For the majority of this season, Connor Brown has been a letdown for the Edmonton Oilers. Back in the middle of March, The Athletic named him as one of the 10 biggest disappointments of the 2023-24 campaign.
Consider that through the first 24 games of the regular season, Brown had produced exactly one assist for the team. Through 54 games he had just five points -- all assists -- with a goal drought of 82 games since he last scored back in March 2022, while with the Ottawa Senators.
Not helping the 30-year-old's case, although certainly not his fault, was a $3.225 million bonus he received early on this season. Said bonus was for reaching the grand total of 10 games played for the Oilers.
Brown would also go on to finish the 2023-24 season with a -8 rating, which was the worst among all players on the Oilers. This all led to the question of if he had ever fully recovered from the ACL injury which ended his 2022-23 campaign with the Washington Capitals after just four games?
A major turnaround for Brown
However, the narrative has since shifted dramatically to the point The Hockey Writers' Jim Parsons is now asking if the Oilers should sign the forward to a contract extension? And with good reason.
In one of the best redemption arcs of this NHL season, Brown has been rejuvenated these past few months. When he scored his first goal of the season -- versus his last team the Capitals of all opponents -- it seemed to finally flick on a switch inside of him.
Now in fairness to the former Toronto Maple Leafs, his coach and teammates had been supportive all season, with him considered one of the most popular players in the locker room. Regardless, the goal opened up the floodgates in a manner of speaking, as he finished the regular season with seven points -- including scoring four times -- in 17 games.
Brown didn't played in the first round series against the Los Angeles Kings, but has appeared in all but one of the Oilers' subsequent 17 playoff games. He's added five points -- a personal playoff career high -- and a +2 rating, as he's without doubt played his part in helping the Oilers make it to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2006.
One of the more favourable financial options for the Oilers
While there are of course no guarantees, the Etobicoke, Ontario native certainly looks back to the player who regularly averaged 30-40 points per season prior to his ACL injury. As a result, the Oilers should at least seriously consider re-signing him.
Now in one respect, we wouldn't expect Brown to take another minimum salary deal of $775,000. At the same time however, he also shouldn't anticipate the Oilers giving him such a high incentive bonus in any potential new deal.
Assuming the 2012 sixth round draft pick does actually want to return to Edmonton -- and why wouldn't he -- what will help him is the team's perilous salary cap situation. As per Cap Friendly, the Oilers have just $10,033,333 of projected cap space for next season as things stand, but with 10 unrestricted and two restricted pending free agents to contend with.
With the Oilers having to make some tough decisions, Brown will appeal as one of the cheaper options for a new deal among the 12 pending free agents. And with his improved play over these past few months, the organisation now has a stronger justification to re-sign him.
Overall, we understand that there are no guarantees in how all of this will play out during the offseason. However, if there's one player who deserves another chance -- and deal -- with the Oilers, it's the revitalised Brown.