Connolly signed a one-year contract with HC Lugano of Switzerland's National League on Monday.
Connolly appeared in nine games with Chicago during the 2021-22 season. He spent the majority of the year at the AHL level, supplying 17 goals and 35 points in 37 matches for Rockford. The 30-year-old forward has picked up seven points in 40 NHL appearances over the past two seasons.
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Brett Connolly: Waived Monday
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Connolly was waived Monday by the Blackhawks, who plan to buy out his contract, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
The No. 6 overall pick in 2010, Connolly spent the majority of last season with AHL Rockford, where he produced a solid 35 points in 37 games. He was held to a lone assist in nine NHL contests, though, and has recorded just seven points in his last 40 top-level games since his 19-goal effort with Florida in 2020-21. Assuming he clears waivers and gets bought out, Connolly will become an unrestricted free agent and look to find work with a sixth NHL franchise after earlier stints in Tampa Bay, Boston and Washington.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Sent to AHL Rockford
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Connolly was reassigned to AHL Rockford on Saturday, per Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago.
Connolly has averaged 8:23 of ice time and distributed one assist over nine NHL appearances this season. The 29-year-old will rejoin AHL Rockford, looking to build upon his 11 points over 16 AHL games in 2021-22.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Gets on scoresheet with assist
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Connolly notched an assist and two hits in Thursday's 7-4 loss to the Blue Jackets.
Connolly set up linemate Ryan Carpenter in the first period. It was the latter's first goal and the former's first point of the season. Connolly has only been an occasional part of the Blackhawks' lineup, though he's played in five of the last seven games. He has one assist, six shots on net, seven hits, 15 PIM and a minus-3 rating in nine outings this season.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Recalled to play Friday
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Connolly joined Chicago's active roster and will be in the lineup Friday versus Colorado, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.
Connolly will skate for the Blackhawks just two days after they waived him. The 27-year-old doesn't figure to get playing time once Jujhar Khaira (back) returns to the lineup soon.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Waived Wednesday
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The Blackhawks placed Connolly on waivers Wednesday, Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
It's unlikely that Connolly, who has six points in 35 games over the last two seasons, will be claimed off waivers. Thus, the 29-year-old will likely head to AHL Rockford.
Connolly cleared the NHL's COVID-19 protocols Friday, Carter Baum of the Blackhawks' official site reports.
Connolly was absent from the last three games while in the virus protocols. The 29-year-old has averaged 10:51 of ice time and been held without a point over two appearances since being elevated to the active roster Jan.6.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Added to COVID-19 protocols
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Connolly was designated for the NHL's COVID-19 protocols Saturday, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Connolly has averaged 8:25 of ice time and has been held pointless over his four NHL appearances this season. He recently completed his suspension sentence on Jan. 8 and has played in just two NHL contests since Dec. 18. Due to his entry into protocols, the 29-year-old will miss Saturday's game against Anaheim at a minimum.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Activated from suspension
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Connolly has served his suspension, per CapFriendly. Therefore, he will be eligible to play against the Golden Knights on Saturday,
Connolly was hit with a four-game suspension for interference against Tanner Kero of the Stars in a Dec. 18 contest. He was subsequently sent to the taxi squad and shuffled between that designation and the active roster. Connoly has appeared in just two NHL games this season.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Added to active roster
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Connolly has been recalled to the Blackhawks' active roster and will serve the final game of his four-game suspension Thursday against Arizona, source reports.
Connolly will be eligible to play Saturday versus Vegas after serving the final game of his four-game suspension Thursday, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him return to the taxi squad prior to that contest. He's gone scoreless through two top-level appearances this season.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Shifted to taxi squad
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Connolly (suspension) was demoted to the taxi squad Wednesday, Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Connolly still has one game remaining on his four-game suspension, which won't count unless he is elevated to the active roster for Thursday's matchup with Arizona. Even once his ban is over, the 29-year-old winger figures to remain a fringe roster player moving forward. As such, the British Columbia native shouldn't be expected to offer much in the way of fantasy value.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Rises to active roster
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Connolly (suspension) was promoted from the taxi squad on Saturday, per CapFriendly.
Connolly has yet to serve his four-game suspension, although the NHL's scheduling shuffle during the holiday break makes it unclear when the winger will be eligible to return.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: On taxi squad
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The Blackhawks added Connolly (suspension) to their taxi squad Monday.
Connolly has yet to begin serving his four-game suspension.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Sent down Tuesday
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Connolly (suspension) was sent down to AHL Rockford on Tuesday, per CapFriendly.
Connolly wasn't going to be in the Blackhawks' lineup before the new year anyway after he received a four-game suspension for interference against the Stars' Tanner Kero. It's unclear if the 29-year-old Connolly will be allowed to play in the minors.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Recalled Sunday
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Connolly was recalled from AHL Rockford on Sunday.
The 29-year-old and one-time 22-goal-scorer (2018-19) has yet to set foot on NHL ice this season. Connolly has been reasonably productive with the IceHogs to the tune of 11 points in 16 games, so he should provide a nice bit of veteran depth with the Blackhawks if he's indeed pressed into action.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Hits waivers
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Chicago waived Connolly on Tuesday, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.
Connolly picked up 19 goals and 33 points in 69 games with Florida in 2019-20 before experiencing a steep decline with just six points in 31 contests split between the Panthers and the Blackhawks in 2021-22, so he could get plucked off waivers by a forward-needy team. If not, the 29-year-old winger will likely be assigned to AHL Rockford.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Practices Friday
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Connolly (concussion) is on the ice for Friday's training camp practice, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Connolly missed time late last season with a concussion, but it appears as though he has made a full recovery from that injury. The 29-year-old winger tallied three goals and six points in 31 games split between the Panthers and the Blackhawks last season and will likely have to settle for a rotational, bottom-six role with Chicago this year.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Done for year
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Connolly (concussion) will miss Chicago's last two games of the season, Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Connolly will finish the season having totaled just six points in 31 games split between the Blackhawks and Panthers. He'll likely be a regular in Chicago's bottom six in 2021-22.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Dealing with concussion
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Connolly was diagnosed with a concussion after Thursday's game versus the Hurricanes, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Connolly was hurt in a second-period collision with the Hurricanes' Steven Lorentz, and head contact was made on the play. With the concussion diagnosis, the Blackhawks will likely take caution, which likely means Connolly's season is done. He produced six points in 31 appearances between the Blackhawks and the Panthers.
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Blackhawks' Brett Connolly: Done for night
Rotowire
Connolly (upper body) will not return to Thursday's game versus the Hurricanes.
Connolly was injured during the second period on an accidental collision with the Hurricanes' Steven Lorentz. The 29-year-old Connolly appeared to suffer an upper-body injury of some sort on the play. It's unclear if he'll be available to play Sunday versus the Stars.
