Heading out shortly for their west coast road trip, the Flyers have added more depth to their roster. The team claimed Kevin Connauton off waivers from the Florida Panthers. He is expected to join the team shortly and will be available to play against the Devils on Wednesday if need be.
This gives the Flyers a seventh defensemen to take on the road with them. It’s possible Connauton could see ice time this weekend as well, but that will be determined at a later time. He would likely come into the lineup for Nick Seeler if that was to happen.
I don't think the Connauton claim, FWIW, is much beyond PHI wanting to add depth, especially since they're heading west later this week and would want to bring a No. 7 along. York's in COVID protocol, they don't think Zamula is ready, & Connauton is prob better than Clendening.
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) December 7, 2021
With the Panthers this season, Connauton has appeared in 13 games. He’s spent the last two seasons with the club, appearing in a total of 20 games. He’s registered just a single point for Florida.
A veteran of 334 NHL games, Connauton has spent time with the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and the Panthers. During that time, he has primarily been a depth option that is switched in and out of the lineup depending on his play.
His last stint as a regular NHL defensemen came during the 2018-19 season when he was with the Coyotes. He posted one goals and eight points a season after he put up career numbers in Arizona. He recorded 11 goals and had 20 points during his second full season with the club.
While being drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2009, Connauton would eventually break into the league with the Stars in 2013-14. Inconsistency during the next few years saw him in and out of NHL lineups. He had a short tint with the Blue Jackets, posting 19 points in 54 games as the end of the 2014-15 season. The team would waive in January of the following season.
That was when he found success in the Coyotes lineup, spending three and a half years with the organization. That included a two-year extension his career season in 2017-18. But injuries marred his time during his final year with the team. He was traded during the summer of 2018 to Colorado.
Only playing four games for the Avalanche during the COVID shortened season, Connauton would go on to sign a PTO with the Panthers last season. Used primarily as a taxi squad option, he appeared in seven games. He was used sporadically this year as well and was waived with Gustav Forsling ready to be activated.
Time will tell how long Connauton ends up spending with the Flyers. He’s been inconsistent for a majority of his career so it would be fair to believe that this is only a temporarily option.