Trades are part of hockey, and sometimes they involve fan favourites, but when a former Toronto Maple Leafs player achieves career highs in a different sweater it hurts even more.
If you were a young hockey player growing up in the Toronto area, it was likely your dream to suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs. At the very least, odds are that you were a fan.
Both are true of former Toronto favourite, Connor Brown.
As detailed in this Hometown Hockey feature by Sportsnet, his family’s fandom of the Maple Leafs dates back generations and it was to be expected in his childhood home.
One can then only imagine how special it must have been for the Browns when Connor was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Progressive Developments
After being drafted, the then 18-year-old Brown played two additional seasons for the Erie Otters in the OHL, followed by a couple more with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, before turning pro.
He put up impressive numbers in both development leagues and was quickly making a case for why he should be called upon sooner rather than later.
In 2013-14, his last season with the Otters, he accumulated 128 points in 68 games. He was also a steady producer in his tenure with the Marlies, earning 90 points throughout 110 matches in the AHL.
Brown was doing a great job of showcasing that Toronto should be pleased with their 156th overall pick from his draft class.
After playing in a handful of games for the team the year prior, Connor Brown joined the Maple Leafs full time for the 2016-17 season.
The Big Show
Putting up 20 goals in his first full season in the NHL is an impressive feat, but that wasn’t the only reason fans quickly began to back him.
Although he wasn’t being given the same types of opportunities as their flashier stars, that didn’t stop Brown from putting in the work with each opportunity given. It was obvious with every shift.
Toronto is a fanbase that not only wants (and expects) to win, it’s also one that values work ethic along the way. Maple Leafs fans are known to cheer on their hardest-working players.
Connor Brown fits that profile.
Being bounced around their lineup throughout his time with the team, Brown always found a way to make his presence felt while on the ice. He chipped in whenever he could and wasn’t shy to get into the gritty areas of the game.
His team-first attitude was obvious, as he was often the epitome of what it means to play for the logo on the front and not the name on the back of one’s jersey.
As compared to the levels he reached in his first full year in Toronto, and although he followed up with two solid campaigns, Brown wouldn’t go on to reach that type of production again with the franchise.
And now we’ll never know what else he may have been able to contribute or how much better he could have been for this organization, since he’s now working towards helping a different one achieve their goals instead.
Trading a Favourite
On July 1, 2019, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Connor Brown to the Ottawa Senators.
This move was already being anticipated, so it was not overly surprising that Brown was dealt when he was. It just wasn’t always known what it would entail or where he’d be playing next.
Brown hadn’t done anything wrong and it’s not as though he wasn’t a valuable member of the Maple Leafs. Simply stated, his contract was up at the end of 2019-20 and it made business sense to attempt a beneficial return.
What wasn’t expected, however, was that Brown would go on to achieve career highs across all major categories in his first season with the Senators.
| Scor | Scor | Scor | Goal | Goal | Goal | Goal | Assi | Assi | Assi | Shot | Shot | Ice | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Tm | Lg | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | EV | PP | SH | GW | EV | PP | SH | S | S% | ATOI | FO% | BLK | HIT | TK |
| 15-16 | 22 | TOR | NHL | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 9.1 | 14:58 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 16-17 | 23 | TOR | NHL | 82 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 139 | 14.4 | 16:12 | 25.0 | 46 | 50 | 40 |
| 17-18 | 24 | TOR | NHL | 82 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 0 | 18 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 119 | 11.8 | 15:01 | 38.8 | 28 | 23 | 45 |
| 18-19 | 25 | TOR | NHL | 82 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 85 | 9.4 | 13:48 | 39.2 | 37 | 35 | 31 |
| 19-20 | 26 | OTT | NHL | 71 | 16 | 27 | 43 | -6 | 24 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 173 | 9.2 | 20:07 | 42.6 | 35 | 39 | 52 |
| Career | 5yrs | NHL | 324 | 59 | 83 | 142 | 6 | 68 | 50 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 67 | 10 | 6 | 527 | 11.2 | 16:07 | 39.4 | 148 | 148 | 172 |
Provided by Hockey-Reference.com: View Original Table
Clearly, this has turned out to be a positive change towards Brown’s furthered progress. As a relied upon top-six forward for Ottawa, he can be a major presence in leading their team to heights beyond the basement of this league.
As the Senators continue to re-build, Brown should be a cornerstone piece that they can work around. He brings a solid foundation to impact and influence those that get to play alongside him.
Looking at Toronto’s roster today, it’s difficult to see where Brown may have had a quality fit. That’s not to say it wouldn’t be advantageous to have him, it’s just that he wouldn’t play the same type of role he now can embrace in his new city.
As much as he’s missed by Maples Leafs fans, it’s important to recognize that this was a good move for Brown. For someone who works as hard as he always has, Connor deserves an opportunity to fulfill a fruitful career.
Even though some may consider putting on an Ottawa Senators sweater a betrayal of his Toronto Maple Leafs fandom, it’s not a difficult decision to continue cheering on Connor Brown.