June 20, 2023 by Eric Friesen

The Edmonton Oilers need to pursue all upgrades necessary this off-season to put them over the top in their bid to win the Stanley Cup in 2024.

With the start of NHL free agency just 11 days away, General Manager Ken Holland has to figure out how to fill out his roster with limited cap flexibility. There’s plenty of talk in Edmonton that Kailer Yamamoto and/or Warren Foegele could be moved out within the next week to give the Oilers more cap space to bolster their top-six forward group.

Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Connor Brown is a player the Oilers will have intertest in signing on July 1.

“I know there’s a lot talk about [Brown signing in Edmonton], because there’s a lot of history there,” Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast on Monday. “I mean, it’s obvious with Connor McDavid. This is a year where teams are going to be looking for the best bargain they can find, and Brown is another guy who just wanted to get healthy. He’s a really good player. And there’s been some features over the years that Sportsnet has done about what a tremendous person he is. But I think there’s a lot of teams out there curious about what he’s thinking, where he’s going, and whether or not he’s guarantied to go to Edmonton.”

Brown has connections to the Oilers

As Friedman alluded to, Brown and McDavid have a relationship that goes back more than a decade. The two became friends when they were teammates with the Erie Otters in the OHL from 2012-2014. After putting up decent numbers in his first two OHL campaigns, Brown broke out offensively when he was put on a line with McDavid in 2013-14. Playing alongside the teenage phenom, Brown recorded 128 points in 68 games to lead the entire CHL in scoring.

The Oilers reportedly had a deal in place to acquire Brown a year ago, before the Ottawa Senators dealt him to the Washington Capitals instead. But now, as he prepares to become a UFA for the first time in his career, Brown would welcome the chance to be reunited with McDavid, and join a contending team.

“You’d be lying to say no,” Brown said on Mitts Off with Luke Gazdic on Sunday. “Of course, it would be awesome to play with him. Moreso, above anything, he’s going to win a Cup here eventually. And as a player, that’s what I want to do. I want to win. You’re a player, you want to win a Stanley Cup in the NHL, and that’s a big priority going into where you’re going to land.”

Brown also shares an agent with McDavid in Jeff Jackson of Wasserman Hockey, and played with Zach Hyman for parts of four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Having some familiarity with the Oilers dressing room should help Brown get acclimated to playing in Edmonton.

Brown fits the Oilers’ needs

The Oilers could use a player like Brown, as he represents an upgrade at right wing. While he doesn’t do anything exceptionally well, Brown can be an effective complementary winger and play a dependable game away from the puck.

The 29-year-old has good offensive instincts, he forces turnovers that lead to instant offence the other way, he backchecks hard and he can finish chances in tight to the crease. All these traits make Brown an ideal winger for McDavid, especially if they can quickly rediscover their chemistry from their days in Erie.

During his eight-year NHL career, Brown has averaged 16 goals and 39 points per 82 games. A two-time 20-goal scorer, Brown has a real shot to score 25 goals next to either McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. He also scores most of his goals at even-strength, which is a good thing, because he won’t see much power-play time in Edmonton.

Look for Brown to kill penalties, though. With Yamamoto expected to be dealt in the coming days, Brown would not only take his spot in the top-six, but also handle his minutes on the penalty kill. His defensive contributions might be equally valuable to the Oilers as his point production.

What can the Oilers offer him?

Brown will be an intriguing name for several teams around the league entering free agency. If he chooses to come to Edmonton, Brown would almost certainly be leaving money on the table, as the Oilers are operating on a smaller budget this summer.

However, the Oilers can offer Brown one thing that no other team in the league can — the opportunity to play with McDavid. He might be able to double his money elsewhere, but playing on a line with the best player in the world and having a chance to win a Stanley Cup would surely be very enticing, as well.

Considering the Oilers have three important RFAs to re-sign this off-season, Holland is probably looking at a one-year deal worth $1.5 million for Brown. With the salary cap expected to increase significantly in 2024-25, it would make sense for Brown to bet on himself on a one-year deal, pile up the points, and cash in a year from now.

The Oilers’ goal is to win the Stanley Cup in 2024. And bringing in Brown would get them a little closer to achieving it.