Connor Brown’s Impact Still Felt in Edmonton as Oilers Tinker With Third Line Chemistry
When Connor Brown took the ice against the Oilers, it wasn’t just another game on the schedule - not for him, and not for the Oilers either. “I’m playing against a lot of old buddies tonight. These are ones you have circled,” Brown said ahead of the matchup, and you could tell it meant something.
Brown, now with the Devils, was the kind of player every contending team craves - especially come playoff time. He wasn’t flashy, but he was effective.
A high-motor, third-line winger who could tilt the ice with his forecheck, bring speed, and spark momentum with a gritty shift. When top-six matchups cancel each other out, it’s players like Brown who can swing a series.
Right now, the Oilers are still trying to recapture that kind of third-line magic. There’s no shortage of potential.
Jack Roslovic has been centering a line with rookies Ike Howard and Matt Savoie - a trio full of energy and upside. But it’s early days, and the chemistry is still in development.
Roslovic, while capable in the middle, has historically been more effective on the wing, and the two young wingers are still adjusting to the pace and grind of the NHL.
That’s where Brown’s absence is felt. Not just in the numbers, but in the intangibles. His presence on the forecheck, his ability to lift the bench with a relentless shift, and the leadership he brought night in and night out - those things don’t show up on the stat sheet, but they matter.
It’s no surprise that Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe, who coached Brown in the AHL with the Marlies and later in Toronto, has leaned on him heavily. Keefe, who also helped mold Zach Hyman in the minors, knows what Brown brings to a locker room.
“He’s been outstanding for us, so important,” Keefe said. “The role he plays, his ability to move up and down the lineup… probably his personality and leadership skills have been the biggest asset for us. He’s scored big goals and done all that, but his experience and leadership - I coached him in the American League before he got to the NHL, and those traits were very apparent even then.”
Now, with more NHL experience under his belt - including a deep playoff run with Edmonton - Brown has become a steadying force for New Jersey. “It’s been great to have him, especially with the up-and-down season he’s had.
He’s been a constant. Lots of responsibility, and he brings a little extra juice,” Keefe added.
While Brown’s leadership has found a new home, the Oilers are leaning on another veteran presence in Curtis Lazar. The 600-game milestone is a testament to Lazar’s longevity and consistency. He’s not the headline-maker, but he’s the kind of player coaches trust in tight games - a reliable center who battles on the penalty kill, wins key faceoffs, and plays with the kind of grit that wears opponents down over 60 minutes.
“He’s doing a bang-up job,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “It’s nice having Curtis in our lineup, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our record is better when he’s in.”
Lazar’s ability to take on defensive zone faceoffs and key PK minutes also eases the burden on stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, allowing them to start more shifts in the offensive zone - where they’re at their most dangerous. It’s a subtle shift, but one that can tilt the balance in close games.
Injury-wise, the Oilers are managing through some roster challenges. Kasperi Kapanen, who went down with a lower-body injury after catching a rut and crashing into the boards against St.
Louis, skated Tuesday morning but will miss at least a week, according to Knoblauch. With the team carrying three goalies and cap space tight, Edmonton dressed 11 forwards and slotted defenseman Alec Regula in as a seventh blueliner.
On the Devils’ side, defenseman Luke Hughes is sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in Calgary. He’s expected to miss some time but is staying with the team during their road swing.
As the Oilers continue to fine-tune their bottom six, the blueprint is clear: find the kind of consistency and edge that Brown once brought. Whether it’s through internal development or lineup tweaks, that third line could be the difference-maker down the stretch - just like it often is come playoff time.