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Toronto Maple Leafs 2018-19 Player Grades

By James Tanner

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts to the crowd after the Leafs scored against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on October 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs reacts to the crowd after the Leafs scored against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on October 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 21: Connor Brown #28 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 21, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 21: Connor Brown #28 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 21, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Connor Brown by James Tanner

Connor Brown broke in as a rookie three years ago and scored twenty goals. He has declined in every years since.

This past season, Brown scored just 8 goals, and 29 points dressing in every single game for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brown’s most common linemate was Nazem Kadri, and this is another example of questionable coaching from Mike Babcock, as Brown doesn’t score nearly enough for a top nine role.

C. . RW. Toronto Maple Leafs. CONNOR BROWN

This was painfully obvious in the playoffs when Brown was used along with Marleau effectively neutralizing the elite offense of William Nylander. Brown is a valuable penalty killer, but since he can’t play above the fourth line on a contending team, he’s grossly overpaid and almost certainly is done in Toronto.

It’s a shame because he really could be one of the better fourth liners in the NHL, but you can’t spend $2 million on fourth liners when you’re trying to fit in as many elite players as possible under the cap.

Brown is the kind of player you can’t help but cheer for, but  he doesn’t have the offense for a top nine role, and that’s that.

I’ll give him a C  for his solid PK work and because I’m a fan.

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