Connor Brown (ice hockey)
Connor Brown (born January 14, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Brown was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round, 156th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Brown played for the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 2011 until 2014, then for the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Toronto Marlies for the better part of two seasons before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs full-time in the 2016–17 season. He played for two more years with Toronto before he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2019. Brown spent three seasons with the Senators where he was an alternate captain. He was traded to the Washington Capitals heading into the 2022–23 NHL season.
| Connor Brown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017 | |||
| Born | January 14, 1994 Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Washington Capitals Toronto Maple Leafs Ottawa Senators | ||
| National team | Canada | ||
| NHL Draft | 156th overall, 2012 Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Playing career | 2014–present | ||
Playing career
Amateur
Brown grew up playing youth hockey in the Toronto area. He played first for the West Mall Lightning mite select team, in the North York Hockey League, where his father was the head coach.[1] The Lightning team later morphed in the GTHL Toronto Marlboros team for players born in 1994. The core of the team won ten-straight city championships and included seven players who would go on to be selected at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft: Brown, Scott Laughton, Matt Finn, Adam Pelech, Scott Kosmachuk, Jake Paterson and Matia Marcantuoni.[2]
Brown was selected in the 13th round, 251st overall, by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Erie Otters in the 2010 OHL Priority Draft.[3] He spent the 2010–11 season playing Junior "A" hockey for the St. Michael's Buzzers in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).
Brown joined the Otters for the 2011–12 season and led the team in points (53), goals (25) and assists (28), and was named to the OHL's All-Rookie Team.[4][5] However, he recorded a plus-minus of –72, a jarring statistic that was also the worst plus-minus of any player in the OHL (second-worst was teammate Kris Grant with –61).[6] The plus-minus was primarily a result of an Otters team that finished last in the OHL, resulting in the franchise drafting first overall in the OHL draft and selecting future NHL star Connor McDavid. Brown entered the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and was selected in the sixth round, 156th overall, by his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. Brown's offensive talent lead the Maple Leafs to select him, but his small stature and historically bad plus-minus caused the pick to be called a "gamble".[4]
Brown returned to the Otters for the 2012–13 season, serving as the captain of the team.[7]
Brown spent the 2013–14 season on a line with Connor McDavid, scoring 45 goals and 83 assists for 128 points in 68 games. He went on to score 8 goals and 10 assists in 14 games during the playoffs to cap off what was the best season in the team's history.[8] Brown was awarded both the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the OHL's top scoring right winger, and the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the top scoring player in the OHL.[9] At the time of his departure, he held the Otters franchise record for most points in a single season; his record has since been passed by former line-mate Dylan Strome, who surpassed it by one point the following season.[10]
Professional
On November 22, 2013, Brown signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs.[11] In his first year with the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, he won the AHL rookie scoring title, finishing the regular season with 21 goals and 40 assists.[12] Brown played for the Marlies until his call-up to the Maple Leafs in March 2016.
Brown almost made the Maple Leafs' NHL roster out of training camp for the 2015–16 season, but was assigned to the AHL to further his development.[13] However, he would be called up to the team late in the season as part of an initiative by the team to give AHL rookies some late season experience. Brown made his NHL debut on March 17, 2016, against the Florida Panthers, and scored his first NHL goal on March 24 against future teammate Frederik Andersen of the Anaheim Ducks.
Brown made the Maple Leafs full-time for the 2016–17 season. However, a deep presence of forward depth meant Brown was playing on the fourth line with Matt Martin, though he saw time on the penalty kill. After five games in a limited role, Maple Leafs veteran forward Milan Michalek was placed on waivers in order to make room and give Brown a larger role on the team. Former Maple Leaf Ben Smith rejoined the team via waivers in order to take Brown's former spot. Brown played the rest of the year mostly on a line with Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov, collecting 20 goals and compiling 36 points.
On August 26, 2017, as a restricted free agent, Brown signed a new three-year, $6.3 million contract with Toronto worth $2.1 million annually.[14]
On July 1, 2019, Brown was traded (along with Nikita Zaitsev and Michael Carcone) to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk and a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.[15]
On October 22, 2020, Brown re-signed as a restricted free agent with the Ottawa Senators, for three years at an average annual value of $3.6 million. This contract will expire at the end of the 2022–23 season.[16]
Following his third season with the Senators, Brown was traded on the opening day of free agency on July 13, 2022, to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2024.[17]
After only playing four games with the Capitals, Brown suffered an ACL injury which required surgery. Coach Peter Laviolette announced Brown will likely miss the rest of the year.[18]
Personal life
Brown became engaged to his long-time girlfriend in January 2020.[19] They married in August 2021.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2009–10 | Toronto Marlboros | GTHL | 80 | 25 | 44 | 69 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | St. Michael's Buzzers | OJHL | 49 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Erie Otters | OHL | 68 | 25 | 28 | 53 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Erie Otters | OHL | 63 | 28 | 41 | 69 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Erie Otters | OHL | 68 | 45 | 83 | 128 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 8 | ||
| 2014–15 | Toronto Marlies | AHL | 76 | 21 | 40 | 61 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | Toronto Marlies | AHL | 34 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 8 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 6 | ||
| 2015–16 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 82 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 82 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 82 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 71 | 16 | 27 | 43 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 56 | 21 | 14 | 35 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 64 | 10 | 29 | 39 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 444 | 90 | 126 | 216 | 90 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | ||||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Canada | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
| 2021 Latvia | ||
International
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| OHL | ||
| First All-Rookie Team | 2011–12 | [5] |
| Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy – Top Scoring Right Winger | 2013–14 | [20] |
| Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy – Top Scorer | 2013–14 | |
| Red Tilson Trophy – Most Outstanding Player | 2013–14 | [21] |
| First All-Star Team | 2013–14 | [22] |
| AHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2014–15 | [23] |
| All-Rookie Team | 2014–15 | [12] |
| International | ||
| World Championship points leader | 2021 | |
References
- ^ Hansler, Clayton (July 6, 2012). . Marlies.ca. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ Simmons, Steve (June 25, 2012). "GTHL's own magnificent seven". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ . OntarioHockeyLeague.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ a b "Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Connor Brown playing beyond expectations". The National Post. February 14, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ a b OHL Network: OHL All-Rookie Teams Announced
- ^ "Player Statistics: 2011-12 Regular Season". OntarioHockeyLeague.com. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Connor Brown named captain of the Otters". Erie Otters Official Website. September 15, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ Rush, Curtis (May 6, 2014). "Maple Leafs prospect Connor Brown wins OHL top player award". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ News Centre: OHL Year End Awards
- ^ Morreale, Mike (March 22, 2015). "Erie's Strome wins OHL scoring title with career day". NHL. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- ^ "Maple Leafs sign Brown to entry-level contract". NHL Official Website. November 22, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ a b "Toronto Marlies on Twitter". Twitter. April 21, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
- ^ "Maple Leafs' newest rookie Connor Brown happy to 'be recognized'". The Globe and Mail. March 17, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ^ "Leafs sign Connor Brown to three-year extension". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. August 26, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "Senators acquire Zaitsev, Brown from Toronto in six-player deal". Ottawa Senators. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ "Ottawa Senators sign forward Connor Brown to a three-year contract". NHL. October 22, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ "Capitals get Connor Brown from Senators for 2024 second-round pick". Sportsnet.ca. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "Brown likely out rest of season for Capitals after ACL surgery". NHL.com. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Warren, Ken (January 26, 2020). "Brown's big news, Belleville's stunning success, Ryan hits the ice and Paul is ahead of schedule". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ OHL Network: 2013–14 Regular Season Award Winners
- ^ "Connor Brown wins Red Tilson trophy". Ontario Hockey League. March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
- ^ "OHL announces 2013–14 All-Star Teams". Ontario Hockey League. May 3, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
- ^ "All-Star roster changes, started named". American Hockey League. January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database