Conner Begins New Chapter With Binghamton Devils

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Entering his 14th season of professional hockey, Chris Conner is no stranger to moving around and starting anew in the fall. Breaking into pro hockey with the Dallas Stars organization as a rookie in the 2006-07 season, Conner has been a part of six organizations including - Pittsburgh, Detroit, Arizona, Washington and Philadelphia.

After signing with the New Jersey Devils organization -- an AHL contract with the Binghamton Devils -- Conner is now on eighth different AHL club.

"It's a little harder to get work as you get older," Conner told Inside AHL Hockey Wednesday night after the Binghamton Devils came up short in a loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. "Obviously, it's becoming a younger league."

Conner, who will celebrate his 36th birthday during the 2019-20 season in December, mentioned the familiarity with Devils general manager Ray Shero and other staff that was in Pittsburgh during one of his previous tenures with the Penguins as one of the reasons it led him to his latest AHL opportunity in Binghamton.

"The opportunity came up. I was familiar with people in the organization from when I was in Pittsburgh," Conner explained, adding, "Yeah, it's been great so far. The coaches have been great, organization has been great so I've got no complaints."

On the proverbial back-nine of his playing career, Conner has embraced taking on the role of being a good mentor to incoming rookies and the younger players on the Devils this season.

"You kind of embrace it more as you get older I think. For me, I really like trying to help the younger guys. Things I wish I knew at 22 or 23," Conner said. "Try to help them out as much as I can to make it to the next level because I know they all want to be there. It's a change of roles a little, but I enjoy it."

Entering Friday's game against Lehigh Valley, Conner's most recent former team, the small but skilled forward leads the Devils in scoring with three goals and three assists through four game - one point behind AHL leading scorer Stefan Noesen (six goals, one assist).

"Yeah, it's been good. Getting some bounces. It's a long year, so it's always good to get to a good start but we've got to start winning games too," Conner added after Wednesday's loss to the Penguins.

Friday's game marks the return of Conner to the Lehigh Valley, where his 265 games played, 125 assists and 199 total points are most all-time in the Phantoms' six-year history as an AHL franchise in downtown Allentown, Pa.

"I was in Lehigh for four years and that's a pretty long time for the American League for being in one spot. Obviously they have a great organization over there too. The rink, the Phantoms, the Brooks brothers - they've been good to me so I've got no complaints."

When the puck drops, he'll be entering the corners and dirty areas of the ice with longtime former teammates.

"I'll be excited," Conner said of playing against the Phantoms. "They should have a solid team, so it'll be fun."