Sabres fans rejoice, Tim Connolly has healed!
Again.
He is apparently healthy and ready to get back into the lineup.
Again.
For Buffalonians, Connolly returning from an injury is as repetitive as the winter snow.
It is unfortunate that his health has been a train wreck. When healthy, Connolly brings offense, defense, power play, penalty killing, and an extra step to the Sabres. He is an absolute weapon.
Connolly came back from the lockout a different player. Somewhere along the way, he morphed into a fearless play-maker with unparalleled vision, agility, and hands. His talent is undeniable and at times, unstoppable.
It is ironic that with his incredible ability to see three steps ahead of a play, his career began to derail due to a brutal hit caused by keeping his head down.
Since the lockout, whether Connolly will be in the lineup has become an antagonizing question. He has played in 119 of a possible 286 games. That is a mere 41.6 percent.
Halfway through the schedule, the Sabres sit in eighth place, one point ahead of the formidable Penguins, with only Ottawa and consistent losers behind the Pens. The Sabres continue to show the inconsistency and lack of resiliency which hindered the team last season.
10 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
Sebastien Tremblay 5 months ago
Simple. NO!
He's good, but WOW is he fragile! And the problem is he has talent, so you can't expect Connolly to be a third or fourth center. He's either your first or second center. But he's injured way too often, would you risk paying and then losing your first or second center EVERY SINGLE YEAR for half the season?
He's just not worth it.
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5 months ago
did you read the article, or no?
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Brenda Morse 5 months ago
The premise has merit. However, I don't know how you keep one of your best players on the bench when he is healthy and I don't know if management ever thinks that way - to save a player for the end of the season. I think Connolly is worth keeping. Yes, he does get injured but there is always a chance that he won't get injured and then do you want him playing for someone else? As always, this one is well-written but has some flashes of brilliance in use of transitions, turns of phrases and pacing. Nice job!
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TJ Luckman 5 months ago
You can't bench him. Period.
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Todd Morse 5 months ago
why not? The team is moving along fine without him?
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TJ Luckman 5 months ago
Like it or not, Timmy is a game changer. He brings a whole new element to special teams, and making a good unit like ours that much better is awesome. He can create chemistry with absolutely anyone he plays with. Players like Kotalik and Vanek play MUCH better when Connolly is centering them. Vanek would have about 30-some goals with Timmy centering him.
You can't sit a guy who brings that much to the table, even if it's only for a few games.
Who knows, maybe Tim could actually stay healthy for once?
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Todd Morse 5 months ago
I mention a lot of that in the article. I agree that Connolly is great when healthy. The basic point is that if the Sabres can hang in playoff race without him, then add him for the stretch, it would severely reduce the chances for him to get injured, as well as help the team at the right time. Could a team always be better? Of course, but smart teams make smart moves
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Sean Martin 5 months ago
Yeah, this is one of the most irritating problems we have with the sabres right now. Connolly is a fantastic player, however we know that within a few weeks of play, he will be sidelined again with yet another problem that will keep him out for an unknown amount of time. I think I can agree with benching him till March. The most important feature about that is that maybe Timmy is hurrying back too soon after he is cleared to return. Take a few months to get back to peak shape before returning to the game. That way, just maybe, he will be good for the rest of the season and maybe more. The Biggest question arises when we are asked what we should do with him in the offseason. Is that talent really worth the 20 games he'll play all season?
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Todd Morse 5 months ago
Glad you agree! I completely agreee about the returning too soon point, I just couldn't think of a way to articulate it. As far as the offseason, I think someone will take a chance on him at a price outside of the Sabres budget.
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Roy Stevenson 5 months ago
An interesting premise. Last night is a perfect example. The guy comes back after not having played a game in two months and hardly missed a beat. Logged fifteen minutes of ice, and made some nice plays, especially setting up Adam Mair in the slot. The guy is one of the few who when he gets the puck doesn't immediately look to get rid of it. He's comforatble holding it, luring an opposing player to home, beating that guy, and creating an opportunity.
That said, it wasn't long before he slid into the Ranger goalie and game back to the bench shaking his head and we wondering if he was hurt again. Its wierd. Connolly played more than 80 games his first four years in the league with the Islanders and Sabres. But since the lockout, he's been out as much as he's played.
Saving him for the playoffs is almost like what the Ducks did last year with Niedemayer and Selanne but they seemed they never seemed to get the chemistry going and lost in the first round.
My thought on why the Sabres seem to have so many injured forwards is that the Sabres D is so unphysical that the opposing teams feel free to lay out our forwards 'cause they dont fear the consequences from our guys.
We're a mich better team with Connolly than without him and we'll need him to make any noise in the playoffs but hockey is such a macho game I don't think you could sit him when he's healthy without damaging his or his teamate's pysche.
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