Former Maple Leaf Quietly Turning Heads With His Comeback Overseas

Often times NHL players who aren't able to find steady playing time in North America either at the NHL or AHL level will go overseas to ply their trade, keep options open and most importantly; continue to play the game they love.

We've heard of several success stories like Joshua Leivo, who despite his off-ice issues in Russia, ended up breaking the KHL's single-season goal record, and was a bonafide superstar.

Well there's one more success story we can talk about, and it comes from one of the most unlikeliest sources:

Former Toronto Maple Leafs defender TJ Brennan has stormed the gates to start the season in the ICEHL (Austria's Professional Hockey League) with an absurd 23 points through his first 12 games (8 goals, 15 assists).

He's helping his team, HK Olimpija Ljubljana sit atop the standings sit atop the standings with a 6-2-0 record and an astounding 62-34 goal differential.

It makes sense though considering the level of talent on the squad which also features former NHL player Zach Boychuk and is coached by former NHL Video Coach and Assistant Coach Ben Cooper as well.

Brennan, 36, spent four years in the NHL with three different teams (Buffalo, Florida, Toronto) and amassed 13 points in 53 games (5 goals, 8 assists) which is wild considering he has nearly double that total in a quarter as many games.

While it's very unlikely that Brennan will end up finding work again in the NHL, his career in Austria is showing that regardless of whether or not there's work in North American, players can still show case their incredible talent.

It goes to show you just exactly how difficult it is to not only make the NHL, but stay in the lineup consistently, and it's not for a lack of talent as is the case with TJ Brennan.

It just didn't work out here, but that doesnt mean it didn't work out at all. Austria's ICEHL got a surprising star in Brennan, and it's great he's able to keep going after a decade since he last played in the NHL.