Toronto made a decent acquisition, but some of their fans are setting themselves up for disappointment if they're expecting Connolly to perform better in Toronto simply on the basis that it isn't Buffalo. His career is a long track record of not producing under pressure, and the Leafs are bringing him into a first line role in an intense media market to play for a team that hasn't made the playoffs in the better part of a decade.
Despising a guy who put in minimal effort and played - "played" - in half of the games for us is classless? Not at all. He reaped the benefits of a tightwad owner unjustifiably. Please don't call it classless when the guy was never truly here effort or heart wise.
Did you ever hear the expression, "He who expects the most from others, gives the least of himself." ?
Look, I understand your relief from being frustrated with a player, his play made me angry more than a few times as well. But the fact of the matter is that we are not expert doctors, and even if you are I doubt you treat the Sabres players. So, WE DON'T KNOW the severity of his injuries. I'm not calling you naive, you're free to believe what you want to. But It's not uncommon for media members to run with controversial angles like "milking it" or "drunkard", so don't take the fish rap for the gospel truth.
You don't know him personally, I suspect, and I sure as hell don't. So you seen him have a beer an hour after a playoff game, maybe he was trying to score for once in his life? If there is a pro-athlete in the known universe who has not partied after a game please raise your hand. Nobody? Okay, well yeah it's not what I would call good leadership, at all. But he's not a paid slave, these are grown men with free wills and if I wanted to have a drink an hour after a game I wouldn't not GAF about what anybody thought about it, and I wont hold people to a higher standard than my own.
having said that I rarely drink and certainly not after a good workout like a hockey game, I mean unless I was minling with insanely hot women or something...then all bets are off. I mean, honestly? Do we want to be real for a second? If I lost Game 7 of the SCF at home, and a super model called and wanted to meet me at the bar for a drink, I would NOT be sticking around to talk to the media.
I'd like to think that the professional athletes are like me. That after a really bad day at work they go home, exercise, and reflect. That it burns them so much that they weren't good enough that it's all they can think about...but come on is that reality?
Most of these guys are single and in their 20's. Most 20ish single guys I know go and do shots when things suck. I'm not sure he should be singled out for that.
Sure there are guys like Drury and Miller who cry after losses, but let's be real here there are more guys like Connolly. It's funny if you go on facebook and friend a bunch of nhl guys and puck bunnies; you will see what I'm talking about. A lot of these guys are professional partiers. The evidence is out there.
For most athletes who have had successful careers, yes, it absolutely is reality. But that's my point; everyone's heard Paul Hamilton's comments about how he's the last one on the ice in practice, and first one off. He's allegedly first to scoot out the back door after a loss so he can hit the chip strip and flash his money. My bartender friends on Elmwood won't even do a shot with him because they all hate him, lol.
I know I'm singling him out when other athletes do the same thing, but I think that's why I can't stand the guy so much. Has all the talent in the world and just doesn't care to put it all together.
It's also pretty obvious that I have a slightly more personal relationship with him than most people ranting about him (and no he didn't bang my girlfriend), but we shared a mutual friend and I've even been to his condo by Shanghai/Templeton Landing. I just can't stand being around the guy.
I dont think any sane Leaf fan is expecting the world from Tim Connolly. If anything our 'media scrutiny' is going to put this undue pressure on him and the moment he begins to slump, the talking heads on tv and the radio will make a big deal out of it. I dont think any Leaf fan is expecting that much from him and it will be our media that first anoints him the savoiur, then enjoys spending countless tv and radio hours bringing him down. Basically what I am saying is no educated Toronto Maple Leaf fan actually cares what the media in our town has to say about our team.
Connolly is a great stop-gap for us and if he ends up finding chemistry with Kessel/Lupul then its just gravy. We arent expecting him to save our team, but just provide a solid alternative until some of our prospects are ready.
Pretty much what I posted on the Leaf board. He pushes Bozak down to #3 for most of the season and that's a good thing since it takes pressure off Bozak and will make the Leafs' top line more productive even if Tim struggles akin to what he did this past season (which I don't think he will). He may be all sorts of unsavory in terms of character, but in terms of the Leafs improving, he's a step up and on a short-term deal that makes it a solid move for Toronto given what was available in the market.
__________________
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. - Aristotle
Connolly in 05-06 came out flying and put up a very good year in lieu of losing his 03-04 campaign. He worked ridiculously hard that year and carried us through a playoff round and to a victory in game 1 against the Sens in the 2nd round.
That's the Connolly I'd like to remember in his time here. After Schaefer leveled him he turned to the perimeter and became tentative as a player. As frustrating as he became as a player, I don't hold a grudge against him. The hit changed his psyche completely. He started playing to NOT get injured. While I don't condone that play regularly (or when he did it) in the grand scheme of things I understood WHY he played that well.
I won't miss the guy because he truly did play like he didn't want to win, but I certainly won't be holding any grudges against him after he played here for parts of 8 seasons.
Pretty much what I posted on the Leaf board. He pushes Bozak down to #3 for most of the season and that's a good thing since it takes pressure off Bozak and will make the Leafs' top line more productive even if Tim struggles akin to what he did this past season (which I don't think he will). He may be all sorts of unsavory in terms of character, but in terms of the Leafs improving, he's a step up and on a short-term deal that makes it a solid move for Toronto given what was available in the market.
Bozak in the #3 is the best case scenario for him. He will play with another creative player in Kadri and a reliable defensive player in Armstrong.
Im really curious though about Connolly as a Penalty Killler. I've read a lot about how he will be a big upgrade for the Leafs and Im wondering what is so great about his PK talents. Is he just very sound positionally?
well said. I wish him all the best in TO. I'm still getting goosebumps when I think back of game 1 of the Sabres/Sens series in 05/06. He was so rediculously good that game.
Can't forget how ridiculously bad Emery was, though. If that's any other goalie, we probably lose.
Im really curious though about Connolly as a Penalty Killler. I've read a lot about how he will be a big upgrade for the Leafs and Im wondering what is so great about his PK talents. Is he just very sound positionally?
He's good positionally and blocks shots. Or maybe that's just with his luck the puck hits him by accident.
In any event, his best PK duty is as the forward on a 5 on 3. I don't think you'll see anything great on a normal 5 on 4 kill, but for some reason that 5 on 3 really suits him.
Im really curious though about Connolly as a Penalty Killler. I've read a lot about how he will be a big upgrade for the Leafs and Im wondering what is so great about his PK talents. Is he just very sound positionally?
Sound positionally, reads the play well, and the PK is one of the few areas of his game over the last couple season that he's showed any grit, getting in shot lanes and stuff.
He was used frequently as the forward in 5-3 kills, and played it quite well.
For whatever reason he did manage to shine defensively last year. Night and day between him killing penalties and him at ES/PP. We really missed him when he went down in the playoffs.
And that's the weird rub on Connolly.
If he's playing well, he's likely to get hurt, and you'll end up missing him.
If he's not playing well, he manages to stay healthy and just underperform.
It's maddening to see the skill he has (and the shot he never uses), but minimal results from it.
In response to Connolly not being well liked by teammates and so on, does anybody remember earlier in the season when there was a rumor going around that Roy took a swing at Timmy? Did anything ever surface about that at all?
What I'm getting at, is do you guys think it would translate onto the ice? I know some of our tough guys won't hesitate to throw a hit on him.. but Roy? lol... If the rumors were true that he cracked him, wouldn't it be something if it went to the ice, considering their not teammates anymore.
Im hoping a change of scenery and new teammates help motivate him to play well when healthy. I think thats the hope of most Leaf fans. Ultimately it was a 0 risk scenario for us because it's not like we are a team who has to pinch our pennies. Simmonds chose to write this article because he believes management thinks he is our saviour.
If he can help Kessel find 10 more goals this season I will be extremely happy. If he can help improve the PK then I will be happy. If not, then we wont be angry because we didnt take any significant risk on him. It's as simple as that.
Im hoping a change of scenery and new teammates help motivate him to play well when healthy. I think thats the hope of most Leaf fans. Ultimately it was a 0 risk scenario for us because it's not like we are a team who has to pinch our pennies. Simmonds chose to write this article because he believes management thinks he is our saviour.
If he can help Kessel find 10 more goals this season I will be extremely happy. If he can help improve the PK then I will be happy. If not, then we wont be angry because we didnt take any significant risk on him. It's as simple as that.
It's like when we were pursuing Richards. If it only costs money, then why not? Him getting 10 more goals from Kessel is a stretch, but I wouldn't be surprised to see marked improvement on the Leaf's PK this year.
And we'll trade you Bucky Gleason and Jerry Sullivan for Simmonds.
In response to Connolly not being well liked by teammates and so on, does anybody remember earlier in the season when there was a rumor going around that Roy took a swing at Timmy? Did anything ever surface about that at all?
All rumors and innuendo. Seems like about a thousand people knew 'a friend of a friend' that 'knew what happened'.
In response to Connolly not being well liked by teammates and so on, does anybody remember earlier in the season when there was a rumor going around that Roy took a swing at Timmy? Did anything ever surface about that at all?
Aparently he hurt himself trying to do some sort of 'dance move' when he was out partying. I have no basis for this other than hearsay, but I often wondered if alcohol got in the way of his career a little bit.
There was a picture from Miller's fundraiser of him pointing at his cut eye after he fell down trying to do some sort of "Shaq" move before coming out on the catwalk. Rumors swirled that there was something more to it backstage, including comments from some local and formerly local press guys that it was everything from Roy punching him to nothing but a slip.
If he's playing well, he's likely to get hurt, and you'll end up missing him.
If he's not playing well, he manages to stay healthy and just underperform.
It's maddening to see the skill he has (and the shot he never uses), but minimal results from it.
When he is engaged he goes to the heavy traffic areas. He doesn't have the greatest situational awareness. These two things lead to him getting hurt. It's amazing how many of his major injuries are from him leaving himself in a vulnerable position and not being aware/prepared for a hit.
