The Edmonton Oilers are taking a major gamble by acquiring defenseman Josh Brown from the Ottawa Senators in a trade that sent a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft to the Canadian capital.
Brown, a 27-year-old Toronto native, was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the sixth round of the 2013 NHL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Panthers organization before being traded to the Senators in the 2020 offseason.
At 6-foot-5 and 217 pounds, Brown brings size and physicality to the Oilers’ blue line. However, his offensive production has been limited throughout his NHL career, with just one goal and 11 assists in 93 career games.
Despite his lack of scoring touch, Oilers general manager Ken Holland believes that Brown’s defensive skills and physical presence will add depth and stability to the team’s defense corps.
“We believe that Josh brings a physical element to our lineup that we have been lacking,” said Holland in a statement. “He is a big, strong defenseman who can clear the front of the net and make life difficult for opposing forwards.”
The Oilers are hoping that Brown can help bolster a defensive unit that struggled at times last season, ranking 18th in the league in goals against per game.
However, the acquisition of Brown comes with some risk for the Oilers. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, meaning that the team is essentially renting his services for the upcoming campaign.
If Brown fails to live up to expectations or if the Oilers are unable to re-sign him, the trade could end up being a costly one for Edmonton.
Despite the potential risks, the Oilers are confident that Brown will make a positive impact on the team and help them compete for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference.
Only time will tell if the gamble on Josh Brown will pay off for the Oilers, but one thing is certain – Edmonton is banking on the rugged defenseman to help shore up their defense and improve their chances of success in the upcoming season.