TORONTO — Connor Brown knows he can score. He thinks of himself as a scorer and so he should. He has scored at every level he has played.
But this season, for a variety of different reasons, the numbers have not been what he is accustomed to.
He admitted it has been frustrating at times.
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“Yeah absolutely I think so, especially when I feel like I can produce more and have the ability if I’m feeling better and with a little more confidence, I can make more plays,” Brown told Sporting News on Thursday. “So sometimes that’s frustrating but that’s the good part about being on a good team, you put yourself second and just worry about winning and losing.”
Make no mistake, Brown has played a critical role with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. It just has not been an offensive role. He is a big part of the team’s penalty killing unit, ranked in the upper third of the league, averaging 2:02 per game shorthanded, second only to Zach Hyman. Brown is often on the ice in the final minute when the team is defending a one-goal lead. He is plus-12 on the season.
But he’s used to scoring, and scorers like to score. In three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Erie Otters, Brown put up 250 points in 199 games. He also had 90 points in 110 American Hockey League games with the Toronto Marlies.
Brown then burst onto the NHL scene as a rookie in 2016-17 with 20 goals, including the game-winner in the penultimate game of the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins to clinch the Maple Leafs their first playoff spot in an 82 game season since 2004. It's a goal that lives on Leafs lore.
That season, though, he spent a good chunk of time playing alongside Auston Matthews in a top-six role, which has not been the case this season.
While Brown has been putting pressure on himself, coach Mike Babcock understands why the numbers may be lower. The coach is not concerned.
“His opportunity you could say I think. He’s played on all different lines with all different opportunities but for whatever reason it hasn’t gone in for him the way he’d like it to and I think you press a little bit,” said Babcock. “But the big thing for us is he is an elite penalty killer, elite without the puck, a drive train guy. He does it right every day. It’s hard to complain about Brownie if you’re the coach because he does so many things. Would he like to score more and would we like him to score more? Yes. We’re not as concerned about it as probably he is. Just breathe and play.”
Brown said it’s nice to know the coach has his back, but knowing that is not going to leave him any more content.
“You’re never satisfied and (Babcock’s comments) doesn’t mean you don’t want to produce more but obviously that’s nice to know he’s in your corner,” said Brown.
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Playing on a line with Tyler Ennis and Frederik Gauthier, Brown had his first multi-point game (one goal, one assist) on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers since January 23 – a span of 27 games without one. His goal came as a much needed boost of confidence, having scored just once in the past 24 games.
“I think our line was actually good all night, we seemed to have the puck a lot and were making plays when we touched it,” said Brown. “It’s important to build off that, to get that confidence going. We were playing happy and having fun (Wednesday) so we’ve got to carry that through.”
There is a good chance Ennis and Gauthier are on the line alongside Brown when Game 1 of the playoffs, presumably against the Boston Bruins, arrives in two weeks. Oftentimes in the playoffs contributions from down the lineup make the difference. Who can forget Kasperi Kapanen's game-winner from Brian Boyle, a goal that came from the fourth line, in double overtime in Game 2 against the Washington Capitals in 2017?
“It’s huge to get depth scoring in the playoffs and our line has to be a big part of that,” said Brown.
He is committed to finding a way to produce even though he knows his role first and foremost is to be a guy Babcock knows he can trust in a defensive situation.
“Obviously I want to. I’ve always been a guy that contributes and always been a scorer so I want to obviously continue that as much as possible. But I also realize the type of role I’ve been put in at times is to play responsibly so I don’t want that to take a backseat to me trying to force offence. It has to be an important balance for me.”
Babcock was pleased to see Brown get on the scoresheet against the Flyers. He is hoping that while he never lost confidence in Brown, that offensive contribution will help the player get back some of the confidence he seemed to be lacking in himself.
“It does the same for all guys who haven’t scored in a while, it’s huge for him,” said Babcock. “Real good for Brownie. We know he’s a good player, he’s scored his whole life and there’s no reason for him not to score. Sometimes you get in your own way when you’re pressing too hard but this should help him breathe.”