyatt
Taylor William Pyatt is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . Drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League , he played major-junior with the Sudbury Wolves...
were traded by the Islanders to the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
for captain Michael Peca
Michael Peca
Michael Anthony "Mike" Peca is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward in the National Hockey League . He most recently played for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL. He has also played for the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple...
. After missing only three regular season games total in his first four seasons in the league, injuries began to plague Connolly's career beginning in 2003–04. He missed the entire season with post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome, also known as postconcussive syndrome or PCS, and historically called shell shock, is a set of symptoms that a person may experience for weeks, months, or occasionally up to a year or more after a concussion – a mild form of traumatic brain injury . PCS may also...
after suffering a concussion in a pre-season game versus the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he played the second half of the season with SC Langnau in the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Nationalliga A.
In the 2006 playoffs
2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals...
, he recorded 11 points in 8 post-season games including the game-tying goal with 10.7 seconds left in game one of the second round series against the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(which Buffalo won 7–6 in overtime). In game two, however, Connolly was injured with another concussion and missed the rest of the playoffs. Continuing to suffer from post-concussion syndrome, Connolly missed the first 80 games of the 2006–07 season. Connolly was known in the NHL for his puck-handling skills, however, he had been criticized for playing with his head down which many link to his concussion problems. Often called out for being a fragile player, Connolly has missed many games because of subsequent injuries.
He returned to action on April 7, 2007, against the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
, recording 13 minutes of ice time and scoring a goal; he was named second star
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
for the game, which the Sabres won, 2–0. Connolly had bone spur
Bone spur
Osteophytes, commonly referred to as bone spurs, are bony projections that form along joint margins. They should not be confused with enthesophytes, which are bony projections which form at the attachment of a tendon or ligament.-Pathophysiology:...
problems with his hip all throughout the 2007–08 season and had season-ending surgery to have them removed on March 21, 2008.
The 2008–09 season
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
season has seen the continuation of Connolly's injury problems. He began the season with two cracked vertebrae from a stick-butt to the back in a pre-season game, which forced him to miss the first 10 games of the regular season. After five games, in which he registered six points, he suffered a broken rib from a devastating hit by the St. Louis Blues' Keith Tkachuk
Keith Tkachuk
Keith Matthew Tkachuk is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played for four teams and three franchises in his 19-year career. He is one of only four American-born players to score 500 goals, and is the sixth American player to score 1,000 points.- Playing career :Tkachuk began...
. Despite playing through the pain in the next game, the injury subsequently pulled Connolly out of the lineup once again. On January 9, 2009, Connolly returned to the lineup to finish the season with 47 points in 48 games.
On March 4, 2009 at the NHL Trade Deadline, Connolly was re-signed by the Buffalo Sabres to a two-year, $9 million contract. In 2009–10
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, Connolly had a career-high 65 points in 73 regular season games.
On July 2, 2011, Connolly was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
to a two-year, $9.5 million contract.
On November 7, 2011, it was reported that Connolly was injured again, this time with an upper-body injury, and would miss between 10 days and two weeks.
Regular season and playoffs
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:75%"|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" | Regular season
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" | Playoffs
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
! Team
! League
! GP
! G
Goal (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
! A
Assist (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
! Pts
Point (ice hockey)
Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
! PIM
Penalty (ice hockey)
A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
Metro Junior A Hockey League
----The Metro Junior "A" Hockey League was a junior level ice hockey league based out of Southern Ontario. The league originated in 1956 as the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, which lasted until 1991, when it changed its designation from Junior B to Junior A. It remained a Jr...
1997–98 OHL season
The 1997–98 OHL season was the 18th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Eighteen teams each played 66 games. The Guelph Storm won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's. The Toronto St. Michael's Majors name is re-activated when they are awarded a franchise, they would play in the...
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996...
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
1998–99 OHL season
The 1998–99 OHL season was the 19th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The Belleville Bulls won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the London Knights....
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
2010–11 NHL season
The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech...
International
{| BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" width=40%|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year
! Team
! Comp
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|- ALIGN="center"
| 1999
1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-5th place game:-Bronze medal game:-Gold medal game:-Final ranking:-Scoring leaders:-Pool B:Played at Szekesfehervar and Dunaujvaros, Hungary from December 27 to January 3. Two groups of four played round robins, and then the top three played each of the top three teams...
| United States
| WJC
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
| 6
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 8
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2001
2001 IIHF World Championship
The 2001 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held between April 28 and May 13, 2001 in Nuremberg, Cologne and Hanover, Germany.It was the 65th annual event, and was run by the International Ice Hockey Federation .-Venues:-Qualification Tournament:...
| United States
| WC
| 9
| 3
| 3
| 7
| 4
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | Junior int'l totals
! 6
! 1
! 0
! 1
! 8
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | Senior int'l totals
! 9
! 3
! 4
! 7
! 4
|}