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

[KCC]

The Connor Brown move is indefensible.

Guy who's best years were behind him. Coming off a huge injury, signed to a terrible contract for the team and he looks like he does not belong in the league and could not play from day one.

Disgustingly awful move on a team that literally cannot afford such a move.

Holland gonna holland. Campbell, brown and the nurse contracts have really screwed the team cap wise And they are still weak in all the areas they’ve been weak in for probably the last 17 years. Lol

 

[Mr Positive]

With Brown we even had the out after his injury at the 9 game mark. He was bad enough early in the season dealing with his previous season injury. But then he had a fresh injury basically making a bounce back all but impossible

The possible optimistic outcome is that he does slowly shake off all the rust and shows his previous ability come playoff time. That would forgive all, just in that playoffs are what really matters.

Also our team is pretty much locked up for next season so it's not like the cap overage will hurt us too bad. We cant commit that space long term anyway because of the pricey extensions coming the following years.

It just sucks that we won't have that space to play with, and our goaltending might be where we need some addressing

 

[NegativeNelly]

I liked this signing because of the option to walk away before 10 gamed. What I am upset with is the player did nothing in the 9 games to warrant keeping him around.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I liked this signing because of the option to walk away before 10 gamed. What I am upset with is the player did nothing in the 9 games to warrant keeping him around.

I'm pretty sure the 10 games were an arbitrary number that was as low as could be in the event that he had a season ending injury. It was always our intention to pay him the $ regardless. Unless he really picks it up this will be a terrible contract that rolls into Drai's last season under his current contract.

 

[La Bamba]

If the team makes the playoffs, makes a deep run, and Brown (somehow) plays like a 4M player in the post-season, then I'll forgive Holland.

Similar to last year when Campbell shit the bed in the regular season. He saved the team's season in Game 4 vs. LA so that negated his regular season for me. Still disappointing that Woody didn't play him more but at least he's fired now. That's how I'll have a positive spin on this.

Merry Christmas you filthy animals

 

[AM]

Indeed I did effectively misquote you by mistakenly ignoring the last part of that sentence. My apologies.

And again for the record, I have previously stated that I thought $4M was too high and that the contract was a risk. I also am on the record that I am not a fan of Holland's cap management skills. Moreover, the player you are describing as a possible headcase and a perimeter player is the exact opposite of what he has been his whole career. That was precisely my point. Is it simply a consequence of the injury? Maybe, but honestly, I don't see a huge drop off in his mobility from before. What I do see is a guy who is obviously frustrated with his game. And I don't think it is unreasonable to say that the degree to which his game has dropped off is surprising.

As to the last bolded phrase, I have repeatedly stated that confirmation bias is wired into all of us including myself. That is why I use stats to back up my claims when they can do so. But truthfully I don't see how confirmation bias has anything to do with what I have said in my back and forth here.

Hopefully Brown builds his game throughout the year and has his best game in the last one.

 

[foshizzle]

Holland gonna holland. Campbell, brown and the nurse contracts have really screwed the team cap wise And they are still weak in all the areas they’ve been weak in for probably the last 17 years. Lol

Holland “Our defence was exposed the last 2 playoff runs. Our goaltending was exposed the last two runs…I know- let’s sign Connor Brown!”

 

[tiger_80]

RNH is the same way. Dude has never done leg day in his life, lol.

Can't grow moustache either. What a f***ing loser. lol.

 

[AM]

Holland “Our defence was exposed the last 2 playoff runs. Our goaltending was exposed the last two runs…I know- let’s sign Connor Brown!”

Our fore check and back check were exposed.

 

[McBeastMode]

Hopefully Brown builds his game throughout the year and has his best game in the last one.

All it takes is a puck to the head, just ask Nurse...

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Hopefully Brown builds his game throughout the year and has his best game in the last one.

At this point, this is all we can hope for since we’ve already hit his bonus’.

 

[McShogun99]

I'm pretty sure the 10 games were an arbitrary number that was as low as could be in the event that he had a season ending injury. It was always our intention to pay him the $ regardless. Unless he really picks it up this will be a terrible contract that rolls into Drai's last season under his current contract.

The old kick the can down the road approach. The only thing that could make this signing worse is if he reinjures his knee and misses the rest of the season.

 

[McDNicks17]

The other thread got me looking more into Brown's WOWY and the problem seems to be pretty obvious. They're trying to use him as a defensive zone matchup guy when they really shouldn't be.

When with Nurse: 120 minutes, 43% offensive zone%, 42.2% xGF (drops to 36% xGF without McDavid)

When with Ekholm: 72 minutes, 51% offensive zone%, 57.2% xGF


The best way to salvage this deal might be to give the third line those defensive zone draws and free up Drai, Brown, etc. for more offensive minutes.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

I'm pretty sure the 10 games were an arbitrary number that was as low as could be in the event that he had a season ending injury. It was always our intention to pay him the $ regardless. Unless he really picks it up this will be a terrible contract that rolls into Drai's last season under his current contract.

100%. It was the minimum number of games required and easiest route to defer payment of the largest sum possible to the player. There was no second option, he was always getting the money and the Oilers taking next year's cap hit. If the CBA allowed for 5 games played instead of 10, the would have made it 5.

 

[alphahelix]

100%. It was the minimum number of games required and easiest route to defer payment of the largest sum possible to the player. There was no second option, he was always getting the money and the Oilers taking next year's cap hit. If the CBA allowed for 5 games played instead of 10, the would have made it 5.

Regardless, the fact that nobody in management could wake the F up and smell the s$%÷ sandwich before game 10 and save this franchise from a nightmare cap situation is an absolute clear-the-deck set fire to the head office type of offence, and that all these clowns are sitting there collecting their fat Christmas bonuses for the awful job they did definitively proves we are an absolute mickey mouse organization worthy of nothing but failure

 

[Mr Positive]

Regardless, the fact that nobody in management could wake the F up and smell the s$%÷ sandwich before game 10 and save this franchise from a nightmare cap situation is an absolute clear-the-deck set fire to the head office type of offence, and that all these clowns are sitting there collecting their fat Christmas bonuses for the awful job they did definitively proves we are an absolute mickey mouse organization worthy of nothing but failure

We don't have a nightmare cap situation. If we do, it's the Bouchard and Draisaitl extensions, and then the McDavid one right after.

Our team is locked up for next year. Brown's overage will be covered by the projected cap rise. We have some cap coming off, and so we have some wiggle room, but imo we will just have a cheap RW like Bourgault or Lavoie.

As I said earlier, it still sucks to have the overage just because more is better to load up. I just don't see it as a nightmare

 

[alphahelix]

We don't have a nightmare cap situation. If we do, it's the Bouchard and Draisaitl extensions, and then the McDavid one right after.

Our team is locked up for next year. Brown's overage will be covered by the projected cap rise. We have some cap coming off, and so we have some wiggle room, but imo we will just have a cheap RW like Bourgault or Lavoie.

As I said earlier, it still sucks to have the overage just because more is better to load up. I just don't see it as a nightmare

Having to sign good players to what theyre worth isnt a nightmare situation, insert expletive here...

Not being ABLE to sign those players, Not being ABLE to fill the holes on this team so we can be a legitimate contender... THATS a nightmare situation. With the Campbell buyout and the Brown overage, there is NO cap increase next year in Edmonton, and there are expiring contracts. We'll have less money next year per player. Take this middling clusterf738 of a team and downgrade it going into Drais final year. Nice


We have a gaping hole at G, Top 6 RW, bottom 6 RHC and Top4RD. None of these things can be addressed now until some of Bouch/McDrai leave or are traded (and they are completely irreplaceable).

Build over.

 

[North Cole]

Regardless, the fact that nobody in management could wake the F up and smell the s$%÷ sandwich before game 10 and save this franchise from a nightmare cap situation is an absolute clear-the-deck set fire to the head office type of offence, and that all these clowns are sitting there collecting their fat Christmas bonuses for the awful job they did definitively proves we are an absolute mickey mouse organization worthy of nothing but failure

Not here to defend the contract by any means but I'm not sure how feasible it really was to waive the guy.

I think you're probably right to say hell with the fallout and waive him, but I can see an argument against it also. We're already a bottom FA destination that has trouble keeping and signing players. Nothing says come play for us, like -40 tundra and waiving vets right before they meet their bonus targets in the earliest days of their contract.

Again, maybe you just embrace the overall liability our locale is, and waive the guy anyway since it might not make it any worse. The best medicine was just not signing him in the first place.

 

[alphahelix]

Not here to defend the contract by any means but I'm not sure how feasible it really was to waive the guy.

I think you're probably right to say hell with the fallout and waive him, but I can see an argument against it also. We're already a bottom FA destination that has trouble keeping and signing players. Nothing says come play for us, like -40 tundra and waiving vets right before they meet their bonus targets in the earliest days of their contract.

Again, maybe you just embrace the overall liability our locale is, and waive the guy anyway since it might not make it any worse. The best medicine was just not signing him in the first place.

A lot of people probably working for Browns agency were pumping this narrative but its so unbelievably wrongheaded and inaccurate.

The ONLY thing that makes Edmonton a desirable destination is WINNING. The management here signalling to the entire league that they are bumblefkk bureaucrats who are not willing to do what it takes to win will absolutely eliminate that perceptual advantage. If players dont believe Edmonton can win (and they cant, with the Brown caphit and Campbell buyout incoming and the gaping roster holes unfixable), not only will players not want to come here, players will LEAVE.

Winning is the only medicine. Signalling that your organization either cannot see what it takes to win or that they are unwilling to do it is the absolute deathknell for attracting players to Edmonton. Either we go to the finals this year on the strength of McDavid, or its over here. See you in 2035 when we are on the upswing again.

 

[brentashton]

Nothing says come play for us, like -40 tundra and waiving vets right before they meet their bonus targets in the earliest days of their contract.

I strongly disagree with this post above.

If the potential FAs you are considering are concerned that they will get treated like Connor Browne if the sign in Edmonton with the same type of performance bonus, I would say you shouldn’t want to sign them in the first place.

When Browne had stained the bed after 6,7,8 games and the opportunity was there to erase the signing, you do it everytime.

Edmonton will always be a tough place to sign FAs when you look at what the landscape of the NHL looks like for climate, taxes, travel and so on, even with McDavid. It’s a fact. Accept it and move on.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Not here to defend the contract by any means but I'm not sure how feasible it really was to waive the guy.

I think you're probably right to say hell with the fallout and waive him, but I can see an argument against it also. We're already a bottom FA destination that has trouble keeping and signing players. Nothing says come play for us, like -40 tundra and waiving vets right before they meet their bonus targets in the earliest days of their contract.

Again, maybe you just embrace the overall liability our locale is, and waive the guy anyway since it might not make it any worse. The best medicine was just not signing him in the first place.

Yet the number one complaint this winter is that its been too warm, no snow, etc. We've had the best weather in Canada. No Pineapple express storms like in Lower mainland. No snow squalls, no ice storms etc.

Nor do I think we presently have THAT much trouble landing free agents. I think its a bit overstated. You want the type of players that would come here to win, not the players that just want a warm Florida or California beach to laze around on.

Please, citation for any players in the last 16yrs we've had trouble keeping due to locale. The only trouble weve had with keeping players is due to bad cap management.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I strongly disagree with this post above.

If the potential FAs you are considering are concerned that they will get treated like Connor Browne if the sign in Edmonton with the same type of performance bonus, I would say you shouldn’t want to sign them in the first place.

When Browne had stained the bed after 6,7,8 games and the opportunity was there to erase the signing, you do it everytime.

Edmonton will always be a tough place to sign FAs when you look at what the landscape of the NHL looks like for climate, taxes, travel and so on, even with McDavid. It’s a fact. Accept it and move on.

Yep. Agreed with this part. The bolded just tells prospective free agents that you ARE interested in winning and doing everything to that end goal. Keeping moldy Brown around just says the opposite, that you'll allow this type of non perfomance and that you are not proactive as an org in getting rid of non performers. It communicates that you aren't really serious about putting together the best team you can.

Even a player like Bjugstad is having yet another solid season in Arizona. We get so cap strung we don't even resign players like that, who bring some value, we go fishing for lightweights like Connor Brown.

I think the one thing this org communicates often is they don't do due dilligence. For instance needing a goalie we land on Jack Campbell instead of an exhaustive search. When everybody in the league knows we need a goalie we spend months saying we're trying to find one but how active, really, is the search, and how much is being done about it. If anything the org giving the image they're content to just let a team crash on the rocks while waiting for a lifeline.

A lot of people probably working for Browns agency were pumping this narrative but its so unbelievably wrongheaded and inaccurate.

The ONLY thing that makes Edmonton a desirable destination is WINNING. The management here signalling to the entire league that they are bumblefkk bureaucrats who are not willing to do what it takes to win will absolutely eliminate that perceptual advantage. If players dont believe Edmonton can win (and they cant, with the Brown caphit and Campbell buyout incoming and the gaping roster holes unfixable), not only will players not want to come here, players will LEAVE.

Winning is the only medicine. Signalling that your organization either cannot see what it takes to win or that they are unwilling to do it is the absolute deathknell for attracting players to Edmonton. Either we go to the finals this year on the strength of McDavid, or its over here. See you in 2035 when we are on the upswing again.

Well expressed.

 

[North Cole]

Yet the number one complaint this winter is that its been too warm, no snow, etc. We've had the best weather in Canada. No Pineapple express storms like in Lower mainland. No snow squalls, no ice storms etc.

Nor do I think we presently have THAT much trouble landing free agents. I think its a bit overstated. You want the type of players that would come here to win, not the players that just want a warm Florida or California beach to laze around on.

Please, citation for any players in the last 16yrs we've had trouble keeping due to locale. The only trouble weve had with keeping players is due to bad cap management.

Yeah we're really good at resigning RFA since thats how the CBA works. When it comes to UFA, I'd need to first find a citation for any worthwhile players we signed. Outside of harvesting players from other cities in Canada, we've got Kane who had few options.

The last 16 years of UFA signings have been so pitiful no one has wanted or cared for them to return. No players are want to come here to win because the org is rotting. Firing a player into the sunset after 8 games, while the correct move, is just icing on the cake for how much rot there is in the general decision making.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. You either look like someone who gives rehabbed players no rope, or look like someone that has no idea how to build a winning roster because your decision making is so poor. Neither of which is a quality of winning team.

A lot of people probably working for Browns agency were pumping this narrative but its so unbelievably wrongheaded and inaccurate.

The ONLY thing that makes Edmonton a desirable destination is WINNING. The management here signalling to the entire league that they are bumblefkk bureaucrats who are not willing to do what it takes to win will absolutely eliminate that perceptual advantage. If players dont believe Edmonton can win (and they cant, with the Brown caphit and Campbell buyout incoming and the gaping roster holes unfixable), not only will players not want to come here, players will LEAVE.

Winning is the only medicine. Signalling that your organization either cannot see what it takes to win or that they are unwilling to do it is the absolute deathknell for attracting players to Edmonton. Either we go to the finals this year on the strength of McDavid, or its over here. See you in 2035 when we are on the upswing again.

Ah right, a lot of people in Connors agency. One of which was hired to be our CEO in the summer, yet another reason there was no way this team was going to waive him.

I don't disagree that winning solves a lot of things. However, we routinely scrap the dregs of the rest of the league when looking for front office staff. It can't be a surprise that low tier management took a swing and missed, then has no incentive to correct the miss. Besides which, correcting the miss accomplishes what? We just put the bat back into the hands of those that have zero talent identifying skills.

If we had all these things you talk about, we wouldn't have signed him to begin with. It's just a chicken and an egg problem. As I said, given the state of the org, you probably just waive him and eat the bad press, but I can see several reasons why they were never going to waive him.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Yeah we're really good at resigning RFA since thats how the CBA works. When it comes to UFA, I'd need to first find a citation for any worthwhile players we signed. Outside of harvesting players from other cities in Canada, we've got Kane who had few options.

The last 16 years of UFA signings have been so pitiful no one has wanted or cared for them to return. No players are want to come here to win because the org is rotting. Firing a player into the sunset after 8 games, while the correct move, is just icing on the cake for how much rot there is in the general decision making.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. You either look like someone who gives rehabbed players no rope, or look like someone that has no idea how to build a winning roster because your decision making is so poor. Neither of which is a quality of winning team.


Ah right, a lot of people in Connors agency. One of which was hired to be our CEO in the summer, yet another reason there was no way this team was going to waive him.

I don't disagree that winning solves a lot of things. However, we routinely scrap the dregs of the rest of the league when looking for front office staff. It can't be a surprise that low tier management took a swing and missed, then has no incentive to correct the miss. Besides which, correcting the miss accomplishes what? We just put the bat back into the hands of those that have zero talent identifying skills.

If we had all these things you talk about, we wouldn't have signed him to begin with. It's just a chicken and an egg problem. As I said, given the state of the org, you probably just waive him and eat the bad press, but I can see several reasons why they were never going to waive him.

Well you know I would not have gone for Connor Brown in first place. But even if the Oilers pulled the plug within the 10 game window this is with a player that is a relative nothing. The Oilers already established positive rep with salvaging Kanes career who is a much more notable player. I don't think yanking the carpet on Connor Brown for not being able to play, erases what the club did for Kane.

As for the last 16yrs obviously the Oilers were not going to be sigining high quality UFA's when the intent of the club was to tank from say 2008-2015. Followed by a period where the Oilers spend like drunken sailors on ill advised contracts including 6M to clowns like Lucic. For most of the Chiarelli/Holland era theres been no money to go after quality UFA.

So I don't know again that its locale, rather than circumstance preventing org from signing more high profile UFA;s

With Holland particularly its very clear there has been a conveyor belt of walk ons and league minimum contracts because Holland hasn't left himself with coins to even fill out a lineup. To the degree we've had to send players down just to meet cap or go with shortened lineups in games.

 

[Stoneman89]

For me, a couple of really bad things about the Brown signing.

Firstly, I think 9 games is far too small of a sample size to accurately gauge the performance of someone who's missed an entire season, and parts of the prior one, and is over 30 years old. Should have been 30 games at least.

Secondly, if there were to be any bonuses added on, it should have been based on a combination of games and statistical performance. Giving a guy extra cash for just potentially showing up and playing is really dumb, IMO. It's like saying, well, he may never be what he was before and or even close to it. but we'll give the guy a whack of extra cash if he can just prove he's able to suit up for a couple weeks worth of games.