He was one of the guys that teams ook in the dispersal draft and were mpermitted to tag and use as an asset.
I don't want to get into another huge debate on this, to summarize, and then leave it.
Teams in the dispersal draft (7 teams) were permitted to pick and tag a player of the eligible ones, and extend their deal for 1 year, and trade that asset. Therefore trying to bolster the available assets to GMs taking these considerably weakened teams.
In retrospect, I wish we did this in year 1 when we had 4-5 teams available at once, but we didn't, and can't change that now. It was a one-time thing to strengthen those franchises and allow them a few more assets to be competitive.
1. If Connolly fails to play at least 41 games (half-season) in 2008-09, Phoenix gets a second round draft pick in the 2009 BRHL draft (Anaheim's choice).
2. If Connolly only plays 41 to 60 games in 2008-09, Pheonix gets a third round draft pick in the 2009 BRHL draft (Anaheim's choice).
3. If Connolly only plays 61 to 70 games in 2008-2009, Phoenix gets a fifth round pick in the 2009 BRHL draft (Anaheim's choice).
4. If, however, Mikhail Grabovski signs a contract with a European team before the end of the NHL season, compensation to which Phoenix would have been entitled to pursuant to the foregoing will be forfeited. The "end of the NHL season" for this purpose is defined as the conclusion of Grabovski's team's last regular season game if they DO NOT make playoffs, or last playoff game if they DO make playoffs.
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2007-08 - missed playoffs (29th overall) 2008-09 - missed playoffs (26th overall) 2009-10 - 7th place in Western Conference (99 pts), Conference Semi-Finals 2010-11 - missed playoffs (19th overall) 2011-12
LA knows they over paid but after trying to get Lucic from 5 other teams he finally found one willing to trade him Lucic. And Milan can finally settle down as LA won't be moving him anytime soon.