Edmonton Oilers forward Connor Brown is going to free agency

The Edmonton Oilers appear to be on the cusp of parting ways with a fan favourite.

Though Connor Brown’s tenure with the Oilers began on a tough note after he scored just four goals through the 2023-24 season, he quickly regained fan support after an impressive playoff run. He was able to ink a one-year extension and had a nice bounce-back season with 13 goals and 30 points, along with five goals and nine points in 20 playoff outings.

By all accounts, the Oilers would love to have Brown back. He is beloved by both the fans and teammates, but management also has to be cognisant of their salary cap situation. It appears they are doing so, as reports broke on Wednesday morning that the 31-year-old will be testing free agency.

Looks like Connor Brown will go UFA.
Team likes the player and vice versa. But Brown will have to test the market to get his value.

— Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@SportsnetSpec) June 27, 2025

While it certainly is disappointing to lose a player like Brown, there were reports that he was seeking a four-year deal. The Oilers need to be careful not to lock in bottom-six players such as Brown on long-term deals. These types of players, while beloved, are generally easy to replace.

In the same breath, the Oilers did commit long-term to Trent Frederic, signing him to an eight-year deal. While Frederic does provide more intangibles than Brown and is younger, one would think that’s the type of deal GM Stan Bowman should avoid as well.

Of course, there is always a chance that Brown does return to the Oilers should he not find the contract he’s looking for on the free-agent market. By all accounts, he’s loved his time in Edmonton, and few teams would give him a better chance to win it all than the one that has competed in two straight Stanley Cup Finals.

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