T. J. Brennan Explained

Birth Date:3 April 1989
Birth Place:Moorestown, New Jersey, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:216
Position:Defense
Shoots:Left
League:NL
Team:HC Ajoie
Former Teams:Buffalo Sabres
Florida Panthers
Toronto Maple Leafs
EC Red Bull Salzburg
Draft:31st overall
Draft Year:2007
Draft Team:Buffalo Sabres
Career Start:2009

Terrence James Brennan (born April 3, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing for HC Ajoie of the National League (NL). Brennan was originally selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, 31st overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and has also previously played for the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs at the NHL level. Brennan has been cited as an elite offensive AHL defenseman, scoring at a pace of nearly a point-per-game, a rare feat for a defender.

Playing career

Amateur

Brennan is from Willingboro Township, New Jersey[1] and grew up in Moorestown, New Jersey.[2] He left Moorestown High School during his senior year to begin his career as a hockey player, later playing two seasons with the now-defunct St. John's Fog Devils of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) before moving with the team to Montreal, when it became the Montreal Junior Hockey Club.[3] [4] During the 2006–07 season, Brennan scored 16 goals and 25 assists in 68 games, winning the Raymond Lagacé Trophy as the QMJHL defensive rookie of the year.[5]

Professional

Brennan was slotted as the 29th best prospect by the National Hockey League's Central Scouting in advance of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Brennan was described by Central Scouting as a good playmaker with a hard shot.[1] He was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2nd round, 31st overall in the draft.[6] On April 18, 2009, Brennan signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres that began in the 2009–10 season. Brennan spent two seasons with the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Portland Pirates.[7] On November 23, 2011, Brennan made his NHL debut for the Sabres, also scoring his first career NHL goal against goaltender Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins.[8] He was returned to the AHL and played his third season with the Sabres' new AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.[9] On March 15, 2013, Brennan was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.[10] He played in 21 games total with the Sabres, registering two goals.[7]

Brennan finished the season with the Panthers, playing in 19 games scoring 2 goals and 9 points. That offseason, on June 14, 2013, he was traded from the Panthers to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Bobby Butler.[11] Brennan was not qualified by the Predators, however, and was released as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.[12] On July 5, he then signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $600,000.[13] He was invited to the Maple Leafs training camp, but was cut and sent to Toronto's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies after passing through waivers.[14] He had an excellent season, winning the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's most outstanding defenseman and played in the AHL's 2014 All-Star Game.[15] [16]

On July 4, 2014, Brennan buoyed by his successful season with the Marlies signed as an unrestricted free agent on a one-year NHL contract with the New York Islanders.[17] However, after partaking in the Islanders' 2014 training camp, on October 4, Brennan was traded prior to the 2014–15 season, along with Ville Pokka and Anders Nilsson, to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Nick Leddy in a cost-cutting move by the Blackhawks.[18] [19] Brennan was assigned to the Rockford IceHogs, the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, after clearing waivers.[12] He played in 54 games with the IceHogs before he was traded at the NHL trade deadline on February 26, 2015, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Spencer Abbott. He was then reassigned for a second stint with the Marlies.[20] [21] During this season, he would also make his first appearance for the Maple Leafs, playing in 6 games for the club. Brennan was re-signed to a one-year contract following the seasons completion.[22]

The following year, Brennan was a staple defenseman on the league leading Marlies, remaining at a point a game throughout the season and recording the second most points in the AHL. Brennan was called up to play in one game on March 9, 2016, due to an injury to the previous callup Victor Loov, who was injured in practice before playing a game.[23] However, a few weeks later, on March 31, with few games remaining in the season, Brennan was one of four players called up to the Maple Leafs.[24] On April 4, Brennan scored his first goal in the NHL in nearly 3 years, potting one in a 4–3 defeat of the Florida Panthers. Coincidentally, Brennan's last goal was on April 11, 2013, while playing for the Panthers.[25] He finished the season with 25 goals and 68 points with the Marlies and 1 goal in 7 games with the Maple Leafs. For his stellar play with the Marlies, he won his second Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's best defenseman.[26]

On July 5, 2016, Brennan signed a two-year contract with his hometown Philadelphia Flyers.[26] During his fourth year within the Flyers organization with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the 2019–20 season, Brennan was unable to match his previous career scoring output, recording just 8 points through 28 games, before suffering an injury.[27] On February 24, 2020, Brennan was traded at the NHL trade deadline by the Flyers to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Nathan Noel. He was immediately assigned to join the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.[28]

On December 28, 2020, Brennan was an un-signed free agent and opted to sign abroad, agreeing to a contract for the remainder of the 2020–21 season with Swiss second-tier club, HC Thurgau of the Swiss League.[29] He had 10 goals and 24 points for HC Thurgau. On June 18, 2021, Brennan signed with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the ICE Hockey League.[30] With Salzburg, Brennan won the league championship, scoring 27 goals and 59 points in 60 games (playoffs included). He left the team in June 2022.[31] On June 15, Brennan signed with HC Ajoie of the National League.[32]

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2005–06Philadelphia Jr. FlyersAtJHL429233284
2006–07St. John's Fog DevilsQMJHL681625417941124
2007–08St. John's Fog DevilsQMJHL6516254192624612
2008–09Montreal Junior Hockey ClubQMJHL59529346310481234
2009–10Portland PiratesAHL65617236440112
2010–11Portland PiratesAHL721524394940116
2011–12Rochester AmericansAHL521614303932026
2011–12Buffalo SabresNHL111016
2012–13Rochester AmericansAHL3614213557
2012–13Buffalo SabresNHL101016
2012–13Florida PanthersNHL192792
2013–14Toronto MarliesAHL7625477211514681410
2014–15Rockford IceHogsAHL549273659
2014–15Toronto MarliesAHL193131612534712
2014–15Toronto Maple LeafsNHL60119
2015–16Toronto MarliesAHL69254368531554914
2015–16Toronto Maple LeafsNHL71016
2016–17Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL7621396010151344
2017–18Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL63143145751315612
2018–19Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL638354366
2019–20Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL2817842
2019–20 Rockford IceHogsAHL60332
2020–21HC ThurgauSL221014242262248
2021–22EC Red Bull SalzburgICEHL482027472212751220
2022–23HC AjoieNL4916153145
2023–24HC AjoieNL354151920
AHL totals6791573214787346318264466
NHL totals53581329

Awards and honors

AwardYear
QMJHL
2006–07
AHL
2013–14, 2015–16
First All-Star Team 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17[33] [34]
Second All-Star Team2017–18[35]
All-Star Classic participant2014–15, 2015–16[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wawrow . John . Sabres select Brennan 31st . . June 23, 2007 . October 31, 2015 . 'Once I started, I didn't want to stop,' said Brennan, a Willingboro, N.J. native, of his interest in hockey..
  2. Web site: Donnellon . Sam . Sam Donnellon / Moorestown's. . . June 22, 2006 . March 1, 2011 . His future lay 1,805 miles away, on the easternmost point of an island nearer the Arctic Circle than his Moorestown home. This is where the National Hockey League would discover T.J. Brennan..
  3. Web site: Fog Devils will relocate to Verdun . Sportsnet . The Canadian Press . September 15, 2009 . November 25, 2022.
  4. Islanders Agree to Terms with Brennan . New York Islanders . msgnetworks.com . July 1, 2014 . November 25, 2022.
  5. Web site: Brennan receives Raymond-Lagacé Trophy . Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . March 27, 2007 . November 25, 2022.
  6. Web site: Flyers Sign Defenseman T.J. Brennan . CBS News . July 5, 2016 . November 25, 2022.
  7. Web site: Trade: Sabres send d-man TJ Brennan to Florida . NBC Sports . Brough . Jason . March 15, 2013 . November 25, 2022.
  8. Web site: Bruins edge Sabres for 10th straight win . . 2011-11-23 . 2011-11-23.
  9. Web site: Sabres Recall TJ Brennan from Rochester . Buffalo Sabres . NHL.com . January 16, 2012 . November 25, 2022.
  10. Web site: Panthers acquire defenseman T.J. Brennan . . NHL.com . 2013-03-15 . 2013-03-15.
  11. Web site: Predators acquire T.J. Brennan . ESPN . Associated Press . June 14, 2013 . November 25, 2022.
  12. Web site: Journeyman defenceman T.J. Brennan looking for chance to stick with NHL team . NHL.com . October 22, 2014 . November 25, 2022.
  13. Web site: Leafs add depth on defence, sign Brennan . Johnston . Mike . Sportsnet . July 5, 2013 . November 25, 2022.
  14. Web site: Morgan Rielly makes the Maple Leafs' cut, for now . The Globe and Mail . Shoalts . David . September 29, 2013 . November 25, 2022.
  15. Web site: Marlies' T.J. Brennan wins Eddie Shore Award as AHL defenceman of the year . NHL.com . April 16, 2014 . November 25, 2022.
  16. Web site: AHL roster named for 2014 All-Star Classic . American Hockey League . January 9, 2014 . November 25, 2022.
  17. Web site: Islanders sign Johnson, Conacher and Brennan . . 2014-07-01 . 2014-07-01.
  18. Web site: Blackhawks acquire prospects from Islanders for Leddy . . NHL.com . 2014-10-04 . 2014-10-04.
  19. Web site: Blackhawks trade Leddy, get under salary cap . Kuc . Chris . Chicago Tribune . October 4, 2014 . November 25, 2022.
  20. Web site: Blackhawks acquire Abbott from Maple Leafs . . 2015-02-26 . 2015-02-26.
  21. Web site: Maple Leafs acquire T.J. Brennan from Blackhawks . Sportsnet . The Canadian Press . February 26, 2015 . November 25, 2022.
  22. Web site: Maple Leafs ink prospect Johnson, re-sign Brennan . Sportsnet . McKenna . Ryan . June 4, 2015 . November 25, 2022.
  23. Web site: Viktor Loov out, T.J. Brennan in for Maple Leafs tonight . Toronto Star . Rush . Curtis . March 9, 2016 . November 25, 2022.
  24. Web site: Maple Leafs recall Kasperi Kapanen for game against Sabres . McGran . Kevin . Toronto Star . March 31, 2016 . November 25, 2022.
  25. Web site: Panthers seal best season in team history with win over Leafs . Siegel . Jonas . The Canadian Press . The Globe and Mail . April 4, 2016 . November 25, 2022.
  26. Web site: Flyers agree to multi-year contract with defenseman T.J. Brennan . Philadelphia Flyers . NHL.com . July 5, 2016 . July 5, 2016.
  27. Web site: Moorestown native T.J. Brennan and Flyers appear headed for breakup . Isaac . Dave . Courier Post . January 15, 2020 . November 25, 2022.
  28. Web site: Blackhawks acquire T.J. Brennan from Flyers . Chicago Blackhawks . NHL.com . February 24, 2020 . February 24, 2020.
  29. Web site: HCT verpflichtet US-Verteidiger T.J. Brennan . HCT signs US defender T.J. Brennan . . December 28, 2020 . December 28, 2020 . German.
  30. Web site: T.J. Brennan Adds to Red Bulls' Defensive Lineup . EC Red Bull Salzburg . June 18, 2021 . November 25, 2022.
  31. Web site: T.J. Brennan Leaves the Red Bulls . EC Red Bull Salzburg . June 1, 2022 . November 25, 2022.
  32. Web site: Du renfort au HC Ajoie et au HC La Chaux-de-Fonds . fr . Reinforcement at HC Ajoie and HC La Chaux-de-Fonds . Canal Alpha . June 15, 2022 . November 25, 2022.
  33. Web site: First and Second AHL All-Star Teams named . . 2014-04-14 . 2014-04-14.
  34. Web site: First Team AHL All-Star . . 2016-04-07 . 2016-04-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160411162604/http://www.marlies.ca/news/news.asp?story_id=3819 . 2016-04-11 .
  35. Web site: 2017-18 American Hockey League First and Second All-Star Teams Named . AHL . April 5, 2018.
  36. Web site: Playing Rosters Announced for 2016 Toyota American Hockey League All-Star Classic . . 2016-01-07 . 2016-01-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160605123713/http://www.marlies.ca/news/news.asp?story_id=3716 . 2016-06-05 .