Tip of the Tower
Fansided

Toronto Maple Leafs: 7 Players to Watch as Season Comes to an End

By David Morassutti

Mar 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock talks to an official during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Buffalo 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock talks to an official during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Buffalo 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 8
Next
Toronto Maple Leafs
Mar 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Connor Brown (16) gets congratulated after scoring the tying goal against the Anaheim Ducks at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Anaheim 6-5 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Connor Brown

Even after missing two months with an ankle injury, Brown returned to the Marlies with the goal of improving on his impressive rookie season in the AHL. In 28 games this season, Brown has nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points.

Selected 156th overall by the Leafs in 2012, the Etobicoke native has been about proving people wrong since being drafted. In his final season with the Erie Otters in the OHL, Brown had his best offensive season with 45 goals, 83 assists and 128 points, which raised a lot of eyebrows within the Leafs organization.

In his first season with the Marlies, he led all AHL rookies in scoring with 61 points in 76 games, and added four points in five playoff games.

He, along with Nylander, made it tough on Babcock to send them back to the Marlies out of training camp. Now, there is no doubt he should be a part of this team moving forward.

His first NHL goal came late in the recent 6-5 thriller with Anaheim, with the Leafs needing a goal to tie and he made a nice move to kick the puck to his stick. Obviously people were concerned about Brown’s size, but he makes up for it by having elite hockey sense. He has also spent time on the power play and penalty kill, which has helped maximize his effectiveness in all areas.

What will be important for Brown next is to step up in the AHL playoffs and be a leader for the Marlies, which should be no problem for him.

Next: Tyler Bozak

Home/Toronto Maple Leafs