Connor Brickley (born February 25, 1992) is an American former professional hockey center, who played with the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 50th overall, by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Connor Brickley
Born (1992-02-25) February 25, 1992 (age 32)
Everett, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for Florida Panthers
New York Rangers
EC Red Bull Salzburg
NHL draft 50th overall, 2010
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2014–2020

Playing career

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After playing junior hockey with the Des Moines Buccaneers and the U.S. National Development Team in the United States Hockey League, Brickley committed to a collegiate career with the University of Vermont of the Hockey East.

Upon completion of his senior year with the Catamounts, he was immediately assigned to the Panthers' AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage on an amateur try-out contract to make his professional debut to end the 2013–14 season. Brickley was signed to a two-year entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers on April 21, 2014.[1]

In his first full professional season with the Rampage in the 2014–15 season, Brickley adapted quickly the professional circuit in amassing 22 goals and 47 points in 73 games. After a strong off-season of development, Brickley impressed at his second Panthers training camp and made the club's opening night roster to begin the 2015–16 season. He made his NHL debut with the Panthers in a 7-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on October 10, 2015.[2] In his third game, Brickley recorded his first NHL goal, and point, in a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on October 13, 2015.[3]

Approaching the beginning of the 2016–17 season, Brickley was traded by the Panthers to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Brody Sutter on October 11, 2016.[4] He was directly assigned to AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. Over the duration of the season, Brickley posted 15 goals and 26 points in 69 games with the Checkers.

On June 21, 2017, Brickley was selected from the Hurricanes at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights. The Hurricanes also dealt a fifth-round selection in 2017 to Vegas in order for Brickley to be the agreed choice as he was a pending unrestricted free agent.[5] On July 1, he returned to the Panthers on a one-year, two-way contract.[6] Brickley returned to the NHL in the 2017–18 season, remaining on the roster for the full season. In 44 games with the Panthers and used in a checking line role, Brickley scored 4 goals and 12 points.

As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract, Brickley left the Panthers to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2018.[7] After attending the Predators training camp, Brickley was assigned to begin the 2018–19 season with AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. In a top-nine forward role, Brickley posted 7 goals and 11 points in 39 games with the Admirals, before he was traded by the Predators to the New York Rangers in exchange for Cole Schneider on January 14, 2019.[8]

As a member of the New York Rangers, Brickley played 14 games, with 1 goal and 3 assists. His lone NHL goal of the 2018–19 season came against the Carolina Hurricanes on February 19.

Unable to garner another NHL contract as a free agent from the Rangers, Brickley went un-signed over the summer before opting to play in Europe by agreeing to a one-year contract with Austrian club, EC Red Bull Salzburg of the EBEL, on October 26, 2019.[9]

Personal

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Brickley is the son of Robin and Craig Brickley, who played collegiate hockey with the University of Pennsylvania in the 1970s. He is the cousin of Boston Bruins longtime broadcasting announcer and former NHL player Andy Brickley.[10] He is also a cousin of Daniel Brickley.[11]

On November 9, 2021, Brickley was named the head coach of Nauset Regional High School's boys hockey program, in North Eastham, Massachusetts.

He joined the Chatham Fire Department on March 21, 2022.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Belmont Hill School USHS 30 17 18 35 60
2009–10 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 52 22 21 43 68
2009–10 U.S. National Development Team USDP 14 2 5 7 6
2010–11 University of Vermont HE 35 4 9 13 33
2011–12 University of Vermont HE 23 9 3 12 16
2012–13 University of Vermont HE 24 3 5 8 31
2013–14 University of Vermont HE 35 5 10 15 49
2013–14 San Antonio Rampage AHL 8 1 1 2 4
2014–15 San Antonio Rampage AHL 73 22 25 47 66 3 1 1 2 0
2015–16 Florida Panthers NHL 23 1 4 5 14
2015–16 Portland Pirates AHL 45 12 15 27 26 5 0 1 1 2
2016–17 Charlotte Checkers AHL 69 15 11 26 57 5 2 2 4 0
2017–18 Florida Panthers NHL 44 4 8 12 19
2018–19 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 39 7 4 11 18
2018–19 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 13 2 4 6 2
2018–19 New York Rangers NHL 14 1 3 4 9
2019–20 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 33 15 11 26 18 3 1 2 3 2
NHL totals 81 6 15 21 42

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 United States U18   7 0 4 4 4
2012 United States WJC 7th 3 0 0 0 0
Junior totals 10 0 4 4 4

References

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  1. ^ "Connor Brickley agrees to entry-level contract with Panthers". Florida Panthers. April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  2. ^ "Panther take big lead early, defeat Flyers in opener". Florida Panthers. October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  3. ^ "Connor Brickley scores first NHL goal, Panther beat Hurricanes 4-1". National Hockey League. October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  4. ^ "Hurricanes acquire Connor Brickley in exchange for Brody Sutter". Charlotte Checkers. October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  5. ^ "Hurricanes lose Connor Brickley to Vegas in expansion draft". News & Observer. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "Panthers' Connor Brickley: Signs on with Panthers". CBS Sports. July 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Predators ink forward Connor Brickley to a one-year contract". Nashville Predators. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "Rangers acquire forward Connor Brickley". New York Rangers. January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Red Bulls step-up with American forward Brickley" (in German). EC Red Bull Salzburg. October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  10. ^ Fialkov, Harvey (October 30, 2015). "Panthers rookie Brickley to face his hometown Bruins". Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  11. ^ "Daniel Brickley - Elite Prospects". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
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