Connor Brown: Trade from hometown Leafs 'was the best thing for me'

Connor Brown believes he could have done more during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the Ottawa Senators forward says he's benefitted from his hometown club trading him last summer.

"The fact that it was my hometown team too, and the one team I've been a part of and never been traded whether it comes to junior or anything, so it was like a shock, an emotional shock to get moved," Brown said on the "Connor Carrick Podcast" earlier this week. "I felt like I was part of like the core there, so it was a shock and it was hard, but also I knew that for me and my career it was the best thing for me."

He added that the guys and the culture that we have worked towards in Ottawa" have increased his happiness.

Brown played a big role in helping to accelerate the Leafs' rebuild during his 2016-17 rookie season. The Toronto native potted 20 goals while contributing to the team's first run to the postseason since 2013.

By 2018-19, Brown's third full campaign with the club, the Leafs had improved their wing depth, with Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson emerging as top-nine players. Brown saw his ice time decrease for a third consecutive season, and he finished with just eight goals while playing the majority of the campaign on the fourth line.

"80 percent of the game is between the ears once you're playing. It's just how you feel about yourself that night - wanting the puck," he said. "And it was just something that I definitely lost a little bit."

Brown says the opportunity to play a top-six role in Ottawa helped restore his confidence. The 26-year-old logged 20-plus minutes of ice time per game, racking up a career-best 43 points in 71 contests during his first year with the Senators in 2019-20.

"I don't think I was playing bad or hurting the team or anything when I was in Toronto, but I definitely wasn't maximizing my potential," he added. "So, it's been nice to find that in myself and find that in my game. And I think a big part of it is just the belief in me that was given."

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