This is a good point and one I alluded to in the yalemchuk article but didn’t expand on much. He’s an older player and he’s already played three full seasons for the Hitmen. And yet he has still not fixed his wonky mechanics and he’s mentioned he only very recently started taking off ice training seriously.
That’s true. But it’s also a range where everyone has flaws so you can pick your poison.
And man oh man is he twig thin:
I’m still searching on him.
I mean Bobbys mid season has him at 11 which is one of the highest I've seen so we will see what GM's do vs scouts opinions.And man oh man is he twig thin:
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He’s not outside the top ten because teams aren’t buying the talent or because they’re worried about the build. It’s 100% off-ice character concerns.
After Mitchell Miller, I’m not sure I’d take Connelly in any round.
I’m still searching on him.
I haven’t found anything. Haha.
Team USA did pick him. He was the only outsider on the team. And what did he do? Took a brain dead major penalty at the end of the game that allowed Canada to score multiple goals with him in the box. Huge comeback victory. Cost the team the game. I can’t imagine how awkward that would be. To be the one guy nobody knows and to blow the tournament.
I wouldn't call it brain dead. He was playing physical in the last 10 min. Kid went low and he ended up hitting him high, he didn't leave his feet or anything trying to kill the kid. He had a great game outside of one physical play. I'd rather have a player like that come playoffs personally. Willing to play physical in the big moments. Aside from that one play he only had 2 penalties the rest of the tournament.
Would need to hear the reasons. Honestly it's not unusual to shift hockey programs, especially under the age of 16.. could be parents or could be financials as well. Sometimes kids just go to see the program and find out if they like it, especially if they have options. Just him switching is not a giant red flag, especially when he ended up in a program closer to home in the end.
4 programs in 3 years. Katie Strang, who I don't respect, and Corey Pronman who I do, call this "an unusually vagabond career for a player with his talent". You state it is "not unusual". I don't factually know so, could you give me an example or two of a successful prospect who had a similar 4 amateur programs in 3 years kind of path?
But they aren't providing reasons. It's 100% suspicions. That was in the middle of covid too. And if you don't remember lots of programs were cancelled/delayed/pushed back those years. He might have been going wherever he could just to play for all I know. He never played in the one program so I'm guessing the 4 programs would be Anaheim, long beach, jersey and tri-city which is 4 teams in 3 seasons.
Thank you for your response...good stuff. Hate is harsh, you can not hate on him and still think he's not worth the negative pub. It is unfortunate that this is a selectively, judgmental, society and there are things they will forgive and things not so much. Playing around with Swastikas is one of those things that doesn't get much forgiveness regardless of the path taken to rehab, public, perception. It appears he is a lot more contrite and taken more steps than say Miller has but still... there is not much cause for Utah to take him at 6 when there is so much as good or better talent at that slot without the baggage and it is not likely he will be available at 38 when those mid or late first pickers are more apt to make the play and deal with the fall out. Tulsky just filled the last open GM job, Connelly's best hope was Marc Bergevin landing that gig.
Funny you should mention him!
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