Brett Connolly potted the game-winning goal in Saturday's 4-3 win in Syracuse, New York. Connolly made the Lightning roster last season as a 19-year-old, but struggled throughout his rookie campaign. Connolly might get top-six minutes with the Lightning when the lockout ends but it might be a couple of seasons before he has any fantasy value in standard leagues. Snatch him up in keeper leagues if you can and keep an eye on his progress for other formats.

Brett Connolly is looking to "make an impression" while playing for the AHL Syracuse Crunch in 2012-13. Connolly played 68 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a rookie last season, but with the NHL locked out, he's been sent to the minors. Still, he's not viewing this as a setback. "I felt like I needed to change a lot of things not just in my game, but off the ice like learning how to be a professional," Connolly said after working out with Steven Stamkos and Gary Roberts over the summer. "I think right now playing in Syracuse will give me the best opportunity to do that, so I'm looking forward to improving as a player down there in my own game and contributing in any way I can to help that team win." Connolly might get top-six minutes with the Lightning when the lockout ends.

The Lightning's AHL affiliate is ready to defend its Calder Cup title. Now with Syracuse instead of Norfolk, Va., the Crunch are in even better shape this season with talents like Brett Connolly and J.T. Brown -- two guys who would've likely been NHL-bound -- joining the fray. The AHL squad finished last season with 28 straight wins. "With all these players that might otherwise have been in the NHL, the level of the play is going to be the highest it's ever been at the AHL level, and some teams are really going to benefit, at least for the time being, by having these players on their teams,'' Syracuse GM Julien BriseBois said. ... "I think the level of competition in every regard this year at the AHL level is off the charts.''

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brett Connolly is looking forward to his stint with Tampa's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. Connolly made the Lightning roster last season as a 19-year-old, but struggled throughout his rookie campaign. He is hoping to improve his game in the AHL before fighting for a spot on Tampa Bay's roster once the lockout is over. ""For me to go and develop my game and not be sitting around will do a lot better for me than if I was just sitting,'' Connolly said. "I can't go in there acting like I played here in the NHL and I have everything locked up. I have to go down there and play well, play to the way I know I can play.''

Brett Connolly has been reassigned to the AHL. Connolly had four goals and 15 points in 68 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He's being sent to the minors in preparation for a lockout.

Brett Connolly registered his 10th assist of the season on Thursday. Connolly has 14 points in 59 games in his rookie campaign. He has plenty of potential, but it might be a couple of seasons before he has any fantasy value in standard leagues.

Brett Connolly has been seeing more ice time of late due to injuries and trades. Prior to logging double-digit ice time in five of his past six games, the 19-year-old rookie had averaged less than 10 minutes per game for 16 straight outings and he sat as a healthy scratch three times. The Tampa Bay Lightning had the option of returning him to junior before the trade deadline, but the team's brass never appeared to be very interested in that scenario. "The bottom line is he's going to play," GM Steve Yzerman said. "We are thinner up front and (now) he's taking a regular shift. He's playing on the power play. With (17) games left in the season, and if we make the playoffs, he'll get more experience. Playing in the NHL as a regular we think is a positive thing for him and he looks comfortable on the ice."

Brett Connolly has been used sparingly since returning from the 2012 World Junior Championship. He has played over 10 minutes just once in his last 10 games and he logged a season-low 5:08 of ice time on Tuesday against Washington. NHL teams have until the Feb. 27 trade deadline to return players that are eligible to junior, but GM Steve Yzerman appears to be leaning towards keeping Connolly around at this time. "He has to keep working away to earn his ice time," Yzerman said. "Is he better off (in junior)? We made a decision at the beginning of the year that he's better off here."

Brett Connolly will play with the Lightning on Saturday for the first time since the 2012 World Junior Championship. Connolly was loaned to Team Canada for the duration of the tournament. He's projected to play alongside Vinny Lecavalier and Dominic Moore on Saturday.

With the 2012 World Junior Championship over, Brett Connolly is expected to rejoin the Tampa Bay Lightning. Connolly might play in Saturday's game. He had five goals and six points in six games during the tournament.