Islanders ship Connolly out

[HelloHockeyFans]

-- For Immediate Release

November 7, 2006

UNIONDALE, NY - Sources close to the team have confirmed a deal between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers.

Concerned with Tim Connolly's concussion problems and slow recovery, the New York Islanders shipped the promising but injured forward to their rivals, the New York Rangers for young sniper Alexander Perezhogin. Going with Connolly is 7th defenceman Brent Sopel, who only saw powerplay time with the Islanders since being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens.

[notoepik]

I like this for the Isles.

Connolly won't be improving in rating while he recovers. If he recovers. Starting to sound like Deadmarsh

[flambers]

Rangers were orginally looking for a dman to fill in for injured Niinima but when Connolly and Sopel for were offered for Alex Perezhogin the Rangers felt this was a deal that had to be done.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Interesting deal for both sides. Short term this is a clear win for Jeff, but long term with Connolley's injury woes and with Perezhogin being young Kevin might get the best of this deal.

[HelloHockeyFans]

I took a look through everyone's roster and narrowed it down to a few teams which had a guy I was interested in. I was hoping to get a young guy back with good upside and already playing (and hopefully doing well) in the NHL.

After chatting with more than a few GMs I got the impression that not too many wanted to get near Connolly with a 10-foot pole, and I don't really blame them. Kid has huge, HUGE upside and proved he can play after his most recent season in the NHL, but his concussion looked bad and with the recent developments, he may have taken a turn for the worse. Connolly, alone, wasn't really going to fetch much.

The Rangers were looking to fill a hole in their defense left with Niinimaa's injury and with Sopel on my squad playing only PP minutes, a match was found.

Either I keep Connolly and risk the chance of getting zip in return for him, or I dangle his potential for whatever I can get now obviously with the potential that this can blow up in my face if Connolly ever recovers to his old form. He's going to help the Rangers huge this season for at least another 5 months for sure.