Questionable veteran defenseman could require the Edmonton Oilers' attention

After signing the veteran NHLer during the offseason, the Edmonton Oilers may be forced to turn their attention to depth defenseman backup plans to Josh Brown.

There is little question among avid NHL followers that the Edmonton Oilers are the odds-on favorite for a Stanley Cup-winning season. The team had a busy offseason, noting a few great-value contracts and the cementing deal with Leon Draisail, which will provide him an AAV of $14 million for eight years. However, Edmonton made one deal that was an immediate red flag for fans. That was the three-year, $1M AAV contract the team presented veteran depth defenseman Josh Brown.

To no surprise of his critics, Josh Brown has already underperformed his contract in the preseason, leaving many wondering if he would still be part of the defensive lineup. Though he already has a home in Edmonton and a good rapport with the coaching staff, the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast reported that the Oilers are working on a deal with Travis Dermott, who could take his spot in the lineup. Should that occur, Brown would be forced down to the AHL.

Josh Brown, a 6'5" former 6th-round draft pick for the Florida Panthers, has played in 290 NHL regular season games, recording only 11 goals and 34 points to his name. At 30 years old, he was reported as having the third-worst record of all league defensemen in the last three years, only being beaten out by Marco Scandella and Patrick Nemeth. Moreover, fans hoped the towering player would be a more solid protector for Connor McDavid with Evander Kane recovering from abdominal surgery. Yet, when the team captain was caught in a headlock, Josh Brown was nowhere to be found.

Given his performance and age, there is no good reason to keep Josh Brown in the lineup over Travis Dermott or Troy Stecher. The Oilers could send him down to the AHL, or, as commentator Tyler Yaremchuk suggested on the Jason Gregor show, place him on waivers. Hopefully, whichever route they go, Edmonton will not suffer greater consequences for what already appears to be a mistake.

Source: Oilers Daily
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