Connor Brown was selected 156th overall (round 6 – 2012) and has done nothing but succeed and continues to excel as a professional hockey player. Seriously, this kid can play hockey and he’s been flying under the radar with all of the elite young talent the Maple Leafs have been reeling in.

Before I dig deep, here is a glimpse of Brown’s road to success:

2011/12 – OHL First All-Rookie Team (OHL – Erie Otters – 68 games: 53 points)
2012/13 – (OHL Erie Otters – 63 games: 69 points)
2013/14 – Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy – OHL Top Scoring Right Winger (68 games: 128 points)
2013/14 – Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy – OHL Top Scorer
2013/14 – Red Tilson Trophy - OHL’s Most Outstanding Player
2013/14 – OHL First-All Star Team
2014/15 – AHL All-Star Game / AHL Rookie Scoring Title (Toronto Marlies: 76 games: 61 points)
2015/16 – AHL Toronto Marlies (34 games – 29 points)
2015/16 – Toronto Maple Leafs (7 games, 6 points)

If you ask me, these are stats and awards that you would see someone getting who was a first round draft pick. Brown, who is a Toronto native, comes in at 5’11” and weighs about 180 pounds. On November 23, 2013 Connor signed a three year entry level contract. Oddly enough Brown scored his first NHL goal last season against Anaheim. Of course, it was against the Maple Leafs newly acquired Frederik Andersen.

I have no doubt that Brown will bring this up to Frederik at some point this season, I know I sure would. It's a nice ice breaker and as both players will likely be settling in with their ‘new squad’, it would be a good way to get a few laughs out and get ready for a career changing season as the Leafs get on track, back to their winning ways.

Brown has experience playing with extremely high end talent, back in his Erie days with the Otters he played with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid. With the amount of high-end talent the Leafs are brewing in the Air Canada Center, it just may be so that Connor Brown gets a taste with some of Toronto’s best.

It’s a total crap shoot at this point where Brown ends up in the Maple Leafs roster out of training camp, but I have little doubt Brown will be a player the Leafs management team looks very hard at, as he could be valuable moving forward if he continues to get his name on the score sheet. I’d peg him into the second/third line winger who has a knack around the net to put the puck into the twine. His offensive game is strong, but he continues to learn and develop in the right direction. Perhaps some time with Babcock and his assistants he will progress into another scoring threat for the future.

There are the obvious cream of the crop looking forwards in Matthews, Marner and Nylander, but don’t forget about the twenty two year old Etobicoke gem, he may open some eyes with his offensive instincts and want to win battles. Brown has been so successful on his ride to the NHL because of his extremely high work ethic, let's just hope it's contagious within.

Brown is a player who has exceeded all expectations throughout his journey to the National Hockey League.

Where do you see Connor Brown playing this season and if on the Leafs who do you think his line mates will be?

Thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend.

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