Connor Brown
ON-ICE VALUE
Middle-Six Forward
STRENGTHS
Skating: Brown possesses tremendous straight-line speed. He can push defenders back when he flies down the wing or take off on counterattacks once he finds a loose puck. On the strength of his wheels and boundless energy, he enjoys a ton of quality scoring chances.
Motor: He pairs that speed with a great work rate. Brown never stops moving his feet, hunting down pucks in the corners, backchecking like a demon and generally giving opponents nothing for free. He may not be the most talented forward around, but he often gets the better of players through sheer force of will. Not many can out-compete him.
Defense: He’s a fundamentally sound defensive winger who maintains inside position and takes few risks. With his pace, energy and instincts, he’s able to disrupt puck-carriers on every shift. He’s also willing to lay out and block shots if need be. He’s a smart and gutsy glue guy.
WEAKNESSES
Strength: Though he hustles his tail off, he gets outmuscled quite a bit. Brown would be wise to add some mass to his 6’0”, 185-pound frame. At the moment, he doesn’t have the lower-body strength to reap the full rewards of his hard work. Stronger edge work would help him protect the puck more effectively as well.
Streaky: Brown isn’t the most reliable finisher. He generates a mess of opportunities with his energy, but he can go weeks without potting a goal and then score shorthanded markers in three straight contests. Given his stout defensive play, anything he provides on the attack is gravy.