Continuing a year of ups, downs, recalls and career milestones, Brett Connolly is on the move once more.
The Prince George product has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks this morning (April 8) in a multi-player deal with the Florida Panthers.
This will be the 28-year-old's fifth NHL team he'll suit up for since coming onto the scene in 2011.
"We also add to our forward depth with an experienced veteran in Brett Connolly," said Chicago President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Stan Bowman in a release.
"Connolly is a proven goal scorer and adds some versatility to our front line."
Connolly completes his time with 37 points in 90 games between two seasons in the Sunshine State.
His NHL tenure also includes stints with Tampa Bay, Boston and Washington, with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2018.
On Feb. 28, 2021, Connolly was placed on waivers by the Panthers and went unclaimed, which relegated the 2009 CHL Rookie of the Year to the taxi squad.
He did not play in Florida's next 11 games, but was recalled to the active roster for its clash with Chicago on March 23.
In the shortened 2020-21 campaign, the former Prince George and Cariboo Cougar has only amassed four points, two goals and two assist, in 20 games, along with a plus-five (+5) rating and 20 shots on goal.
This included his 100th career marker on March 30 and his 500th career game two months earlier on Jan. 28.
The exchange is complete with Chicago also receiving foward Riley Stillman, defenceman Henrik Borgstrom and a 2021 seventh-round draft pick and Florida is getting forward Lucas Wallmark and defenceman Lucas Carlsson.
Connolly still has two years left on his contract with Florida with an average annual salary of $3.5 million.
