Another day, another player set to make their NHL and/or Leafs debut. It’s getting old, but it’s also all we have for excitement around here and Connor Brown is certainly a prospect that many of us have wanted to see in the NHL at some point so we know what our future excitement levels should be for him.

Brown has been a point producer at every level. He gets by to a large extent on the fact that he’s one of the hardest workers on the ice and that he has had enough tools in his kit to score at every level he’s played at so far. After putting up insane OHL numbers it was assumed that he couldn’t replicate those at the AHL level, and Brown immediately proved people wrong on that.

Despite lacking high end skill and having questionable speed and skating ability, Brown has continued to thrive. A slower start, followed by a long term injury initially put a dent in Brown’s sophomore AHL season, but since his return he’s regained his form from a year ago and presently sits at 24 points in 28 games. 

The combination of the Babcock blessing and the fact that Komarov is unavailable will get Breezy his shot tonight. He’ll be joining a lineup that he should be fairly familiar with since the Marlies have taken over, but it will be interesting to see whether he slots into more of a top six role or if he’ll be relied on more for his energy.

At this point the remaining Marlies prospects we haven’t had a glimpse at this season are Gauthier and Lindberg, so it will be interesting to see if they too will get a shot. Until then, it’s Brown’s chance to show what he can do.