Confirmed with Link: Oilers sign Connor Brown to 1-year incentive laden deal ($775K caphit, potentially $3.25M in bonuses)

[CupofOil]

I think its worth noting you've been wrong about the impact Brown would have here all along. You were the biggest supporter of obtaining this do nothing player.

Ok, I have no idea what that had to do with that post of mine you quoted about McDavid and Drai other than you gloating for some reason, and it's also like 8 games into the season and I said it might take time for him to get going coming off injury so there's also that.
I've also said that I understand the benefit of waiving him to prevent the caphit from this offseason from incurring so there's that also.

 

[Soundwave]

My attitude about Brown will probably flip as soon as it's impossible to save his ~3M cap hit next year I actually like him, and I figured for a long time he was going to be an Oiler because of his friendship with McDavid. How we got him though, and how his game diminished before his injury, them plus that brutal injury ... I'll just saw Holland really made him coming here difficult to like.

One we pass 10 games though, zero can be done, the cap penalty is set. All that's left is to hope he's our next Pisani.

I don't think he's a problem either. He's playing like I expected, with bad luck. Probably bounces around the middle 6 all year, hopefully can manage 10-15 goals. Maybe his leadership in the room helps. My main concerns are definitely goaltending and defensive play in our end, exact same stuff that ended our playoffs last season, with all the exact same players we just hope all got better back there.

Jackson will have to order Holland to jettison Kulak or Foegele or like McLeod this year to pay off the majority of Brown's cap hit this year IMO. There's just no other way.

While Holland is "Cup or bust" (while not even building a Cup or bust D or goaltending tandem), Jackson is the president of the team and can't operate with that narrow mindset.

He is responsible for next year's cap situation that his hand picked GM is going to be stuck with.

Jackson really is operated under a "resign Connor and Leon or bust" window, which means by default, his window view has to be longer than just this season.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Ok, I have no idea what that had to do with that post of mine you quoted about McDavid and Drai other than you gloating for some reason, and it's also like 8 games into the season and I said it might take time for him to get going coming off injury so there's also that.

You just finished stating that another poster is "wrong" on the topic of Connor Brown. I found that a little much to digest given how little Brown has accomplished here.

it could just be you grossly overvaluated what Browns contribution would be here and perhaps your view on the player is able to be questioned based on the results.

Further Hollands 10 game window on this contract and with no conditions other than Brown being alive and having a pulse were odorous. This was a shit deal that really had no realistic out. We just handed Brown a retirement package. He doesn't even have to do anything. Its an incentives contract with the only requirement being he's breathing.

This contract is the equivalent of buying a car on a used car lot and you don't even know if it runs and no guarantee of that in the contract. Brown has been limping at times in at least 2 different games, is avoiding contact, has given up pucks to avoid getting hit and has not been physical as advertised.

 

[GOilers88]

I mean the solution is basically just Connor and Leon score at an all-world pace and hopefully the PP is clicking to outscore whatever amount of stupid you're going to get from the D and goaltending.

Lets be honest.

This year we've gotten a extra large serving of stupid from our D and goalies and Connor/Leon have had just "good" numbers to start with not "OMG! 1985 Wayne Gretzky" tier numbers. And it shows in the 2-5-1 record.

And just like a couple years ago when you and others were melting down at a 3-6 start, it doesn't mean anything.

 

[Soundwave]

And just like a couple years ago when you and others were melting down at a 3-6 start, it doesn't mean anything.

What did they win that year? Swept in round 1?

You can hide from roster problems for only so long before they come home to roost.

 

[GOilers88]

What did they win that year? Swept in round 1?

You can hide from roster problems for only so long before they come home to roost.

So if they were 6-3 they'd clearly be looking like a cup favorite?

 

[CupofOil]

You just finished stating that another poster is "wrong" on the topic of Connor Brown. I found that a little much to digest given how little Brown has accomplished here.

it could just be you grossly overvaluated what Browns contribution would be here and perhaps your view on the player is able to be questioned based on the results.

Further Hollands 10 game window on this contract and with no conditions other than Brown being alive and having a pulse were odorous. This was a shit deal that really had no realistic out. We just handed Brown a retirement package. He doesn't even have to do anything. Its an incentives contract with the only requirement being he's breathing.

Yeah, wrong that McDrai aren't going to re-sign here because they kept Brown on the roster and have that caphit this upcoming offseason. I can pretty much guarantee that they don't give a shit about the economics of this and care more about having the player on the roster this season to help the team.

I don't know what you're even arguing outside of trying to get at me for some reason. If you read my other post (seems like you haven't), I said that Holland dropped the ball on this so you're just yelling at a cloud by reiterating this to me.

Also, gloating at a poster after 8 games or calling out or whatever you want to call it when we had a civil discussion about this in the offseason isn't the best look Drive. All I said is that I have a feeling that you'll like the player if you give him a chance. If he's a nothing the entire season then I'm wrong and will own it but I'm willing to give more than 8 games to make a final judgment.

 

[Soundwave]

So if they were 6-3 they'd clearly be looking like a cup favorite?

I mean I don't know, do you fall out of your chair when you see a 6-3 record and claim "Cup favorite"? No? So why would that be the case with the Oilers even if that was the case.

A Cup favorite you should be able to look at the roster and get a good sense of how much dimension they have as a team. How good is the forwards. How good is the defense? Who's the coach? Who's the goaltending tandem? Do they have a game breaking goalie that can steal a series or two?

Those are fair questions to ask. The Oilers haven't built McDavid and Draisaitl a team that doesn't have massive holes around those two. The D and goaltending have again been terrible to start this season, just as they ended last season in the playoffs but even worse.

Also at least that start in the Canadian division had a few qualifiers to it. For one, it was because Mike Smith was injured, we knew we'd be getting him back. And also that division, frankly sort of sucked. It's easier chasing those teams than the Western Conference now where you have Vegas' and even LA's to contend with.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Yeah, wrong that McDrai aren't going to re-sign here because they kept Brown on the roster and have that caphit this upcoming offseason. I can pretty much guarantee that they don't give a shit about the economics of this and care more about having the player on the roster this season to help the team.

I don't know what you're even arguing outside of trying to get at me for some reason. If you read my other post (seems like you haven't), I said that Holland dropped the ball on this so you're just yelling at a cloud by reiterating this to me.

Brown is helping the team? How.

Nice non pass to Drai the other game for a sure tap in goal and instead taking a muff shot despite being scoreless and pointless. Not only does brown have zero boxcars he's multiple times looked off other players and hogged the puck himself. Guys been on some rushes where he's had tunnelvision about any passing target. In his own thirst to get started hes' hamstringing other players as well.

I'm not getting at you. I'm pissed at the contract and addition of this player. You were the most vocal cheerleader for this player and deal. Well here we are. hows that been going?

We lost out on several players and managed to get brown. Because Connor wanted Connor, lol.

 

[Oilhawks]

So if they were 6-3 they'd clearly be looking like a cup favorite?

Nah, it'd have to be 8-0-1 at absolute worst

 

[Drivesaitl]

So if they were 6-3 they'd clearly be looking like a cup favorite?

Has the team been playing well? The views of this team and what it would look like were had before puck was even dropped. The results thus far have suppored views that the team now lacks pace and energy and looks slow and outworked in games. Against any semblance of opponent this season we've lost. We won games against league doormats like Nashville and Calgary. The only sod team we haven't played yet is San Jose. There should be another win but we haven't even seen hard schedule yet. Its been a butter soft easy schedule and we've flunked it.

 

[Soundwave]

Has the team been playing well? The views of this team and what it would look like were had before puck was even dropped. The results thus far have suppored views that the team now lacks pace and energy and looks slow and outworked in games. Against any semblance of opponent this season we've lost. We won games against league doormats like Nashville and Calgary. The only sod team we haven't played yet is San Jose. There should be another win but we haven't even seen hard schedule yet. Its been a butter soft easy schedule and we've flunked it.

The funny thing is there's really no actual improvement in D or goaltending, now the bar is set so low that people are like "Just get the D back to the sorta crappy level they were last year!".

lol, like that's now the accepted standard when all summer the same posters were saying "don't worry, of course they're going to change the crappy man to man system that killed us, Jay's on it".

Now we're supposed to cheer that system being brought back because the D are too stupid to figure out how a zone defense works.

 

[bellagiobob]

 

[sepHF]

Brown is slowly getting better and starting to keep up with the play. Wish the stipulation in the contract was for 20 games, because 10 isn't long enough to give a fair assessment

 

[Oilers]

We go through this same type of stretch every year. The team sucks for a good chunk of time, most of us melt down, then they go on a good streak and everything is back to 'normal'.... only this year instead of being around the holiday season, it's to start the year.

My prediction is we start to play better, probably go on a decent run sometime soon and finish middle of the playoff pack by seasons end. Hopefully Holland finds a good piece or two around the deadline to push us over the hump.

 

[CupofOil]

Brown is helping the team? How.

Nice non pass to Drai the other game for a sure tap in goal and instead taking a muff shot despite being scoreless and pointless. Not only does brown have zero boxcars he's multiple times looked off other players and hogged the puck himself. Guys been on some rushes where he's had tunnelvision about any passing target. In his own thirst to get started hes' hamstringing other players as well.

I'm not getting at you. I'm pissed at the contract and addition of this player. You were the most vocal cheerleader for this player and deal. Well here we are. hows that been going?

We lost out on several players and managed to get brown. Because Connor wanted Connor, lol.

8 games yet here you are gloating in my face for some reason almost as if you're happy to tell me how wrong I was/am.

 

[guymez]

My attitude about Brown will probably flip as soon as it's impossible to save his ~3M cap hit next year I actually like him, and I figured for a long time he was going to be an Oiler because of his friendship with McDavid. How we got him though, and how his game diminished before his injury, them plus that brutal injury ... I'll just saw Holland really made him coming here difficult to like.

Once we pass 10 games though, zero can be done, the cap penalty is set. Will always be another black mark on Holland's record, but for Brown himself, all that's left is to hope he's our next Pisani.

I don't think he's a problem either, this season. His ghost in 24/25 can be raged about when the time comes, lol. He's playing like I expected, with bad luck. Probably bounces around the middle 6 all year, hopefully can manage 10-15 goals. Maybe his leadership in the room helps. My main concerns are definitely goaltending and defensive play in our end, exact same stuff that ended our playoffs last season, with all the exact same players we just hope all got better back there.

The thing is...you are judging a player on 8 games.
Just doesnt make sense to me.

 

[Drivesaitl]

8 games yet here you are gloating in my face for some reason almost as if you're happy to tell me how wrong I was/am.

Not at all. Just wondering why the player you described is not the one that we have. Theres been zero benefit having this contract or player. None.

 

[oobga]

The thing is...you are judging a player on 8 games.
Just doesnt make sense to me.

I've seen him for years. I feel like I have a good grasp of his ceiling already. Adding in how he had a pretty bad injury that is going to take a bit out of his skating and possibly his endurance. I'm judging him based on his history more than just these 8 games. The 8 games are disappointing of course, but I give him some benefit of bad luck still. The expected ceiling is still not a 4M player IMO, and definitely not worth 3M cap hit off next year.

 

[guymez]

Not at all. Just wondering why the player you described is not the one that we have. Theres been zero benefit having this contract or player. None.

Well...8 games after rehabbing a serious injury.
Seems self explanatory.

I've seen him for years. I feel like I have a good grasp of his ceiling already. Adding in how he had a pretty bad injury that is going to take a bit out of his skating and possibly his endurance. I'm judging him based on his history more than just these 8 games. The 8 games are disappointing of course, but I give him some benefit of bad luck still. The ceiling is still not a 4M player IMO.

If you have seen him good then why are you so concerned about the first 8 games?
If you know the player then you should be willing to use a larger sample size.

 

[oobga]

Well...8 games after rehabbing a serious injury.
Seems self explanatory.


If you have seen him good then why are you so concerned about the first 8 games?
If you know the player then you should be willing to use a larger sample size.

The bonus he's about to get is what I'm concerned about. He would have had to look his absolute best of his career for me to not think the bonus isn't worth it. He didn't, which was totally expected, so my opinion I've had on his deal since the moment it was signed still stands.

 

[guymez]

The bonus he's about to get is what I'm concerned about. He would have had to look his absolute best of his career for me to not think the bonus isn't worth it. He didn't, so my opinion I've had on his deal since the moment it was signed still stands.

Its an ill placed concern IMO.
When that contract was signed you had to know that he was going to get more than 10 games.

 

[Drivesaitl]

"I'm winning foot races and generating chances" lmao.

In Browns opinion is he's playing well, "has a good set of hands" and can be scoring dem goals. lol the guy has 90 career goals. he's rarely scored that much.

Kinda groaning about brown being so open about Connor McDavids involvement in getting him here. I'd almost want that not underlined at this stage.

Brown still confident though. But seems to be overstating his level of play and contribution here.

Its possible to feel worse about Brown contract after hearing his sunshine interview. The guy could be an "its fine" meme. f*** look around you. Zero boxcars, zero contribution, team around bottom of standings.

By my count Connor Brown looked passable in one game and thats because we were playing the Calgary Flames. They make any team or players look better.

 

[oobga]

Its an ill placed concern IMO.
When that contract was signed you had to know that he was going to get more than 10 games.

I definitely expected that too, that Holland wouldn't even for a moment take advantage of the out he gave himself, likely not even realizing it's an out. It would take Holland being fired immediately and a very shrewd GM taking over for it to happen. Still, it's worth talking about and pointing out. It's a unique situation and another example of how poorly managed this team is.

 

[guymez]

I definitely expected that too, that Holland wouldn't even for a moment take advantage of the out he gave himself, likely not even realizing it's an out. It would take Holland being fired immediately and a very shrewd GM taking over for it to happen. Still, it's worth talking about and pointing out. It's a unique situation and another example of how poorly managed this team is.

There is no way that Holland was going to exercise that option. No GM signs a free agent player and then trades him after an 8 game sample size. Bonuses or not its completely unrealistic.

Holland had to figure out a way to add a player to a team that was maxed out on the cap.
Deferring is what he decided to do. Its a gamble but if he really believed that the team was ready to be a cup finalist then Brown brings an element that the team needs. Especially as he can PK as well.

The thing that I dont get is that you didnt like the signing AND (despite knowing that Holland wasnt going to waive Brown in the first 10 games) you also dont want to use a larger sample size to properly evaluate the player?