This in Editor-in-Chief David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, news that the Oilers are pursuing new deals with two veteran wingers, Connor Brown and Corey Perry, who are soon to be Unrestricted Free Agents: “Oilers still have some fine-tuning to do on Frederic’s new deal before it gets done. As that continues, the team’s also trying to lock in Perry and Brown. Brown talks expected to pick up in the coming days. Told he played with a fractured toe in the Stanley Cup Final.”
Oilers winger3 2023-25
1. I’m in favour of bringing back both players but as with all players, save for Connor McDavid, only if the price and term are right.
2. To beat the stone-hard, rock-solid checking and pressing of the Florida Panthers, Edmonton needs more speed and aggression at forward. The team had more of that in the 2024 playoffs when power forwards Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway and Zach Hyman were all in the line-up, along with speedster Ryan McLeod. This year’s team was better in some ways, better at defensive positioning and structure and better at moving the puck, but Edmonton lacked speed and aggression up front.
3. Brown isn’t much of a point scorer and he’s not much of a hitter, but until he broke his toe and then suffered a head injury against Dallas, he was supplying both speed and aggression in the playoffs. He’s like Hyman, a player who amps up his power game in the playoffs.
If he’s willing to sign here on a value contract, he’s worth bringing back, as he also provides solid work on the penalty kill.
4. Perry provided solid two-way play in the regular season, then also amped up his game in the playoffs. After Hyman, he was Edmonton’s best regular winger in the playoffs in 5-on-5 play.
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At the Cult of Hockey
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