"It took a while to sink in, but it's full-speed ahead moving forward now," Brown told NHL.com last week. "I think we're going to be good. There's a lot to be excited about. I'm just focused on what I can add to what's already been a really good team for a lot of years."
The 28-year-old forward was traded July 13 after three seasons in Ottawa. After initially being caught off guard by the move, he said he's looking forward to big things in Washington.
"They already have a base foundation of being such a really good team, so I'm trying to come in and make a difference any way I can," Brown said.
Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said he feels Brown can do that in multiple ways. He told Brown exactly that during a phone conversation in which he discussed him filling multiple roles, ranging from killing penalties to playing on the top line with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov.
"I talked to [Laviolette] a little bit and it was about doing different things: facing the other team's power plays, moving up and down the lineup, playing with top guys, playing here and there, things like that," Brown said. "It's a similar role that I've had throughout my career. It's always good when you're on the same page as your coach and when he sees you the same way you see yourself."
Brown averaged 2:46 of shorthanded ice time per game over the past two seasons, which ranks first among NHL forwards. His five shorthanded goals in 2020-21 led the League, and he has eight in his seven-season career, which began with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016.
With forward Tom Wilson out for the first few months of the season after having knee surgery in May, Brown is one of the leading candidates to replace him on the top line.
Ovechkin enters the season with 780 goals, 114 goals behind Wayne Gretzky for the NHL record and 21 behind Gordie Howe for second.
"It's going to be awesome to watch him go after the record for most goals," Brown said. "It'd be cool to see. Again, I'm just excited to be part of a group like this."
Brown was with the Senators from 2019-22 and ranked third on the team in goals (47) and assists (70) and second in points (117) in that span. He has 216 points (90 goals, 126 assists) in 444 NHL games with the Senators and Maple Leafs.
Brown said he still is unclear why he was traded but is looking forward.
"I'm not sure," he said. "I can't really tell you what was going on behind the scenes or whatever, but I put some good years there and played hard. You put a bunch of years in with the team, you're trying to build something, you get close to a lot of guys, but in the end, you can only worry about what you can control and not about what you can't.
"All I can do is play."
