On June 25, 2010, everything seemed to be perfectly in place for Brett Connolly.
The then-18-year-old had been selected with the sixth-overall pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning after an eye-popping junior career with the Prince George Cougars in the Western Hockey League.
Despite playing in just 16 games in the 2009-10 season due to injury, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman was convinced of the young player’s potential. In 85 career WHL games, Connolly had 40 goals and 39 assists.
After one more junior year with Prince George, a year where he would play as the team captain and finish with 79 points in 53 games, Connolly jumped to the Lightning after a strong training camp.