The Edmonton Oilers want to make a push for a Stanley Cup this season, they usually hope their strikes within the offseason will give them sufficient of a lift to carry them a championship they had been one win away from capturing final season. Regardless of the season formally beginning at this time (Oct. 8), Oilers followers are nonetheless recovering from their Sport 7 loss to the Florida Panthers within the Stanley Cup Closing final season, even after nearly reverse sweeping the eventual champions and making it probably the most memorable seasons in Oilers’ historical past. Figuring out that, the staff went out and made some worthy additions to bolster their lineup in hopes of profitable their sixth Cup in franchise historical past.Â
Associated: Oilers Reporter Says Ty Emberson’s Hockey IQ & Imaginative and prescient Standing Out at Coaching Camp
Whereas they added Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson in hopes of strengthening their depth at ahead, additionally they made some strikes to bolster their defensive depth. A kind of strikes included buying and selling Cody Ceci and a draft choose to the San Jose Sharks in trade for Ty Emberson, who will play a shutdown position alongside Darnell Nurse this season and appeared robust in preseason. One other transfer they made that left Oilers followers puzzled was signing Josh Brown to a three-year contract value $1 million yearly after he had a horrible 2023-24 season with the Arizona Coyotes.
Josh Brown, signed 3x$1M by EDM, is a depth defenceman. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/401aXuAdsM
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2024
Brown’s defensive play final season, or lack thereof, made the signing a questionable resolution instantly. Whereas followers held out hope that Brown might come into coaching camp and show himself as a worthy depth defender, he wasn’t ready to try this. Within the video games he performed, Brown appeared weak within the defensive zone together with his decision-making and didn’t make a lot of an impression offensively. Whereas his measurement was an thrilling asset after shedding Vincent Desharnais to the Vancouver Canucks, Brown was positioned on waivers and despatched to the American Hockey League (AHL) after shedding his job to each Troy Stecher and Travis Dermott, who appeared miles higher than Brown in each class.
Oilers Ought to Discover Exterior Depth Improve on Brown
Whereas Brown was despatched down and gained’t be a part of the opening-night roster, he’s penciled in as the primary defender to be known as up within the occasion of an damage, which is worrisome. The Oilers will accrue cap area because the season strikes alongside in hopes of creating a splash on the 2025 Commerce Deadline, and one among their most essential additions must be an additional depth piece who could be a seventh defender. In a earlier article, I discussed Toronto Maple Leafs’ Timothy Liljegren as a possible match, however there shall be loads of gamers accessible nearer to the deadline.
On the finish of the day, Brown being despatched to the AHL was the appropriate resolution. He would have been extra of a legal responsibility than an asset regardless of the redeeming high quality of his measurement making him a robust bodily presence. If he can discover some confidence with the Bakersfield Condors within the minors, he’ll get one other shot within the NHL. Nonetheless, the Oilers are attempting to win their sixth Cup in franchise historical past, they usually aren’t going to take action with Brown enjoying for them. Fortunately, it appears as if Dermott has earned a contract with the Oilers off of his skilled tryout (PTO) contract and shall be their depth addition quite than Brown.
Because the 2024-25 season strikes alongside, make sure you proceed following The Hockey Writers as your supply for information from across the NHL and the hockey world.
