OverDrive - Brown on the NHL's newest fitness testing protocols, his experience with Jim Hiller and expectations for the Devils this season

Episode Date: September 4, 2026

New Jersey Devils Forward Connor Brown joined OverDrive to highlight the changes to fitness testing in the NHL this season, his time playing under Jim Hiller in Toronto, and his expectations for himself and his team this season.

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Bell, connection is everything. All right. Let's get to Connor Brown, who's on the line with us right now. Ford for the New Jersey Devils, formerly the Toronto Maple Leafs. Connor, how's it going? Welcome back on to Overdrive. Yeah, I know. It's going good, guys. How are you guys doing? We're doing well. Kind of summer's wrapping up, coming to an end. How did your summer go? It was good. It always goes by quick. You know, our little man was keeping us very busy. A little time on the lake.

Family time was great. But I'm excited to get going here. So, Connor, you know, you talk about a quick summer. We were just talking about the new format of the NHL season with the newly expanded regular season schedule from 82 to 84 games and the shrunken preseason schedule where a lot of teams are only playing on two nights. Split squad, home and homes on two separate nights, a maximum of four preseason games. And most guys, I think veteran players don't have to play more than two.

very, very quick training camp. What do you think that's going to mean for the NHL this season? I personally like it. I think, you know, I like the quick training camp. Guys come to camp in shape at this point, you know, and if it's not, it's kind of on you. And, you know, it's up to you to be a professional. And, you know, you get a lot of the good work in practice,

you know, whether it's D-Zone work or battles. And, you know, so I think two preseason games is playing. money. You know, the season's long enough. I don't think we need, you know, I think I've played five or six before. So, you know, two's plenty and, you know, just hit, hit the ground running. And, you know, we had Dylan Strom on the other day, and he was reminding us that another part of the new, new look, NHL that was negotiated by the players was the end of fitness testing. Oh, yeah. Where are you on?

Strover, I love that one. Yeah. Where were you on fitness testing, Brown? Did you like it, hate it, or where did you stand on the fitness testing question? It depends what test. I mean, it put me on a treadmill. I'm pretty good on there. But if you had me bench press, I think I'd come dead last. So it really depended to which tests that I was doing.

But I think, like I said, it's the same type of thing. You know, you never really seen a guy make a team strictly on a fitness test. You know, the game's played on the ice. You know, the fitness is really comes from making yourself a better hockey player and also staying healthy. So I think it's great. I mean, like I said, guys are just as prepared. It's not like anyone's coming in full milk bag because there's no fitness testing. I mean, you know, it's going to shine through in your game.

So I really like the adjustments that the PAs made. With Connor Brown, we're talking about a little bit earlier in the show, how there was a big kind of massive overhaul here in the city of Toronto, new GM, coaches and lots of new players. You know, you guys got some new faces in New Jersey. And I'm curious from a player's perspective with a GM shift going, you know, from Fitzgerald into Sunny Metta, like, what's going on in your head when that stuff's going on throughout the summer?

Do you ever think about that? Do the players think about, okay, is there going to be, you know, a coaching change, a philosophy change? Like, well, what's the future here with me? well of course i think like like any business a lot of a lot of it comes down from the top down and so um you know when you when you get a new general manager it's usually a different feel it's a different feel around the rink it's a different feel about uh you know what type of game we're going to play what type of players we're bringing in um what's expected so for me uh you know

i'm excited i think we have already you know a lot of really great pieces i think that we've brought in a lot of really highly skilled players um you know are a really really deep team. And, you know, me personally, I'm hungry to try to win, obviously, had a taste and was pretty close a few times in Edmonton. So I've been really excited to the ads that Sonny's made. And, you know, it's still a group that needs to take some steps. And it's one step at a time. But, you know, I have a lot of belief in our team here and, you know, the nucleus that we have and the players that we've added. Connor, Joe from the Bridge, our esteemed technical producer here,

very, very keenly citing that you're wearing the Muscoca hockey hat there. We've been hearing a lot about the Muskoka skates this summer that the number one overall pick, who's now Maple Leaf, has been up there. And did you catch any looks at Mr. Gavin McKenna when you were up there skating? And what else did you see? No, I was back in Jersey when I think did that camp up there. You know, Sam Gagne, who runs that and, you know, the mastermind behind it at Muscoa. I texted him, I said, you're welcome for the free ad.

But, you know, it's a fun place to play. You know, obviously we have a place up in Muscoca, and it's just an incredible spot to spend the summers. And, you know, Sam's done an incredible job, bringing so many good players up there. and it's just a, you know, it's a great place to hang out in the summer and also, you know, get better. So, you know, good for him. With Connor Brown, formerly the Maple Leafs, and when you were here with Toronto, Jim Hiller was an assistant with the team. Just curious, you know, he's back now with the Maple Leafs. Now, what can you tell us about him as a coach and your experience with Jim?

I absolutely love Jimmy. He was incredible for me. He really was a personable coach played. I think he really understands the game. Obviously that was a very much a different role at the time. You know, you're being an assistant to the forwards and more of a helping hand. And sometimes Babs will be barking down at me. And so he'd have to communicate it down and he'd soften the blow.

But, you know, Jimmy was great. And, you know, I'm happy to see him land there. I think he's going to do a great job in Toronto. and, you know, they have, you know, Toronto has so many great pieces. So, you know, I'm, you know, I'm sure everyone's expected a big bounce back season from them. How about you, Connor? Obviously, it's, you're deep into your career now. What is this, year 12 for you coming up?

I mean, when you've gone into this offseason, is there anything you kind of were focused on working on to sort of to make yourself the best you can be coming into the new year? Or how do you look at the off seasons at this point in your great career? Yeah, I think, you know, early in my career, you know, being a late pick, I used to live on the ice. You know, I'd kind of, you know, hit the pavement every day. And, you know, now after coming out, you know, two finals runs and, you know, I was lucky enough to play in the world championships last year. So, you know, played a little longer. Not as many hours on the ice in the summer.

You know, a lot of time focused on the health and a little bit more strategic when I go on the ice, you know, focus on little things that I think could help me, you know, whether it's, or turning or little things that you pick up along the way. So I think it's a little bit more, you know, less just hammering the pavement, a little bit more systematic and analytical about the summers. Well, Connor, really appreciate taking the time out of your day. There's only a couple of free days left until you've got to get back out onto the ice. You're back in Jersey skating yet?

When do you expect to start ramping it up or have you already? Yeah, yeah. Most of the boys have already rolled into Jersey. I think a lot of guys are excited. You know, a few golf games still ahead of me before the season gets going, but, you know, guys are on the ice and working out together. So, you know, it's always a fun time of year when the boys start rolling in, and so we're excited.

You guys got a fantasy football draft coming up at all? It's the situation there in Jersey. Yeah, yeah, Monday night, Jonathan Kovicevich is our GM, and he's already taken assaulting, and there hasn't been one pick made. So it's always funny. Like I said, those are the type of things that you love. It's exciting to get back in the room and you just, you know, the banter and whatnot. So it's an exciting time.

Well, Connor, really appreciate taking the time. I'm hoping for, you know, good season for you guys. Nice bounce back here for the Devils. And again, enjoy the rest of your summer and best of luck next year. Yeah, no problem. See, boys. Absolutely. Connor Brown of the New Jersey Devils.

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