Tavares should not fear Toronto homecoming, Brown says

TORONTO -- If John Tavares has any concerns about the stress that would come with playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, fellow Toronto native Connor Brown says there is nothing to worry about.

"It's all I've known but I've loved it," the Maple Leafs forward said Monday at the Smashfest VII launch party in Toronto. "The team has done such a good job of shielding it. Everyone says it's such a big media market but for me I haven't felt it too overwhelming."
The Maple Leafs are one of six teams, along with the New York Islanders, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, that reportedly will speak with Tavares during the free agent interview period this week before free agency begins at 12:01 pm ET on Sunday. Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Kyle Dubas and coach Mike Babcock met with Tavares and his representation in Los Angeles on Monday, TSN reported..
Brown grew up in Etobicoke, about a 10-minute drive west to Tavares' hometown of Mississauga and a 20-minute drive east to Air Canada Centre. His first four professional seasons have been spent in Toronto, first with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL from 2014-16 and then with the Maple Leafs. Getting the opportunity to play for the team he grew up cheering for is a rare opportunity Brown says he treasures and would recommend to other players.

"It's been awesome; it's a really cool experience to play at the ACC if you're from Toronto, it's been awesome for me," Brown said.
Brown said being recognized around the city has not felt invasive.
"You do (get privacy), everyone is very respectful," Brown said. "I live here in the summer, you get, 'hey, how are you's,' but everyone is very respectful, it's a great place to play."
Brown would be excited if the Maple Leafs could add Tavares, who has 621 points (272 goals, 349 assists) in 669 NHL games.
"He's one of the elite players in the League and any team would be lucky to have it," Brown said.

Tavares, who turns 28 on Sept. 20, would become one of the older players on the Maple Leafs but Brown feels there would be no issues with Tavares fitting in with Toronto's younger core.
"Absolutely not," Brown said. "Obviously it has to be the right guy, but you saw Patrick Marleau come into our room (last year). We are such a young team but him being in a different age group, he mixed in so well especially with the young guys; Mitch (Marner) and Auston (Matthews), they got along so well. We've got such a close-knit group; we'd welcome a new guy."