JD
11-25-2003, 06:12 PM
Connolly not expected to play this season
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Buffalo Sabres forward Tim Connolly's season may be over before it even starts.
Connolly, who still has post-concussion symptoms and hasn't played a game this season, has shown no recent improvement or progress.
"You look at it now and you're staring at a year that is probably going to be a washout," coach Lindy Ruff said Tuesday.
Connolly was injured in a preseason game against Chicago on Oct. 2 after taking a hard hit from Blackhawks forward Scott Nichol. He went to a doctor in Montreal last week to get another opinion on his injury, and was giving a discouraging report.
Connolly has yet to be cleared for even light exercise.
He is coming off a disappointing season in which he recorded a career-low 25 points in 80 games. He was also a team-worst minus-28.
"We're disappointed, obviously, but secondly you want to see him get healthy," Ruff said. "We dealt with it last year with Max where it was an ongoing event."
Connolly was acquired from the New York Islanders in the summer of 2001. During his four-year career, he has scored 46 goals and 145 points in 234 games. He has never missed more than two games in a season.
Ruff further dampened any hope of Connolly playing this season.
"Even if he did come out of it a month from now, it would take a long time to get him back into shape," the coach said.
Well he sucked for most of last year, but at the end he began to shape up, its too bad he may not return to the lineup.:unhappy:
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Buffalo Sabres forward Tim Connolly's season may be over before it even starts.
Connolly, who still has post-concussion symptoms and hasn't played a game this season, has shown no recent improvement or progress.
"You look at it now and you're staring at a year that is probably going to be a washout," coach Lindy Ruff said Tuesday.
Connolly was injured in a preseason game against Chicago on Oct. 2 after taking a hard hit from Blackhawks forward Scott Nichol. He went to a doctor in Montreal last week to get another opinion on his injury, and was giving a discouraging report.
Connolly has yet to be cleared for even light exercise.
He is coming off a disappointing season in which he recorded a career-low 25 points in 80 games. He was also a team-worst minus-28.
"We're disappointed, obviously, but secondly you want to see him get healthy," Ruff said. "We dealt with it last year with Max where it was an ongoing event."
Connolly was acquired from the New York Islanders in the summer of 2001. During his four-year career, he has scored 46 goals and 145 points in 234 games. He has never missed more than two games in a season.
Ruff further dampened any hope of Connolly playing this season.
"Even if he did come out of it a month from now, it would take a long time to get him back into shape," the coach said.
Well he sucked for most of last year, but at the end he began to shape up, its too bad he may not return to the lineup.:unhappy: