The Edmonton Oilers’ free agent signings in the summer of 2024 helped them get to the doorstep of another Stanley Cup, and though some of them will be on new squads this season already, others are still hanging around. Among the returning is veteran blueliner Josh Brown, who may not be known to all Oilers fans. Along with that, he may also be without a full-time roster spot once again this fall.
Brown was signed on the opening day of free agency in 2024 to a three-year contract worth $1 million per year. In his first and only season in Edmonton, he appeared in just 10 games and recorded one assist. He was mainly brought in for his size, physicality, and shutdown potential. Though he never really got to show it and wasn’t very flashy, he had his moments. He raised a few eyebrows when he took on known tough guy Zack MacEwen in a spirited tilt midway through the season.
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Brown still has two years left with the organization, but there are question marks. Despite the abilities he has and his potential, there are obstacles in his path.
Oilers Blue Line Youth
There’s no question the Oilers already have a stellar defensive corps. They are a huge part of why they had the season they previously had. And to top it off, they have a great crop of young talent on the way up that is hungry for the next open spot. While this is a good thing for the organization, it’s not so good for someone like Brown. He is an in-between guy; not a young guy coming up or an established veteran with a spot waiting for him.
Brown is on the wrong side of 30, and it doesn’t seem like the coaching staff has the desire to give him much of a long leash. Between all the skill they already have and the young guns waiting in the ranks, Brown is among a crowded group with no guarantees of anything. He’ll need to really show something to break away from the others, but as history has shown, that may not be his style.
Not Much to Show For
Brown’s defensive skills and toughness have always been fairly good; there’s no doubt there. But since those skills are not up to par with the starting defencemen and his offence is definitely on the lower end, the numbers aren’t exactly in his favour going into year eight in the league.
Offence has never been Brown’s strong suit. As mentioned, he had just one…
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