Connor Brown

Playing career

Amateur

Brown grew up playing youth ice 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. The Lightning team later morphed in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL)'s Toronto Marlboros team for players born in 1994. The core of the team won 10-straight city championships and included seven players who would go on to be selected by NHL teams at the 2012 NHL entry draft: Brown, Scott Laughton, Matt Finn, Adam Pelech, Scott Kosmachuk, Jake Paterson and Matia Marcantuoni. Brown was selected in the 13th round, 251st overall, by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Erie Otters in the 2010 OHL Priority Draft. He spent the 2010–11 season playing Junior "A" level for the St. Michael's Buzzers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), appearing in 49 games, recording 17 goals, 22 assists and 39 points.

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. However, he recorded a plus-minus of –72. 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 returned to the Otters for the 2012–13 season, serving as the captain of the team. He recorded 28 goals, 41 assists and 69 points in 68 games that season for the team, again leading the team in scoring and his plus-minus improved to –11.

Brown spent the 2013–14 season on a line with Connor McDavid, recording 45 goals and 83 assists for 128 points in 68 games. He went on to put up eight goals and 10 assists in 14 games during the playoffs to cap off what was the best season in team's history. 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, and the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL's outstanding player. 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 linemate Dylan Strome, who surpassed it by one point the following season.

Professional

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 led the Maple Leafs to select him, but his small stature and historically bad plus-minus caused the pick to be called a "gamble". On November 22, 2013, Brown signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs. In his first year with the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, he was voted into the AHL's All-Star Game starting roster as the team's only representative. He won the AHL rookie scoring title, finishing the regular season with 21 goals and 40 assists in 76 games. The Marlies made the 2015 Calder Cup playoffs and in five games, Brown recorded five points (one goal and four assists). The Marlies were eliminated in the first round by the Grand Rapids Griffins, despite winning the first two games. For his efforts, he was named the AHL's Rookie of the Year, and their All-Rookie Team.

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. In the eighth game of the season on October 30, 2015, Brown broke his ankle blocking a shot and missed 34 games before returning to the Marlies' lineup in January 2016. He appeared in 34 games with the Marlies, recording 11 goals and 29 points. He would be called up to the Maple Leafs 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, against the Florida Panthers, and scored his first NHL goal on March 24, against the Anaheim Ducks. On March 29, he registered three assists in a game versus the Florida Panthers, setting up goals by Nazem Kadri and Michael Grabner. Brown made seven appearances with Toronto, scoring the one goal and adding six assists for seven points. He was returned to the Marlies for their 2016 Calder Cup playoffs run, appearing in 15 playoff games and scoring seven goals and nine points. The Marlies made it to the AHL's conference finals, but were eliminated in five games by the Hershey Bears.

Brown made the Maple Leafs' roster 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 Michálek 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. The Maple Leafs made the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs and Brown made his playoff debut on April 16, 2017, in the game 1 loss to the Washington Capitals in the opening round. He registered his first playoff point assisting on Auston Matthews' third period goal in a 5–4 loss to the Capitals on April 19. The Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Capitals in six games. He appeared in all six games with just the one point.

International play

Brown was selected to play for Canada national team in the 2021 World Championship. Canada lost its first two games, but after Andrew Mangiapane joined the team and was placed on the first line with Brown and Henrique, the team's fortunes turned around. Brown assisted on all three Canada's goals in the championship game, including setting up Nick Paul to score the game-winning goal in overtime to secure the gold medal in a 3–2 victory over Finland national team.

Personal life

Brown became engaged to his long-time girlfriend in January 2020, and were married in August 2021. Brown and his wife have one child.

Career statistics