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Tim Connolly News & Rumors

Connolly adds D
December 20
Toronto Sun
 
"There is little doubt that the Maple Leafs are a better team with Tim Connolly in the lineup. Not only does he help generate offence — he had 15 points in 20 games going into Monday night's contest — he is defensively sound as well. To help the Leafs' top unit tighten up on the defensive side of the puck, Connolly was reunited with Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul on Monday for the matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. "We need just a little more balance between offence and defence, so I think and hope that Timmy is able to provide that for the first line," coach Ron Wilson said after the Leafs' morning skate. "(The top unit) is scoring a lot but they're also giving up a lot of goals and"
Connolly liked Buffalo, enjoys Toronto
December 17
Buffalo News
 
"Tim Connolly has missed more than one-third of his team's games. He's averaging nearly a point per game during the ones he's played. When he had the puck Friday night, he got booed by the folks in First Niagara Center. In other words, not much has changed since Connolly left the Sabres for the Toronto Maple Leafs over the summer. The longtime Sabres center skated into Buffalo for the first time since signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract with Toronto. The Leafs backers who constituted the majority of the crowd cheered when Connolly was introduced for the starting lineup, but the Buffalo folks took over with boos the first time Connolly touched the puck 1:12 into the game. They also"
Return of Leafs' Connolly to Buffalo expected to be 'different'
December 16
Buffalo News
 
"The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't made the playoffs since the NHL lockout so they have an easy goal to attain. As they hit town for their first visit of the season tonight in First Niagara Center, they're sixth in the Eastern Conference and a familiar face has provided a big boost. Former Buffalo center Tim Connolly, who signed as a free agent in the offseason after being with the Sabres since 2001, will be making his return to the building tonight. Connolly has six goals and nine assists in 18 games, and scored in overtime Tuesday to beat Carolina, 2-1. Connolly tried to downplay his return with reporters in Toronto this week but acknowledged he knows what kind of reception is likely"
Buffalo spotlight on Leafs' Connolly
December 15
Toronto Sun
 
"If Tim Connolly had a reputation as a soft, brittle performer in the National Hockey League when he was with the Buffalo Sabres, it didn't extend to many of those who played against him. "He's a smart player, a guy known around the league as a high-end player," Maple Leafs forward Colby Armstrong said on Wednesday after the team practised at the MasterCard Centre. "A lot of his stuff goes unnoticed. Blocking shots, nifty hands, a lot of little things he does when he gets the puck. He's a big part of our team." Connolly signed a two-year contract for a total of $9.5-million US with the Leafs last July and on Friday night, will make his initial return to Buffalo, where he was a Sabre for"
Boos expected to serenade Leafs' Connolly in return to Buffalo
December 15
Toronto Star
 
"It won't stand up in history alongside the return of Wayne Gretzky to Edmonton. It might come closer to how Boston deals with the treachery of Phil Kessel leaving for Toronto. Often hurt and much maligned as a Sabre, Tim Connolly will play his first game in Buffalo on Friday since leaving the Queen City for Toronto as a free agent. Perhaps "leaving" isn't the right word. More like "ushered out" and told "not to let the door hit him on his way out of town.""
Connolly's overtime goal sinks Hurricanes
December 14
Raleigh News & Observer
 
"The Carolina Hurricanes are finally coming home after a four-game, nine-day road trip, though Canada that at times seemed as if it was 99 days long. It didn't help any that the trip ended in another loss. The Toronto Maple Leafs won 2-1 in overtime Tuesday at Air Canada Centre, on Tim Connolly's second goal of the game. Connolly tipped in a rebound 44 seconds into the overtime to end it. The Leafs (16-11-3) had taken a 1-0 lead on Connolly's first goal, with 4:14 left in regulation. But the Canes responded. After Jiri Tlusty was high-sticked by the Leafs' Joffrey Lupul, a power-play goal by Alexei Ponikarovsky with 1:54 remaining tied the score 1-1 and appeared to give the Canes (9-18-5)"
Connolly ready to re-join Leafs
November 15
Toronto Sun
 
"For all of the knocks Tim Connolly takes in Leafs Nation and beyond, he does add an element or two to the Maple Leafs lineup when he is healthy. And with his first full practice with his teammates since suffering an upper-body injury against the Boston Bruins on Nov. 5, Connolly took a big stride toward returning to the lineup. The smart money probably is on Connolly being in uniform not until Thursday evening when the Leafs visit the Nashville Predators, with a smaller chance that it happens on Tuesday night when the Phoenix Coyotes visit the Air Canada Centre."
Leaf Connolly might return Tuesday
November 15
Toronto Star
 
"Injured Tim Connolly hasn't ruled out playing Tuesday against the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. On Monday, Connolly participated in his first full practice since suffering an upper-body injury while killing a penalty against the Boston Bruins. If he plays Tuesday, Joey Crabb or Matt Frattin will be headed back to the Marlies. Connolly worked the power play at practice, including on the point with winger Phil Kessel, and skated strongly although not as much as he would have liked. He also spent time killing penalties."
Hurt Connolly tries to stay positive
November 9
Toronto Sun
 
"Being injured is nothing new to Tim Connolly. In fact, the Leafs centre, acquired in the off-season from Buffalo, has missed almost 200 games since the NHL lockout. Still, it must be pretty frustrating to just be getting back from one injury and then suffer another. Connolly missed the first eight games of this season after injuring himself during training camp when he slammed heavily into the boards and hurt his shoulder. Now he's on injured reserve again — the Leafs say for 10 to 14 games with an undisclosed upper-body injury — after getting hurt in a 7-0 loss to Boston on Saturday. But the Leafs centre, who has one goal and three assists in six games, is staying positive with a little"
Leafs lose Connolly to injury again
November 7
Toronto Sun
 
"Tim Connolly is out of the Maple Leafs lineup. Again. The $9.5-million US centre will be out of action for up to 10 days and possibly as long as two weeks, Leafs coach Ron Wilson said after practice on Monday. Connolly missed the first eight games of the season with a cracked bone in his shoulder. In six games, he has one goals and three assists. "He got an upper-body injury that is totally unrelated to the other injury," Wilson said. "He was hurt in the game (the 7-0 loss to Boston). Got hurt in the first penalty kill, left the ice for a bit, felt OK. Played regular (shift) in the game, and I did not think about it until I got the e-mail yesterday that he is going to be out.""
Connolly out for 10 days with 'upper body' injury
November 7
Toronto Star
 
"Centre Tim Connolly will miss the next at least the next 10 days with another "upper body" injury and goalie Jonas Gustavasson will be back in net for Tuesday's game against the visiting Florida Panthers. Coach Ron Wilson said they'll be calling a player up from the Marlies, leading to speculation that hot centre Joe Colborne could be the one to replace Connolly on the No. 1 line between Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel. Tyler Bozak centred that line at practice and if he stays there, look for Matt Frattin to play on the third line. Jay Rosehill filled that spot in practice on Monday at the MasterCard Centre."
Rusty Connolly ready for Broadway debut
October 27
Toronto Sun
 
"Nothing like a Broadway debut to elevate the excitement of a mid-week hockey game. For the opening act at Madison Square Garden Thursday night, we have the Rangers playing their first home contest of the season at the renovated and self-proclaimed "most famous arena on earth." Also under the lights will be the Big Apple opening for Brad Richards, the marquee acquisition of this summer's free agency sweeps but a player who has struggled at times early in his Rangers tenure. And not to be outdone, the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs will trot out the long-awaited start of centre Tim Connolly, the consolation prize for not landing Richards."
What will Connolly's debut mean for Leafs?
October 26
Toronto Sun
 
"Now that there is a "when" for Tim Connolly's debut as a Maple Leaf, the team must prepare to answer the follow-up questions that go with the news. It is expected the team's big free-agent acquisition will be in the lineup here on Thursday when the Leafs face the Rangers. With Tyler Bozak also due back after missing two games with a foot injury, Leafs brass can spend part of their two off days in Manhattan determining how to re-configure the roster. It has been a solid start to the season, record-wise, to be sure, but the Leafs have lost two of three on this road trip and are ready for a positive jolt to gain a split."
Heat's off Connolly in long-awaited Leaf debut
October 26
Toronto Star
 columnist Dave Feschuk
"When Tim Connolly signed a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs in July, he was supposed to be the setup man Phil Kessel had long lacked. So much for summer theorizing. Clearly Kessel, with nine goals in eight games, has been doing just fine without Connolly — or any specific centre, for that matter. Less than 10 per cent of the way into the season, Kessel has already spent time playing to the right flank of Tyler Bozak, David Steckel, Matthew Lombardi and Nazem Kadri. So perhaps there couldn't be a better moment than Thursday for Connolly to make his long-awaited Maple Leafs debut. The Leafs are in New York, after all. And while Leafs coach Ron Wilson, apparently miffed with Connolly's"
Connolly glad to get bumped
October 24
Toronto Sun
 
"He may not be ready to handle the bruising Flyers just yet, but Tim Connolly believes he is moving much closer to finally making his regular-season debut as a Maple Leaf. The veteran forward, who is eventually expected to centre the big line of Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, has been cleared for contact and took his first friendly fire from teammates during Sunday's practice at the Wells Fargo Center. "It was good to get some bumping in," said Connolly, who has been out of the lineup since crashing hard into the MasterCard Centre boards during a training camp practice. "I had a few contact drills and some one-on-one stuff in the corners with some of our bigger defencemen."
Leafs' Connolly on ice, but 'doubtful'
October 5
Toronto Sun
 
"Tim Connolly was back out with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday after several days skating alone. But it was more for his own peace of mind than an accelerated schedule to get in Thursday's starting lineup. Believed to be suffering from a shoulder injury, the would-be first-line centre appeared late in the proceedings at the MasterCard Centre and skated with the likes of suspended winger Clarke MacArthur."
Connolly to miss final pre-season games with 'upper-body injury'
September 30
Toronto Star
 
"Centre Tim Connolly insists he never hit his head when he flew face first into the end boards during Monday's practice. But an "upper-body injury" will keep him out of the final two pre-season games on Friday and Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings — allowing him to be "hopefully" ready for the season opener on Oct. 6 against the Montreal Canadiens. "Because of the speed. . . I was going full speed and hit a stick driving hard to the net. . . and flew directly into the boards," Connolly said after practice on Thursday at the MasterCard Centre. "It definitely could have been worse. "I was able to break. I just missed head first," said Connolly, who refused to reveal what part of"
Connolly anxious for fresh start with Leafs
September 15
Toronto Star
 
"Former Buffalo Sabres centre Tim Connolly has spent the past several weeks getting to know his new Maple Leaf teammates during their informal skates at the MasterCard Centre. But nothing beats the real deal and Connolly, 31, can't wait for the games to be played when Leafs meet Ottawa Senators in their first pre-season tilt on Sept. 19, just three days after training camp begins."
Connolly happy for a new start with Leafs
September 7
Toronto Star
 
"A fresh start. It's what Tim Connolly wants. It's what the Maple Leafs need. Connolly, the centrepiece of GM Brian Burke's summertime acquisitions, seemed a tad nervous talking to the assembled media before he and his teammates ventured out for a day of golf. "It definitely is a fresh start," said Connolly. "It was a roller-coaster ride (in Buffalo). Had some highs and lows. I'm excited to be here. Talking to my agent, we decided this was the best place for me. "I like the fact this is a hockey town and (there's) a lot of excitement surrounding the game." Connolly, a 10-year veteran, wasn't welcome back in Buffalo, where injuries plagued him. Fans had soured on him, in large part because"
Connolly ready to face challenge of Toronto
August 13
NHL.com
 
"All the players who sweated and laughed through the Craig Charron Memorial Classic on Sunday in Rochester, N.Y., had earned a few swigs of liquid refreshment. A teammate offered a beverage to Tim Connolly, who, slapping his hand on a stomach that was as flat and hard as the stall in front of which he stood, politely declined. "It's crunch time now, you know," he said of the real hockey action coming up. "I still have a ways to go. Now it's about skating and conditioning." Connolly, at a taut 191 pounds and winded not at all, looked to be the very definition of a player in midseason form. But three months past his 30th birthday and heading into his 11th NHL season, he knew better than to"
With Tim Connolly, there's always a but...
July 13
Toronto Sun
 columnist Steve Simmons
"After 11 troubled seasons of rarely living up to anyone's expectations, Tim Connolly enters the fishbowl that is Toronto hockey and almost certainly this will be either a grand new beginning or a painful end. The opportunity for the skilled and underachieving centreman has never been so apparent. He will centre the Maple Leafs' first line with high scorer Phil Kessel playing to his right. He will either play the point or be the set up man on the Leafs' first power play. From the start, he will be afforded star minutes and be given every chance to be the man the Leafs have been lacking since Mats Sundin departed. "What he does with the opportunity is the question," said Mike Milbury, who"
Agent: No contract offers between Connolly, Sabres
June 29
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres' chats this week with the agent for center Tim Connolly have not included any contract proposals, agent J.P. Barry told The News by phone this afternoon. Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said Saturday and Monday that he had talked to and planned to again talk to Barry about Connolly, who will become an unrestricted free agent Friday. Barry said it's impossible to tell at this stage whether Connolly will reach the market or re-sign with the Sabres before it opens. "We haven't gotten into the stage of making offers to each other," Barry said. "We're just talking about whether or not there's a chance and whether or not it makes sense for them and for us to do something.""
Reports: No suspension or hearing for Richards
April 26
Philly.com
 
"The hit that Flyers captain Mike Richards delivered on the Sabres' Tim Connolly in Sunday's Game 6 will not warrant a suspension, or even an NHL disciplinary hearing, according to reports from Craig Custance of the Sporting News and Nick Kypreos of Rogers SportsNet. The Flyers likely would have heard about a hearing last night if it were scheduled for today. Connolly was rammed into the boards headfirst from behind by Richards with a little over 6 minutes left in the second period. Connolly, who has a concussion history, was helped from the ice and did not return. Richards was given a 2-minute boarding minor, which put the Flyers down two players for 1 minute, 10 seconds, and down a man"
Sabres cry foul over hit on Connolly
April 25
Buffalo News
 
"The way the Buffalo Sabres see it, they shouldn't have to deal with Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards in Game Seven. Richards got a two-minute boarding penalty for drilling Sabres center Tim Connolly into the boards with 6:03 left in the second period Sunday. Connolly did not return and will miss Game Seven. The Sabres think Richards should be suspended and miss it, too. Richards, remember, is the pesky center who accused the Sabres of "getting away with murder" following Game Four after he was assessed a major for elbowing against Patrick Kaleta. Unprompted about the hit on Connolly, goaltender Ryan Miller broke away from talking to reporters about the game's result and turned the"
Sabres' Connolly looking forward to series against Flyers
April 11
Buffalo News
 
"Tim Connolly is looking forward to the playoffs. That's good because he's the one player who shouldn't be looking back at the playoffs. Connolly's postseason history is as forgettable as they come, littered with infamous injuries and extended goal droughts. The Buffalo Sabres' No. 1 center suffered a concussion in 2006 that wiped out nearly a whole year of his career. He hasn't scored with Stanley Cup dreams on the line since before that injury five years ago, with the drought reaching 23 games last spring. Connolly, though, is focused only on the first-round matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers. He's ridden the Terry Pegula wave as much as anyone in Blue and Gold, and he hopes this year's"
Sabres look to be healthy after break, Vanek expected to play tonight
January 25
Buffalo News
 
"The respite is almost here. Following tonight's game against the Ottawa Senators, the Buffalo Sabres will have nine days off. With several key players bruised and battered, the break seems to be arriving at a welcome time. Coach Lindy Ruff, however, has no desire to stop playing. The Sabres are 8-3-1 in the last 12 games, and Ruff doesn't want their best stretch of the season to disappear like nickels in the cushions as the players sit on their couches and watch this weekend's All-Star Game. "We've been going pretty good, and you'd like to keep playing," Ruff said Monday. "We've closed the gap and got some games in hand on the eighth-place team, so I look at it that it would be nice to"
Sabres' Connolly returning, front and center
December 31
Buffalo News
 
"Tim Connolly heard the cartilage crack. He saw the funky angle. The Buffalo Sabres' center knew he had a broken nose, but since he finished the game after getting his snout bounced off the boards, he figured it wasn't too bad. A CT scan showed otherwise. "There were nine fractures in the nose, so they had to kind of piece it back together," Connolly said Thursday. "They used some type of jelly mold to basically reconstruct it." The surgery was a success, and Connolly will return to the lineup Saturday against Boston after a four-game absence. With the cartilage back together, make no bones about it: Connolly will be relied upon heavily to sniff out significant offense. He is the"
Tim Connolly to undergo nose surgery, will miss at least a week
December 21
Buffalo News
 (scroll down)
"The power play will be missing a major cog tonight as center Tim Connolly is going to be out at least a week because he needs nose surgery to repair multiple fractures he suffered after getting crushed into the boards early in Saturday's game. "It's bad. We have to get it taken care of," Ruff said. "Everything needs to be reconstructed.""
Sabres should have nixed rumors
November 26
Buffalo News
 columnist Bucky Gleason
"The Sabres wonder why people were so suspicious about Tim Connolly suffering a mysterious welt under his eye during Ryan Miller's annual "Catwalk for Charity," but they should take a share of the blame for wild rumors racing across town that suggested Derek Roy decked him. Let's get this straight:A professional athlete who can stickhandle in a phone booth somehow fell down . . . while practicing a skit for a charity event . . . left practice a day later with a strange groin injury . . . and was unavailable to the media. That's some coincidence. Well, a team source confirmed that's exactly what it was. Apparently, Connolly really did take a spill and bopped his head off of a carpet. The"
Connolly looks ready
April 14
Buffalo News
 
"It's been three years so maybe you need a refresher when it comes to injuries during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is the time of the year when what's billed as a sprained ankle is really a separated shoulder, when players quickly defer to the coaches rather than reveal much of anything about their maladies and when Lindy Ruff gives tiny, tiny answers to that genre of questions. If he gives any answers at all. That leaves the media looking for any furrowed brow, any raised eyebrow, any wink to figure out what's going on. On Tuesday, the smoke signals coming out of HSBC Arena were good ones: It looks like the Buffalo Sabres are getting center Tim Connolly back for Thursday's playoff opener"
Injured Sabres trio improving
April 6
Buffalo News
 
"Encouraging words from Lindy Ruff after practice today about his injured trio. Patrick Kaleta is back on the ice wearing a red (non-contact) jersey. Meanwhile, Thomas Vanek skated briefly this morning before the team and Tim Connolly is back on a stationary bike. "Both of them are a lot better," Ruff said of Vanek and Connolly. "Thomas actually went for a little bit of a skate today. Tim is back riding the bike and doing pretty well with that. I'm optimistic we'll get them back on the ice maybe later in the week.""
Confidence soaring for Sabres' Connolly
January 31
Buffalo News
 
"After one of the quietest runs of Tim Connolly's career has come his biggest ruckus. All of a sudden, he's on path for a career year. Now that one of the greatest scoring streaks in Buffalo Sabres history has come to an end, the real question is if Connolly can keep his momentum going. Connolly is the Sabres' leading scorer, by 12 points over Jason Pominville and Derek Roy. He's scored at least a point in 17 of the last 18 games and his 16-game run that ended Wednesday versus New Jersey is third-longest in franchise annals. "I didn't really think about it too much as it was happening," Connolly said. "The team was winning, we were playing well and that's all that really mattered. If it had"
Connolly's line points the way for Sabres
January 24
Buffalo News
 
"Tim Connolly had a feeling something good would happen when he looked at his new linemates last month. On the center's left was Jochen Hecht, a teammate for the past seven seasons. On Connolly's right was Jason Pominville, a fellow Buffalo Sabre for the last five seasons. Connolly figured the guys knew each other well enough to develop chemistry on the ice. He's been right 15 times over. Connolly's first-period goal extended his point streak to 15 games, tying the fifth-longest streak in franchise history. "Since our old line has been put back together — Hecht, Pominville and myself — I think we've found some chemistry and been able to capitalize on it," Connolly said in HP Pavilion."
Connolly approaches anniversary
January 8
Buffalo News
 columnist Jerry Sullivan
"Keep this quiet if you can, and by all means be sure to keep your head up. We wouldn't want to test the fates. But Tim Connolly has played in 84 consecutive regular-season NHL games. This Saturday, it will be one year to the day since Connolly returned to the lineup after recovering from back and rib injuries. Connolly is healthy and displaying the athletic gifts that have made him at once the most compelling and maddening player in recent Buffalo Sabres history. He set up the opening goal 23 seconds into Wednesday's 5-3 win over Tampa Bay, extending his point streak to seven games, tying his career high. Which is the real Tim Connolly? The one who failed to score a goal in 24 of 25 games"
Connolly, Grier lead Sabres to victory over Blues
December 28
Buffalo News
 
"Sometimes a line just has "it." The three forwards seem to have an innate sense of togetherness, a knowledge of what each other wants to do. Tim Kennedy, Mike Grier and Thomas Vanek make up that trio right now for the Buffalo Sabres. Their it factor propelled the team to a comeback victory Sunday. Kennedy set up Grier for the second time early in the final period to tie St. Louis, and Tim Connolly followed with two special-teams goals to give the Sabres a 5-3 victory over the Blues. The Kennedy line combined for six points. Grier had two goals and an assist, Kennedy had two helpers and Vanek added an assist. "We've played well, got some bounces," Grier said in Scottrade Center. "We play"
Connolly slips into quiet slide
December 23
Buffalo News
 
"The issue was rarely about his talent and usually about his health. Tim Connolly always had the ability and creativity to become a premier player in the National Hockey League. The toughest part for him was staying on the ice long enough to showcase his ridiculous skill for the Buffalo Sabres. Injuries haven't been the problem this season. Connolly has suited up for all 35 games with the Sabres and is expected to be in the lineup tonight when they visit the Washington Capitals. The last time he played this deep into the season was 2005-06, a breakout year for him and a memorable season in franchise history. But now, his game has quietly tailed off. The Sabres have played so well that"
Connolly continues to draw blanks on faceoffs
December 7
Buffalo News
 
"The Buffalo Sabres have struggled on faceoffs since Paul Gaustad went down with a knee injury. Now they have another problem in the circle: Is center Tim Connolly injured and unable to take draws or just in such a complete slump with them that the Sabres need to look elsewhere? Connolly has taken only four draws over the last four games — none in Saturday's loss to the New York Rangers. Wingers Drew Stafford and Clark MacArthur are taking all the draws on that line. "Me and Clarkie are stepping in on them. I don't know," Stafford said, making a palms-up gesture when asked after Saturday's game. "I'm still kind of learning. I'm trying to use a little bit of my strength. I got lucky on a"
Connolly does number of things for Sabres
April 23
Buffalo News
 
"There's no doubt what number stands out from Tim Connolly's season: 9 million. That's how many dollars the Buffalo Sabres center will earn the next two years, thanks to a contract extension he signed last month. It's a large number, certainly capable of casting a shadow over a lot of others. By comparison, digits such as 1, 12, 18 and 42 seem inconsequential. For Connolly's career prospects, however, those smaller numbers could loom large. In many ways, Connolly recently completed his best season. Though he played just 48 games because of early season ailments, he dressed for the Sabres' final 42. That was his longest run of appearances since 2005-06. He also was productive more often than"