T.J. Brennan may currently be up with the Maple Leafs, but he's spent most of the season playing with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. Through 67 games, the defenceman has 24 goals and 67 total points, leading the Marlies in scoring. Second on the Marlies is Mark Arcobello, who has 55 points through 45 games.
But wait. Scratch Brennan leading the Marlies in scoring - he's second in the entire AHL in points. Only Hershey's Chris Bourque, with 73 points through 67 games, has scored more, though Providence's Seth Griffith also has 67 points, albeit through 51 games.
This is the part where I emphasize that Brennan is a defenceman. As in, not supposed to be one of the most prolific scores in the entire league. And yet, here we are.
Naturally, with numbers like that, Brennan - who has just turned 27 years old, and is in his third season with the Marlies - was named to the AHL's First All-Star Team. (Second in league-wide defencemen scoring is San Diego's Brandon Montour; he has 55 points through 64 games, and was also named to the First All-Star Team alongside Brennan.)
Though with a .750 points percentage, the Marlies are easily the top team in the league, Brennan is the only member of the Marlies to make either the first or second All-Star Teams this season. Brennan was also named to the AHL's First All-Star Team in the 2013-14 season, his first with the Marlies. He's been invited to the past three AHL All-Star Classics.