Since Connor Brown arrived at the Oilers camp from the Capitals, the winger has become a crucial part of Edmonton’s third line. Along with Adam Henrique and Mattias Janmar, Brown became pivotal for the Oilers’ 2024 Stanley Cup success. Naturally, it wasn’t very surprising to see the Oilers wanting to retain Connor when they signed the Canadian for a one-year $1 million deal in 2024. But what other benefits come with the package?

Brown was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2012 entry draft and made his NHL debut in 2016. But even before that, he was showing his class as part of the Leafs’ AHL affiliate Marlies’ roster. After his association with the Toronto team ended, Connor arrived in Edmonton after two brief stints with the Senators and the Capitals. And after only one-and-a-half season with the Oilers, it looks like he’s already made a name for himself. But exactly how far are they willing to walk to keep the 31-year-old in their squad?

Confidence in Connor Brown’s prowess led to a contract extension

Brown was brought in as a crucial piece for the Oilers, expected to add grit and scoring depth alongside his former junior teammate and NHL superstar Connor McDavid. After battling an ACL injury in the previous season, Brown was on a mission to prove he was still an elite two-way player. With some incredible career statistics (101 goals and 148 assists), he certainly had the resume.

After signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Oilers in 2023, Brown’s cap hit initially looked like a bargain. Why? Because the contract was heavily stacked with performance bonuses that could affect the Oilers’ future cap space big time. His base salary for the 2023-24 season is only $775,000, but if Brown meets certain targets, he could easily hit the full $3.25 million in bonuses. That means his contract could balloon to its full $4 million value. The catch? Those bonus dollars could spill over into the Oilers’ 2024-25 salary cap if Edmonton can’t fit them into this season’s budget. Naturally, some calculations were in order.

The folks over at the Oilers’ camp took a calculated risk with his contract structure, banking on Brown staying healthy and productive. But now, it looks like their confidence in Connor Brown’s prowess has only grown in the short time he’s been around. With Brown in their ranks, Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in almost two decades. For obvious reasons, he had to be retained. For the 2024-25 season, the Oilers signed a $1 million salary deal with Brown, with a cap hit of $1 million per person. This does look like a pretty swell deal and something the Oilers can capitalize on.

How the increased salary cap benefits the Oilers

The increase in the salary cap puts a team like the Edmonton Oilers in an enviable position. The extra cushion would make it almost impossible to overpay the stars who define the franchise. Connor McDavid’s value stands at $16 million, which is still good for a $3.5 million surplus value.

Naturally, with Brown’s $1 million salary cap and an AAV of the same amount, it would look like there will be oodles of space for the Oilers to continue retaining its stars without burning a hole in their pockets.

But with the hefty price tag behind him, can Connor Brown once again help the Oilers reach a celebratory season finish? What do you think? Tell us below!