Background

Conner grew up in Westland, Michigan and attended Churchill High School in Livonia, Michigan. He lived in the same neighbourhood as current Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Kesler, and the two grew up together playing hockey since childhood.

Playing career

Undrafted, Chris Conner played four seasons of collegiate hockey for Michigan Tech of the WCHA from 2002 to 2006. After his senior year, Conner made his professional debut with the Iowa Stars of the AHL at the end of the 2005-06 season.

On July 13, 2006, Conner signed as a free agent to a two-year contract with the Dallas Stars. Conner was then assigned to affiliate Iowa for the start of the 2006-07 season, but upon being recalled, scored his first NHL goal during a game against the Colorado Avalanche on December 27, 2006. Conner was re-signed by the Stars at the end of the 2007-08 season to a one-year deal on March 12, 2008.

After splitting the 2008-09 season between the Stars and the Peoria Rivermen, Conner signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh Penguins on July 7, 2009. Conner appeared in 60 games during the 2010-11 NHL season with Pittsburgh, scoring seven goals with nine assists. He scored the Penguins second goal in an 8-2 loss in Game 5 of Pittsburgh's first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Conner failed to convert on a penalty shot during the second period of the next game, losing the puck off his stick as he advanced towards Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Pittsburgh ultimately lost the series in seven games.

On July 7, 2011, Conner signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

In the following 2012-13 season, Conner signed with the Phoenix Coyotes on a one-year contract. With the lockout in effect, he was directly assigned to the AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. He was recalled by the Coyotes to help their playoff push, appearing in 12 games to score 2 points, before being returned to Portland before the end of their season.

On July 5, 2013, Conner signed a one-year, two-way contract to return with the Pittsburgh Penguins that was to pay him $550,000 at the NHL level.

On July 1, 2014, Conner continued his journeyman career in signing a one-year two-way contract with the Washington Capitals. A year later Conner signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000-01	Chicago Freeze	NAHL		56	17	28	45	18		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Chicago Freeze	NAHL		30	18	15	33	30		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Compuware Ambassadors	NAHL		19	4	9	13	23		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Michigan Tech	WCHA		38	13	24	37	8		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Michigan Tech	WCHA		38	25	14	39	12		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	Michigan Tech	WCHA		37	14	10	24	6		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Michigan Tech	WCHA		38	17	12	29	18		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Iowa Stars	AHL		15	2	3	5	0		7	1	1	2	2
2006-07	Iowa Stars	AHL		48	19	18	37	24		12	2	5	7	2
2006-07	Dallas Stars	NHL		11	1	2	3	4		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Iowa Stars	AHL		55	13	26	39	17		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Dallas Stars	NHL		22	3	2	5	6		1	0	0	0	0
2008-09	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		30	16	12	28	10		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Dallas Stars	NHL		38	3	10	13	10		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		59	19	37	56	21		4	2	2	4	2
2009-10	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		8	2	1	3	0		1	0	0	0	0
2010-11	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		11	3	6	9	2		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		60	7	9	16	10		7	1	0	1	0
2011-12	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		57	16	37	53	22		—	—	—	—	—
2011-12	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		8	1	2	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	Portland Pirates	AHL		60	13	27	40	28		1	0	1	1	2
2012-13	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		12	1	1	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2013-14	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		17	6	5	11	8		—	—	—	—	—
2013-14	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		19	4	1	5	2		—	—	—	—	—
2014-15	Hershey Bears	AHL		61	19	33	52	10		10	2	5	7	2
2014-15	Washington Capitals	NHL		2	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
2015-16	Lehigh Valley Phantoms	AHL		58	16	39	55	14		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				180	22	28	50	38		9	1	0	1	0

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-WCHA Second Team	2003-04

[ Source: Wikipedia ]