March 2, 2015
Bruins receive: Brett Connolly
Lightning received: 2015 2nd round pick, 2016 2nd round pick
This trade wasn’t necessarily bad at the time it was consummated. The Bruins were looking to find a speedy, scoring winger to put on David Krejci’s right wing. Connolly hadn’t exactly lit things up in Tampa Bay, but at the same time, his skill was noticeable. Connolly was a 1st round pick in 2010 (#6 overall), so if he could reach his potential in Boston, it could have been a steal.
Unfortunately, things just didn’t pan out for Connolly in Boston. Immediately after the trade, Connolly broke a finger and missed 6 weeks, only playing 5 games for the Bruins after being acquired in March.
The following season, Connolly was projected to be a top-6 forward, but had a very underwhelming year, with 9 goals and 16 assist in 71 games played with a 12:58 ATOI. After the 2015-2016 season, the Bruins didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Connolly as a restricted free agent, and he joined his current team, the Washington Capitals.
The Bruins essentially handed division rival Tampa Bay TWO 2nd round picks (2015 and 2016) for a player that only suited up for 76 games and only contributed 27 points. As a reference, Olympian and Minnesota Wild prospect Jordan Greenway went after that 2015 2nd round pick, and the young stud Colorado Avalance defenseman Samuel Girard who Zac Rinaldo buckled with a sucker punch went in the 2nd round in 2016.