Connor Brown won't change approach to game after ankle injury

Toronto Maple Leafs Connor Brown takes part in preseason NHL hockey action against the Buffalo Sabres in Toronto on Friday September 25, 2015. (Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO -- Even though it cost him half his sophomore season, Connor Brown doesn't plan to change his approach to the game.

Last year's American Hockey League rookie scoring leader broke his ankle blocking a shot on Oct. 30 -- just the eighth game of the season -- and sat out 34 games before returning Sunday against Utica.

He instantly made an offensive impact in his return, scoring two goals on his first four shifts. He showed no hesitation or caution on the penalty kill, getting in the way of the puck as he's done in the past.

"I'll still be getting in the lanes, penalty killing is a huge part of my game, I'll continue to do that," said Brown, who now wears protective shot blockers over his skates to avoid further injuries. "It's such a freak thing blocking that shot, a freak accident."

"We wanted to get him involved and get him comfortable in all those areas," said Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe. "We felt that we didn't have to limit him, he's worked real hard, probably in a lot ways if you asked him he would have said he was ready weeks ago."

Having to watch the first-place Marlies cruise to the top of the league standings wasn't easy for the 21-year-old winger, who was just one of two skaters to dress in all 76 games last season for Toronto. But he tried to make the best of his time off the ice and says the injury may have been a "blessing in disguise" because of what he was able to accomplish outside the rink.

Brown, drafted by the Maple Leafs 156th overall in 2012, weighed only 145 pounds when Toronto selected him, and entering this season he was listed at five foot 11, 170 pounds.

He wasn't allowed to bare weight for the first six weeks of his injury and didn't even start skating until early January, so he used the time away from the ice to try and bulk up his frame. He gained 10 pounds in the process.

"Little heavier, little stronger than I was in the beginning of the year," said Brown. "All you do is work out and eat. (It's) tougher to put weight on if you're skating for an hour, hour an a half every day."

Added Keefe: "The injury, unfortunate as it was, forced him to take a step back and the extra time he's had, he's had an opportunity to work out a lot. He looks stronger to me."

Brown, a Toronto native, followed up his first game back with another goal Wednesday against Grand Rapids and has seven points in 10 games this season after producing 21 goals and 61 points to lead all first-year players in 2015.

The Marlies struggled to score goals last year and often Brown was the lone catalyst to keep his club in the playoff picture. This season, however, Toronto is the top offensive team in the league, averaging 3.95 goals per game through 45 outings. Little of it has had to do with Brown, leaving the organization excited about what he can add to an already talented roster in the second half of the season.

"He's a vital part of our future and we all know how well he played last year," said Leafs assistant general manager Kyle Dubas. "We're excited to have him back, but we want him to come back and play very well in the second half, make up for that time lost."