The Tampa Bay Lightning has until the end of February to decide if they are going to send Brett Connolly back to junior hockey — which means the Tri-City Americans.
Tampa Bay still is giving Connolly time to improve his game at the NHL level, according to this story in the Tampa Bay Times.
Similar stories:
HOCKEY: First-place Ams trade for NHL first-round pick
HOCKEY: First-place Ams trade for NHL first-round pick
KENNEWICK — Tri-City Americans general manager Bob Tory took a mild gamble today that could pay huge dividends when he traded for the Western Hockey League rights to Brett Connolly, a 6-foot-2 right winger who is playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League.
Tory agreed to send to the Prince George Cougars — on the day of the WHL trade deadline — Tri-Cities' fifth-round pick in the 2013 WHL bantam draft. The Americans will send additional picks in 2013 and 2014 if the Lightning demotes Connolly to the WHL.
The Lightning have until the NHL trade deadline of Feb. 27 to return the player to major junior.
Ams secure rights to PG's Connolly
Ams secure rights to PG's Connolly
Bob Tory knows he has a good team, but the general manager of the Tri-City Americans wanted to add a little more icing to the cake.
Tory swung a deal Tuesday with the Prince George Cougars for the rights to forward Brett Connolly, who is in the midst of his rookie season for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"It's an opportunity to get a world- class player in our lineup," Tory said. "It's not our choice, but Tampa Bay's. They will decide what is best for him and his development, and their team.
Ams break into CHL poll
Ams break into CHL poll
It's been one of those weeks, and it's only Wednesday.
Monday, my car thought it was Canadian, giving me kph instead of mph. It kind of freaked me out because I was driving 58 down Clearwater and didn't know why. Turns out, when they changed my oil, someone pressed one too many buttons and switched it from mph to kph. Glad that got fixed.
The Americans move into the CHL poll this week, debuting at No. 7. Even though they have a loss to Spokane, two wins over Portland (dropped out of the poll this week) and one over Spokane was enough to catch the attention of the NHL scouts who vote on this. Here is this week's poll.
CHL poll and news from around the WHL
CHL poll and news from around the WHL
After picking up three wins last week, the Tri-City Americans moved back into the CHL poll — coming in at No. 5 — after tumbling out the week before.
Here's how the scouts see it:
1. London Knights (11-2-0-1)
Game Day: Everett at Tri-City
Game Day: Everett at Tri-City
The Everett Silverips are in town. They haven’t been here since Dec. 3, and the Americans haven’t played the Tips since Jan. 7 at Everett.
The Americans, who dipped to second in the U.S. Division standings for the first time since any of us can remember, have earned a playoff spot, while Everett is fighting for eighth place, and is one point behind Seattle and Victoria.
Portland took over the top spot in the U.S. Division with its 7-2 win over Prince George on Monday. The two are back at it tonight.
Print
Email Story
