Connolly (upper body) has been given the green light from the medical staff to return to action, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Now that Connolly is healthy, the decision on when he returns to the game-day lineup falls to coach Barry Trotz. It appears the winger will wait until Sunday's matchup with Edmonton, which will give him a couple more practice days to get his legs back under him. Once back to operating at 100 percent, the 25-year-old will likely replace Liam O'Brien on the depth chart.

Connolly (upper body) is nearing a return after skating prior to the team's practice Monday, Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

A first-round pick in 2010, Connolly has been sidelined for each of the team's past four contests. Monday marked the first time that Connolly took the ice since being injured, effectively ruling him out of Monday's game against Arizona, as well as Tuesday's matchup with the Sabres in Buffalo. That said, if Connolly is able to participate in a full-contact practice or two in the coming week, he may have a chance to return to the lineup Friday against Pittsburgh.

Connolly (upper body) will not rejoin the lineup against the Islanders on Thursday, Tarik El-Bashir of NBS Sports Washington reports.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly will miss his third straight outing with his upper-body ailment. The Caps have used a couple different players in the winger's stead, with Nathan Walker expected to suit up in New York. After scoring Opening Night, the 25-year-old Connolly has been bogged down in a nine-game goalless streak during which he has managed just one helper.

Connolly is expected to miss at least two games due to an upper-body injury he sustained during Thursday's 6-2 loss to Vancouver, Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's safe to assume Connolly will miss Saturday's game against the Oilers and Sunday's meeting with the Flames, so the 25-year-old winger will now set his sights on overcoming his upper-body ailment in time for Thursday's clash with the Islanders. The Capitals recalled Anthony Peluso from AHL Hershey on Friday, who will occupy a bottom-six role while Connolly is sidelined.

Connolly (upper body) has been ruled out of the remainder of Thursday's game against the Canucks.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly appeared to sustain his injury when he was crunched into the boards by Vancouver's Erik Gudbranson, and it's entirely possible that he's currently in the league's concussion protocol. The 25-year-old winger will be reevaluated Friday, at which point the Capitals should release an update on his status for Saturday's game against the Oilers.

Connolly had an assist in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Penguins.

EDGE Analysis

The first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft now has two points in four games despite only receiving 11:53 in ice time. Connolly's skillset gives him the ability to produce heftier offensive totals, but he would need to leapfrog Jakub Vrana or Andre Burakovsky to be in a position to reach that potential. He's worth owning in deeper formats for now, but will have a significant boost to his fantasy value should Washington decide to boost his minutes so keep an eye on him in the coming weeks.

Connolly had a goal and a minus-2 rating in Thursday's 5-4 shootout win over Ottawa.

EDGE Analysis

The 25-year-old winger scored the first goal of the season for Washington on a nifty feed from Lars Eller in the slot that he wristed past Senators goalie Craig Anderson. The marker gets Connolly off to a great start in his effort to best last season's 15-goal campaign -- which could be well within reach if he can sneak into a top-six role -- and he's worth owning in deeper leagues and watching closely in standard formats.

Connolly will line up alongside Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov on Washington's top line Wednesday against the Devils, Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Head coach Barry Trotz indicated Connolly might be in the mix for a top-six role this season after spending most of 2016-17 on the third and fourth lines, and his presence on the top unit for Wednesday's exhibition certainly backs up that thinking. The first round pick of Tampa Bay in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft had a breakout campaign last year with 15 goals and a plus-20 rating, showing glimpses of the potential he showed entering his draft year. The 25-year-old must beat out Jakub Vrana and potentially Tom Wilson for the highly coveted spot to the right of the talented Russians, but he's got outstanding sleeper potential if he can hold onto this role. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on the situation and get ready to pounce on him in the later rounds of their drafts should this promotion hold for Opening Night.

Connolly agreed to a two-year with the Capitals on Monday, Bob McKenzie of TSN reports. The contract is worth $1.5 million annually.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly is another in a long line of first-round draft picks (2010) that has failed to fulfill expectations at the NHL level, though he's coming off a career-high 15 goals in his first season in D.C. He accomplished that feat while averaging a mere 10:41 of ice time, suggesting increased growth in his game is possible with an expanded role.

Connolly was not extended a qualifying offer from the Blue Jackets, but he's fully expected to re-sign before the start of free agency, Mike Vogel of WashingtonCaps.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Connolly went unprotected during the expansion draft and now failed to receive a qualifying offer, but he's still a solid depth option and the team would like to bring him back on a cap-friendly deal. Look for a deal to get done between the two sides prior to the start of free agency on July 1. The 25-year-old recorded 15 goals and eight assists across 66 games in his first season in Washington.