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Boston Bruins: Looking back at 5 bad trades in hindsight

By Chad Zimmermann

BOSTON - FEBRUARY 11: The statue of Bruins Bobby Orr outside TD Garden is covered in snow after the overnight snowstorm, Feb. 11, 2017. The statue depicts Orr's 1970 Stanley Cup winning overtime goal. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - FEBRUARY 11: The statue of Bruins Bobby Orr outside TD Garden is covered in snow after the overnight snowstorm, Feb. 11, 2017. The statue depicts Orr's 1970 Stanley Cup winning overtime goal. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Boston Bruins
ANAHEIM, CA – MARCH 18: Brett Connolly /

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.

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