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Name: Brett Connolly
Position: Right Wing
Height: 6-2
Weight: 181 lbs
Age: 18
Home Country: Canada
Playing In: Western Hockey League (Juniors)
Scouting Reports
Rangers Tribune: Brett Connolly is a premier goal-scorer; there is no doubt about that. However, just like the Rangers' Marian Gaborik, injuries throughout his young career have dramatically slowed him down. He has that natural ability to find the back of the net and to get to the open area of the ice. He can be compared to a Brett Hull because of that ability to navigate through the open lanes, and that makes him a very special individual. Unfortunately, the team selecting him will take a risk with his injury-filled past.
Hockey's Future: Suffered a hip injury at the 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament prior to the WHL season which caused him to miss a good portion of the season. Connolly played in 16 games for the Cougars, scoring 10 goals and chipping 9 assists for 19 points. He played in 4 playoff games for the Cougars, picking up 2 assists in those games. he was named to the 2010 CHL Top Prospects Game but had to withdraw due to his injury. Read More...
NHL Fanhouse: Connolly is one of the most talented players to be found in this draft pool. He has good size, and he should fill out and become a powerful forward in the NHL. He's not just a big, strong kid. Connolly has great hands, and he has the ability to become a big-time goal-scorer.
But there are legitimate concerns.
During an international tournament last summer, Connolly injured his hip. It eventually required surgery, and he missed most of this past season. While his WHL team struggled through an awful season, Connolly tried to rehab and play as much as possible. Read More...
The Hockey News: Brett Connolly has won over most team's scouting staffs, but as the draft approaches, he's bound to get scrutiny from their medical teams. Had Connolly not been limited to just 16 games with hip flexor injuries this season, there's a good chance he'd be challenging Hall and Seguin for No. 1 overall status.
But after scoring 30 goals as a 16-year-old and being named CHL top rookie, Connolly tweaked his hip last summer. He came back too soon and injured his other hip by overcompensating. (Read more in the THN Draft Preview 2010 edition)
Projected to be Drafted: 6th overall