Bruins Acquire Brett Connolly From Lightning
BOSTON (CBS) -- With less than 24 hours before the trade deadline hits, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli has made a move.
The Bruins acquired forward Brett Connolly from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for two second-round picks. The picks are for the 2015 and 2016 NHL drafts.
Connolly, 22, has 12 goals and three assists in 49 games this season, averaging 11:57 time on ice per game. In 133 career games, he has 18 goals and 14 assists. The 6-foot-2, 181-pound native of British Columbia is a right shot right wing, an area of need which the Bruins were expected to target at the deadline.
"He's a young player ... He can really shoot the puck, he's got some size, he was drafted sixth overall," Chiarelli told BostonBruins.com. "He's just starting to come into his own a little bit, and he's kind of a straight-line player but he makes plays and he can really shoot the puck. He's a player that we've kind of looked at for a while."
Last year with the AHL Syracuse Crunch, Connolly led his team with 21 goals and 57 points in 66 games played.
"He's a guy that we think can come in and help us right away and still could have a long future for us," Chiarelli added.
The Hockey News' scouting report tabs Connolly as having "outstanding scoring ability and a very projectable frame. Can play either wing position effectively. His hockey sense is very much an asset in the attacking zone.
Connolly was drafted No. 6 overall in the 2010 draft, one spot ahead of Jeff Skinner.
He is making just $850,000 this year and is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.