Ken Daneyko and Mike Kelly sat at the desk at the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey, believing Connor Brown was a perfect fit for the Edmonton Oilers when he signed as a free agent with the club in July 2023.
"They are right there," Daneyko said of the Oilers. "Everything has to fall into place. Adding those subtle pieces like Connor Brown should help. Can they take that next jump? A lot of teams believe they can."
Turns out the Oilers secured the right pieces to make the jump.
During his tenure with Edmonton, Brown reached the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive seasons, both times falling short to the Florida Panthers.
In the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, Brown, along with his linemates Mattias Janmark and Adam Henrique, were an effective third line. Throughout the 2023-24 postseason, the trio combined for 21 points, with nine of them earned in the Final against Florida. In addition to their contributions to the scoresheet, Brown and Janmark were assets on the penalty kill.
One year later, in the same situation, Brown saw his ice time increase as he potted five goals in 20 postseason games.
"Connor Brown is a really good two-way player, whether we put him out there as part of a shutdown line," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch told NHL.com back in June. "His penalty kill skills are second-to-none. He is usually paired with (Mattias) Janmark, and the two of them we rely on quite a bit. But you see, during the playoffs, he has come up with some really big goals, especially early in our playoff run against L.A. (in the first round). He is a guy who can move up and down the lineup, especially right now (when) we are short on right wingers."
As a free agent, Brown left Edmonton and signed a four-year contract worth $12,000,000 to play for the New Jersey Devils on July 1.
During his first media availability, the 31-year-old spoke to Devils reporters about his decision to sign with New Jersey.
"It was a balancing act to narrow down the places I wanted to be," Brown explained. "I mean, ultimately, I would say the main factor is the skill of the team and the direction of the team. I think the team is in a position to get better and better over my term, and I anticipate some good playoff runs and things like that. There are other things that go into it. The East Coast is closer to our family. We got a little guy, so to be able to have family visit him a little bit easier and things like that."
On the ice, it is clear why the Devils made a pitch to Brown, and it goes beyond his playoff experience.
New Jersey's depth, or lack thereof, was a glaring issue in both the regular season and Round 1 of the postseason against the Carolina Hurricanes. It was one area that general manager Tom Fitzgerald needed to address this summer.
Many expect Brown to slide into the third line right-wing position to begin the season, slotting behind Jesper Bratt and Stefan Noesen.
NHL (@NHL) on XHow far will the @NJDevils go with this projected lineup? 🤔
Read more from @NHLdotcom ➡️ https://t.co/Ks3Zqblm6D
As a two-way winger, the foundation of Brown's game is penalty killing and being positionally sound.
"I think as I have gotten older in my career, I think I really have a defined role," Brown said. "I imagine that (head coach) Sheldon Keefe will get me some D-zone starts and things like that. Penalty kills late in games, trying to close out games as well. Adding to that offense is really important, and making sure I am contributing."
Depth Scoring at Even Strength
Last season, he appeared in 82 games and earned 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists). It marked the fifth time in his career that he reached the 30-point mark.
Scoring at even strength was something Fitzgerald focused on as he explained to the media on July 2.
"The one thing we were looking for was 5-on-5 play," he explained. "When you look at the goal totals of Brown, the majority of (his) goals are at 5-on-5."
Connor Brown's fourth goal of these #StanleyCup Playoffs caps off a Game 1 win for the @EdmontonOilers! 🤩#NHLStats: https://t.co/diFqic26NUpic.twitter.com/Vecfi8vNEq
— NHL (@NHL) May 7, 2025
Out of his 13 goals in 2024-25, 12 were scored at even strength. To take it a step further, throughout his career, Brown has 107 goals, and 90 of them were scored at 5-on-5.
Becoming An Asset In New Jersey
There are specific roles that every successful hockey team needs in addition to star forwards like Jack Hughes and Bratt.
Having Brown should help ease some of Nico Hischier's responsibilities, especially on the penalty kill, as he led all Devils forwards in shorthanded ice time last season. Taking some of the defensive assignments away from Hischier would benefit both the captain and the team.
Fitzgerald acknowledges the versatility that the Toronto native brings to his lineup, already playing with superstar Connor McDavid.
"Brown is a guy who can move around your lineup," Fitzgerald said. "He gives you speed and is a fantastic penalty killer. He is a guy that (Keefe) will use at the end of games as well."
Another Perfect Fit?
If there is one takeaway from the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, it is that having a dominant third line matters. The Panthers' line of Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Brad Marchand is a prime example.
Brown has the tools to add a spark to a line that was virtually nonexistent for the Devils in Round 1 against the Hurricanes. His playoff experience and knowledge could be beneficial for players like Cody Glass and Paul Cotter, who got their first true taste of the playoffs this past April.
With Brown preparing to start this chapter as a Devil, the same questions that Daneyko and Kelly had two years ago still apply. Will the addition of a subtle piece like Connor Brown help New Jersey? Can the Devils take that next jump?
Time will eventually reveal how impactful Brown can be as the Devils must take the next step in becoming a contender for the Stanley Cup.
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Photo Credit: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
