Welcome to my annual player review series, where I dive into the Edmonton Oilers season player-by-player. We’ll look back at the season that was, what kind of impact each player had, and what we could see from them next season. You can read about the analytics behind my analysis here.
There may not have been a more up-and-down player for the Edmonton Oilers last year than Connor Brown. He signed a one-year deal with the team that kept his cap hit at $775,000, but one with a $3.225-million signing bonus that carried over to this upcoming season’s cap.
Coming off an ACL tear, the expectations for what Brown could bring to the Oilers were likely overblown. While he had been a very productive offensive player with the Ottawa Senators, scoring career-highs in goals, assists and points during his time in the nation’s capital, that didn’t come with him to Edmonton.
In fact, through the first 54 games of the season, Brown only scored five assists while playing in a bottom-six role. But in Game 55, something changed as he scored his first goal of the season. It was a tremendous moment, with fans at Rogers Place giving him a minutes-long standing ovation.
His teammates said it was “the first of many,” and they weren’t wrong, as he’d add three more goals in the regular season and another two in the playoffs.
While the offence didn’t come for most of the season, Brown remained an effective player for the Oilers. With him on the ice, the Oilers choked out opposing offences, allowing just 1.8 goals against per hour at 5v5, and 24.8 scoring chances against per hour. Those were among the best numbers on the team last year.
He made his mark on the penalty kill, where he contributed at a four percent rate above league average, according to Hockey Viz. His offence was five percent below league average, and his defence was only one percent below league average, but he still contributed at the right of a high-end fourth-liner.
Brown and Mattias Janmark combined for some big moments in the post-season, with him setting The Janitor up for three goals — one at even-strength and two on the penalty kill. Brown added a short-handed goal of his own.
His ability to come around as a player landed him a new deal with the Oilers, signing a one-year, $1-million deal for this upcoming season. It’s a good deal for the work he did as a depth piece for the team, but it could be an even better deal if he can regain some of the offence he showed years ago.

CONNOR BROWN’S CAREER SO FAR

Regular SeasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIM+/-GPGAPtsPIM
2010-11
St. Michael’s Buzzers
OJHL
49
17
22
39
18
3
0
1
1
0
2011-12
Erie Otters
OHL
68
25
28
53
14
-72
2012-13
Erie Otters
OHL
63
28
41
69
39
-11
2013-14
Erie Otters
OHL
68
45
83
128
22
44
14
8
10
18
8
2014-15
Toronto Marlies
AHL
76
21
40
61
10
24
5
1
3
4
2
2015-16
Toronto Marlies
AHL
34
11
18
29
8
10
15
7
2
9
6
2015-16
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL
7
1
5
6
0
-2
2016-17
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL
82
20
16
36
10
3
6
0
1
1
0
2017-18
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL
82
14
14
28
18
0
7
1
2
3
0
2018-19
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL
82
8
21
29
16
11
7
0
1
1
2
2019-20
Ottawa Senators
NHL
71
16
27
43
24
-6
2020-21
Ottawa Senators
NHL
56
21
14
35
12
1
2021-22
Ottawa Senators
NHL
64
10
29
39
10
-15
2022-23
Washington Capitals
NHL
4
0
0
0
0
-3
2023-24
Edmonton Oilers
NHL
71
4
8
12
10
-8
19
2
4
6
6
NHL Totals
519
94
134
228
100
39
3
8
11
8

PLAYERS REVIEWED SO FAR


Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

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