Connor Brown Bio
Connor Brown is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently serves as a right winger for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Brown was born on January 14, 1994, in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada. He stands at 6 feet tall and weighs 184 pounds. Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round, 156th overall, during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Brown has built a solid NHL career spanning over a decade. He is married and has one child.
Early Life and Background
Connor Brown grew up playing youth ice hockey in the Toronto area. He began his minor hockey career with the West Mall Lightning mite select team in the North York Hockey League, where his father served as the head coach. The Lightning team eventually evolved into the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s Toronto Marlboros team for players born in 1994.
Brown’s youth team was highly successful, winning 10 consecutive city championships. Several players from that core group went on to be drafted into the NHL during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, including 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’s Erie Otters during the 2010 OHL Priority Draft.
Before joining the Otters full-time, Brown spent the 2010-11 season playing Junior A hockey for the St. Michael’s Buzzers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. In 49 games that season, he recorded 17 goals, 22 assists, and 39 points.
Path to Professional Hockey
Brown joined the Erie Otters for the 2011-12 season and made an immediate impact. He led the team in points with 53, goals with 25, and assists with 28. His outstanding rookie performance earned him a spot on the OHL’s All-Rookie Team. During the 2012-13 season, Brown served as the team captain and again led the Otters in scoring with 28 goals and 41 assists for 69 points in 68 games.
The 2013-14 season proved to be Brown’s most prolific junior year. Playing on a line with future NHL star Connor McDavid, Brown recorded 45 goals and 83 assists for 128 points in 68 games. He added eight goals and 10 assists in 14 playoff games, helping the Otters achieve their best season in franchise history. Brown’s outstanding performance earned him three major OHL trophies: the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy as the league’s top-scoring right winger, the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the top overall scorer, and the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s most outstanding player. At the time of his departure, he held the Otters franchise record for most points in a single season.
Connor Brown Career
Toronto Maple Leafs (2014-2019)
On November 22, 2013, Brown signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He spent the majority of his first professional season with the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate. Brown was voted into the AHL All-Star Game as the Marlies’ only representative and won the AHL Rookie of the Year award after finishing the regular season with 21 goals and 40 assists in 76 games, capturing the AHL rookie scoring title.
After narrowly missing the Maple Leafs’ NHL roster out of training camp for the 2015-16 season, Brown suffered a significant setback when he broke his ankle blocking a shot on October 30, 2015, missing 34 games. He returned to the Marlies lineup in January 2016 and was later called up to the Maple Leafs late in the season. 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. He appeared in seven games that season, recording one goal and six assists.
Brown secured a full-time roster spot with the Maple Leafs for the 2016-17 season. After initially playing in a limited fourth-line role, he settled onto a line with Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov and finished the season with 20 goals and 36 points. He made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut during the 2017 postseason and appeared in all six games of the opening-round series against the Washington Capitals.
On August 26, 2017, Brown signed a new three-year, $6.3 million contract with Toronto. During the 2017-18 season, he played in all 82 games, scoring 14 goals and 28 points. In the playoffs, playing on a line with Auston Matthews and William Nylander, he scored his first NHL playoff goal in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Boston Bruins. The following season, Brown recorded eight goals and 29 points in 82 games.
Ottawa Senators (2019-2022)
On July 1, 2019, Brown was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Cody Ceci and other assets. In Ottawa, Brown saw an expanded role with the rebuilding team. He finished his first season with the Senators second on the team in scoring, with 16 goals and 43 points in 71 games. Brown served as an alternate captain during his three seasons with the Senators.
During the 2020-21 season, Brown recorded 21 goals and 35 points in 56 games. He set the Senators franchise record that season for consecutive games with a goal, achieving a seven-game streak on April 10, 2021. The 2021-22 season saw Brown record 10 goals and 39 points in 64 games.
Washington Capitals and Edmonton Oilers (2022-2024)
On July 13, 2022, Brown was traded to the Washington Capitals. Unfortunately, he played only four games with the Capitals in the 2022-23 season before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the remainder of the year.
As an unrestricted free agent, Brown signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, 2023. Still recovering from his knee injury, Brown struggled early in the season and endured a 72-game goal drought. He broke through on March 13, 2024, scoring his first goal with the Oilers in a 7-2 victory over the Washington Capitals, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. Brown formed an effective third line with Adam Henrique and Mattias Janmark, which proved crucial during the Oilers’ playoff run. He finished the season with four goals and 12 points in 71 games.
The Oilers advanced to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, with Brown recording two goals and six points in 19 playoff games. The Oilers were ultimately defeated in seven games by the Panthers.
New Jersey Devils (2025-Present)
As an unrestricted free agent, Brown signed with the New Jersey Devils on July 1, 2025, agreeing to a four-year, $12 million contract. This move marked the next chapter in his NHL career as he joined a young and developing Devils team.
Connor Brown Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Connor Brown has accumulated significant achievements at both the junior and professional levels. His most decorated season came during his time with the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League, where he earned three major trophies in a single season. In the American Hockey League, Brown captured the Rookie of the Year award and led all first-year players in scoring.
OHL Highlights
Brown’s junior career with the Erie Otters produced outstanding numbers. During his final OHL season in 2013-14, he recorded 128 points, which stood as the Otters’ single-season record at the time. He earned the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy, Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, and Red Tilson Trophy during that campaign, making him one of the most decorated players in OHL history.
Professional Achievements
At the professional level, Brown’s most significant achievement came with the Edmonton Oilers’ run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. While he did not score a championship-winning goal, his contributions during the playoff run helped the Oilers advance through multiple rounds. He has appeared in multiple NHL playoff series and has been a consistent secondary scorer throughout his career.
International Success
Brown represented Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. He played a crucial role in the tournament, particularly in the championship game against Finland. Brown assisted on all three of Canada’s goals, including setting up Nick Paul for the game-winning goal in overtime, securing the gold medal for Canada in a 3-2 victory.
Connor Brown Family
Family Background
Connor Brown’s father served as his youth hockey coach with the West Mall Lightning, nurturing his early development in the sport. Brown’s childhood team produced multiple future NHL players, highlighting the strong foundation of his early hockey environment.
Personal Life
Brown became engaged to his long-time girlfriend in January 2020, and the couple married in August 2021. Brown and his wife have one child together. He maintains a public profile through his Instagram account. Brown previously resided in Edmonton during his time with the Oilers and has now relocated to New Jersey following his signing with the Devils.
2025-26 Season Performance
Connor Brown enters the 2025-26 season with the New Jersey Devils following his signing on July 1, 2025. The four-year, $12 million contract represents a significant commitment from the Devils as they look to add experienced depth to their forward group. Brown brings veteran presence and playoff experience to a relatively young Devils roster.
Having recovered fully from the ACL injury that limited him to just four games with the Washington Capitals in 2022-23, Brown appears poised to contribute consistently for the Devils. His ability to play both special teams and provide secondary scoring will be valuable assets for the team. The Devils are counting on Brown to provide leadership and stability on the wing.
Brown’s versatility and two-way game fit well with the Devils’ style of play. After reaching the Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024, he brings valuable championship-level experience to New Jersey. The opportunity to play regular minutes with a developing team gives Brown a chance to re-establish himself as a reliable NHL contributor.