A year ago, after Connor Brown played well enough in Toronto Maple Leafs training camp and pre-season to earn a spot among the organization's 12 best forwards, he was sent down in order to spend his sophomore year developing his game and growing as a player.
Back then, the decision was easily understood. The Leafs had no intention of being competitive and they were going to ice an opening day roster that allowed them to play several capable veterans on short-term contracts until February in order to flip them at the deadline for future assets.