Revitalized Winger Connor Brown Signs New Deal with the Oilers

Coming off a torn ACL entering last season, winger Connor Brown, inked a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers in an attempt to bounce back from his injury-plagued 2022 season with the Capitals. However, Brown's regular season with the Oilers did not go as planned. He had a nightmare start to his Oilers career, taking 55 games to score his first goal. At the end of the regular season, Brown had only four goals, eight assists, and 12 points in 71 games played. Yet, after missing a few games to begin the playoffs, Brown was given another chance to get back on track when the postseason started. The 30-year-old would end up playing a crucial role in the Oilers' 94.3 percent penalty-kill percentage throughout the postseason, which led the league. As a result of his difficulties last regular season, it was anticipated that his next contract entering the summer would not be as expensive. According to CBS Sports, it has been reported that the Oilers have re-signed Brown to a one-year deal, worth one million.  

With the intention of proving previous teams wrong for passing on him earlier in the draft, Brown's hockey career took a fresh turn when the Toronto Maple Leafs chose him in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Draft. Brown played three seasons in the OHL with the Erie Otters before entering the NHL, showcasing his goal-scoring abilities with 98 goals, 152 assists, and 250 points. Brown had little issue adjusting to the NHL level despite a slow start to his rookie season with the Maple Leafs, where he only appeared in seven games. In his second year with Toronto, Brown achieved his first 20-goal season. Due to Toronto's plethora of talent, Brown spent four seasons with the Maple Leafs before falling down the depth chart. As a result, he was traded to the Ottawa Senators, where he was able to take on a larger position on the team. 

Throughout his nine-year career, Brown has amassed 94 goals, eight power-play goals, 134 assists, and 228 points. Brown's greatest regular season performance from last season with the Oilers came on April 6th against the Calgary Flames, when he scored a goal, added a point, and had three shots on goal. As they sought to recruit more impact players at the winger position, the Oilers found themselves with a steal in free agency with Brown joining the team. Brown's perseverance and skill set, while healthy, may have a long-lasting effect on the success of the Oilers going into the upcoming season, despite his difficulties from last season.