Toronto Maple Leafs: Connor Brown’s contract is a bargain

After waiting to get a deal complete, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally come to terms on a deal with restricted free agent Connor Brown which gives the team flexibility going forward.

It took some time but the Toronto Maple Leafs and restricted free agent Connor Brown have come to an agreement on a three-year $6.3 million. The deal will pay the 23-year old an annual cap hit of $2.1 million a season and he will be a RFA in 2020-2021. With the Leafs in a position to move forward as a contender it is important for the to manage their contracts wisely and Brown’s contract is a good example of that.

For a player that scored 20 goals, 16 assists, 36 points in his rookie season, playing on the penalty kill and being asked to move up and down the lineup, the Leafs are getting a great bargain. If you compare Brown’s contract to what Zach Hyman,and Matt Martin Martin are making it also shows how much Brown is willing to bet on himself going forward. Granted, the Leafs were buying unrestricted free agent years from Hyman and Martin but Brown could have probably made more money had he been on a different team.

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Considering many did not give the former sixth round pick from the 2012 draft a chance to make it to the NHL, this has to be a satisfying moment for Brown. The Etobicoke Ont., native is also showing how much it means for him to stay and play for his childhood team. Since the Leafs are near the cap, these are the types of contracts that they need to hit home runs on because it provides them with a lot of flexibility especially with big contract extensions coming up.

What will be interesting to see is how things play out from here. Can he continue to score 15-20 goals a season and continue to be an effective two-way player?

Having that final year of arbitration rights should give Brown some extra motivation to prove his value to the team. Looking at how his career has progressed there should be no issue with Brown being able to keep producing at this level and this three-year window is a perfect opportunity to show that.

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What do you think of Brown’s contract? Should he had gotten more money or years? Let us know in the comments below.