Haggs: Connolly Trade Comes With Some Risk For Bruins
BOSTON (CBS) - With Monday's 3 pm trade deadline quickly approaching, the Boston Bruins finally made a splash, trading away two second round picks to acquire forward Brett Connolly from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Comcast SportsNet New England's Joe Haggerty weighed in on the Bruins trade with Toucher & Rich on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Haggerty noted that while Connolly has good size and offensive ability, the addition of the 22-year-old is still a risk.
"They might be getting a player with a lot of unfulfilled potential. He's had a few years to show it in Tampa, and it hasn't quite happened yet, so I think they are rolling the dice a little bit here," said Haggerty.
Connolly has 12 goals and three assists in 49 games this season, and last season for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch, Connolly led the team with 21 goals and 57 points in 66 games played.
The Bruins ended up passing on available veterans such as Antoine Vermette and Keith Yandle, who were both traded by the Arizona Coyotes. Vermette was dealt to Chicago for a first round pick and defenseman Klas Dahlbeck, but is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Yandle was traded to the New York Rangers in a four-player deal but only has one year remaining on his contract.
Haggerty applauded Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli for not wasting draft picks or paying a high salary to players who aren't committed long term.
"In a market this year where everyone is overpaying incredibly for rental players -- players you're only going to have a couple of months at the maximum -- I think it's a good move from the GM to go in there and get a player you can keep for a while rather than a rental," said Haggerty.
Connolly appears to be a timely acquisition for the Bruins, as center David Krejci is out 4-6 weeks with a torn MCL in his left knee, and defenseman Kevan Miller is having season-ending surgery on his dislocated right shoulder.
"I'd assume he's going to get a look at the top line when Krejci comes back, and he's going to get a look at a couple different positions. I know they're looking for a permanent solution with [center] David Krejci and [left wing] Milan Lucic, so he'd be the obvious guy they would try there," said Haggerty.
The Bruins return to the ice Thursday to host the Calgary Flames at 7pm. They currently hold a two-point lead over the Florida Panthers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
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