Brett Connolly’s 2014-15 season didn’t go exactly as planned
After being traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning — the only NHL team he’d ever known — to the Boston Bruins, he broke his hand in just his second practice. But after re-signing with Boston this offseason, he’s excited to get the chance to prove everyone who’s doubted him wrong.
“I guess it just wasn’t meant to be,” Connolly told WEEI, speaking of his time in Tampa. “It was something where they felt that I was a guy who they could move and get something for. (Lightning GM) Steve (Yzerman) chose to move me. Obviously I was in the organization for a little while, and didn’t have as much success as I would have liked there.
“That’s a good thing about change. I’m very excited to be here, and I can’t wait to get going. There’s a lot to prove to not only myself, but there’s a lot of people out there including Tampa that I want to prove wrong.”
A motivated Connolly plus a talented centerman linemate a la Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci could make for a nice extra scoring burst.
Click here for more on Connolly from WEEI >>
Let’s take a look at a few other Bruins notes.
— There were a bunch of new faces at informal practices in Wilmington, Mass., on Tuesday.
Max Talbot, Brett Connolly, Torey Krug, Jakub Zboril, Joonas Kemppainen among skaters making their first appearances at informal practices
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 8, 2015
Here’s a full list of Bruins participants.
Group has doubled since last week. Today's rundown… pic.twitter.com/fJFyII6HUD
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 8, 2015
Not included in that list? A few fan-favorite ex-Bruins who were skating with the team: Free agent Daniel Paille and Florida Panthers forward Shawn Thornton. Free agent Lee Stempniak also was in attendance.
— Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask were not in attendance, as the three were in Toronto taking part in the NHL’s media tour.
Behind the scenes of the NHL Player Media Tour in Toronto with Patrice Bergeron & Zdeno Chara pic.twitter.com/wosFMM5fem
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 8, 2015
Friendly (and hilarious) reminder that Chara is a large man.
Even sitting down Zdeno Chara is taller than me. pic.twitter.com/6UcdyWHRJl
— Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) September 8, 2015
— Rookie goaltender Zane McIntyre, who is competing for the backup job behind Rask, finally got some new gear. A sign of things to come?
Zane McIntyre has shed his North Dakota gear in favor of black and gold.
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) September 8, 2015
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
