The Edmonton Oilers have announced that they have signed forward Connor Brown to a one-year, $775K contract shortly after the opening of the free agency period.
Due to the precarious cap situation in Edmonton, the contract is heavily bonus-laden. His actual cap hit for the upcoming year will be just $775K. But with a collection of performance bonuses added on, he has the potential to make an extra $3.25M over the season.
Brown’s professional career
Brown, 29, joined the Washington Capitals last season but played just four games, recording zero points, before suffering an ACL injury and missing the remainder of the season.
Now entering his ninth NHL season, Brown has played 448 games, scoring 90 goals and 216 points. He has a career-high of 21 goals in 2020–21 and 43 points in 2019–20. He spent his first five professional seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, with parts of two years with the Toronto Marlies and parts of four with the Maple Leafs. After his time in Toronto, he spent three seasons with the Ottawa Senators.
What he can offer
Early on, Brown projects to slot in on the third line in the Oilers’ lineup, likely filling the role left open after the trade of Kailer Yamamoto. Though his versatility will allow him to be dropped in anywhere in the lineup, he will likely spend a lot of time in the top-six. He is a bit smaller, though he does not shy away from engaging and often finds himself in battles along the boards with bigger opponents.
Brown is a skilled two-way forward who can kill penalties, giving him even more usage within the lineup. He is no stranger to averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game, which will help lighten the load on some of the other players in the lineup.
He has consistently been a 30 point player in the past and the hope is that the opportunity to play with elite talent, including his former junior teammate Connor McDavid, helps Brown find a new level of offence in his game.
Although his speed may take a hit after a severe knee injury, he is a player who fits the Oilers’ counter attack system as he knows how to create turnovers and rush opportunities while defending.
He is a player with solid offensive instincts and a strong shot, a trait that will help him excel with the three elite playmakers the Oilers have in McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Brown will also be looked at to help drive the offensive depth on the team, particularly at 5v5 play.
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