Connolly will not be protected from the upcoming expansion draft, Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Being a pending restricted free agent, he's expected to receive a qualifying offer to keep him with the program. Connolly held his own this season, recording 23 points and a plus-20 rating -- exactly what his job is in the bottom-six.

Connolly is expected to be given a qualifying offer, Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Caps general manager Brian MacLellan hopes that the former sixth overall pick from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft will re-sign with the Caps after scoring a career-high 15 goals in 66 games despite only garnering 10:41 in ice time per game -- significant return for a player on a one-year, $850,000 contract. The 25-year-old winger continues to develop after a disappointing start to his career and he could certainly improve on those numbers with a more prominent role on the Caps or another team which would certainly boost his fantasy value.

Connolly will be a healthy scratch for Game 2 against the Penguins on Saturday, sitting in favor of Paul Carey.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly has seen his ice time drop precipitously in these playoffs. As opined by JJ Regan of CSN Mid-Atlantic, Carey has earned the start based on his skating skills being superior to that of Connolly. Either way, this concerns the fourth line, a spot in which mining for fantasy value is generally a fruitless exercise.

Connolly will make his playoff debut in Thursday's Game 1 against Toronto, Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly missed the Capitals' last two games of the regular season due to an illness, but he's now fully healthy and ready to return to a bottom-six role Thursday, skating with Lars Eller and Andre Burakovsky on Washington's third line. The 24-year-old winger notched 23 points (15 goals, eight assists) in 66 regular-season contests this season.

Connolly (illness)will likely miss the season finale Sunday against the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

The winger missed Saturday's game with an illness, so it makes sense that he'd still be dealing with that again on Sunday. With the Caps already clinching the Presidents' Trophy, there's no reason to rush Connolly back into the lineup.

Connolly is dealing with an illness and won't travel for Saturday's game in Boston, Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic reports.

EDGE Analysis

While it would've been nice to see Connolly in action against his former team, the Capitals simply have no reason to rush him back with the Presidents' Trophy already locked up. He'll be reevaluated ahead of Sunday's game against the Panthers, but concerning the left-wing spot, we're guessing coach Barry Trotz will want to hand more minutes to less established players like Paul Carey ahead of the postseason grind.

Connolly posted two assists and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 4-1 win against the Maple Leafs.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly entered with no points over the past eight outings so don't get overly excited about this performance. He is a bottom-six forward who doesn't take nearly enough shots on goal to make much of a splash at the offensive end.

Connolly scored the only goal for the Capitals despite skating just 8:25 in Thursday's overtime loss to the Predators.

EDGE Analysis

A six-game point streak in February earned Connolly some fantasy pickups, but limited ice time has kept him from rewarding fantasy owners for their faith. In the 14 games since that streak's end, Connolly has scattered three goals for his only points and averaged just a single shot per tilt.

Connolly scored a goal in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Red Wings.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly fired a shot from the goal line that redirected off a Red Wings defender late in the first period. The marker gives the British Columbia native four goals and seven points over the last five games. While this hot streak is unlikely to last, the regular ice time seems to be paying off so those in deeper leagues should keep an eye on Connolly moving forward.

Connolly skated a team-low 11:45 in Tuesday's 5-0 win over Carolina, but that was enough time for him to pick up a goal and an assist.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly now has a surprising four-game point streak going in which he's picked up six points and a plus-6 rating despite failing to clear 12 minutes of ice time in any of those contests. He's been hitting the scoresheet with something vaguely resembling consistency lately, offering the hope that Connolly might just start living up to the promise that made him the No. 6 overall pick in 2010. The team context certainly favors him in one respect -- that the Caps are scoring a lot more than they're getting scored on -- but their depth of forward talent means Connolly's role is likely to remain limited, as will his short-term fantasy upside.