Maple Leafs Player Profile: Connor Brown

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Connor Brown is the epitome of a late round draft pick (drafted in 2012), who has made good on reaching his potential. Early in his hockey career, Connor had to overcome his lack of size which in some hockey circles was perceived as a barrier to his goal of reaching the NHL.

Yet with all the naysayers, He improved in every year of his young professional career. In his rookie season in the OHL with the Erie Otters, he ended up with 53 pts, 25 goals and 28 assists in 68 games played. By his senior year in the OHL he had scored 128 pts, 45 goals and 83 assists.

His first year with the Toronto Marlies, success continued to find Connor as he managed to finish the year with 61 pts, 21 goals and 40 assists. His second year with the Marlies was marred with an ankle injury that kept him out of action for 2 months to start the season. After playing only 34 games, he only managed 29 pts, 11 goals and 18 assists.

Brown needs to be admired for his drive, work ethic and true belief in himself that he belonged and he was going to prove it. For a player that plays 4th fiddle on a very deep Maple Leafs prospect pool, he has made a name for himself as a player that when on the ice something great is about to happen. After 53 games this season, Connor has produced 23 points, 12 goals and 11 assists. This places him 9th on the team in scoring.

Brown has been effective on an all-rookie line with generational talent and future #1centre Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman. The chemistry the 3 have developed over the course of the year has helped in Connor’s progression and development in the NHL. What has also come apparent is the depth of skill and ability he has, Connor has been used on the Power Play for his obvious offensive abilities but what was slightly under appreciated is his ability to kill penalties which adds a very important aspect to his game that make him so valuable to Maple Leafs becoming true contenders for the Stanley Cup.

Brown in a short time has gone from a player most said couldn’t make it, to a player that has become an important piece in the ever large puzzle of becoming a Stanley cup contender for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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