Connor Brown says trade away from hometown Leafs was best thing for him

Connor Brown admits to being a little shocked when he was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs in July of last year. After all, he was playing for the city he grew up in and filling a role as a depth player. However, he now says the trade was a major benefit.

"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."

Brown says his happiness has increased in Ottawa, along with his ice time.

"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 is now filling a top six role with the Ottawa Senators, and set a career high in points this season with 43 (16 goals, 27 assists) despite playing 11 fewer games than the previous two seasons. The 26-year-old also logged 20 minutes-plus of ice time this season, his highest in his career.

"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.”

Brown, along with Nikita Zaitsev and Michael Carcone, was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Cody Ceci, Ben Harpur, Aaron Luchuk and a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Source: Connor Carrick Podcast

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