Cika wannan jumlar: A ranar 24 ga Yuni, 2001, a
NHL Entry Draft, Connolly da Taylor Pyatt sun yi musayar da Islanders zuwa Buffalo Sabres don kyaftin Michael Peca. Bayan rasa wasanni uku ne kawai na wasanni na yau da kullum a cikin farkon shekaru hudu a gasar, raunin da ya fara farautar Connolly ya fara ne a shekara ta 2003<unk>04. Ya rasa dukkanin kakar wasa tare da ciwo bayan ciwo bayan da ya sha wahala a cikin wasan da aka yi a kakar wasa ta Chicago Blackhawks. A lokacin kulle-kullen NHL na 2004-05, ya buga rabin rabin kakar wasa tare da SC Langnau a cikin Nationalliga A na Switzerland.