Oilers sign Brown to reunite with McDavid

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the Edmonton Oilers:

2022-23 season: 50-23-9, second in Pacific Division; lost in Western Conference Second Round

Key arrivals

Connor Brown, F: The 29-year-old had been a rumored target for the Oilers in the past because of his junior connection with Connor McDavid; the two played together with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League. Brown sustained a knee injury in his fourth game with the Washington Capitals last season and missed the rest of the season. He signed a one-year contract with Edmonton on July 1 and is expected to play a top-six role, likely on right wing with McDavid. The Oilers are hoping Brown can regain the offensive chemistry he had with the center in junior; he had 128 points (45 goals, 83 assists) in 68 games in his final OHL season. … Lane Pederson, F: The 25-year-old signed a two-year contract on July 1 to be the fourth-line center after Edmonton was unable to re-sign Nick Bjugstad. Pederson had six points (three goals, three assists) in 27 games with the Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets last season. … Drake Caggiula, F: This is the second stint in Edmonton for the 29-year-old, who played three seasons with the Oilers before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 30, 2018. Caggiula spent the majority of last season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, where he had 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) in 65 games. He did not have a point in four games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. Caggiula signed a two-year, two-way contract July 1 and is expected to be a depth forward.

Key departures

Video: The crew on Connor Brown signing with the Oilers, F: The first-round pick (No. 22) in the 2017 NHL Draft was traded to the Detroit Red Wings with Klim Kostin on June 29. He reportedly was placed on waivers the next day, then signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Kraken on July 2. Yamamoto, 24, had 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 58 regular-season games last season, then had four points (one goal, three assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games. … Klim Kostin, F: The bottom-six forward and Edmonton were unable to agree on a contract, and he was traded to Detroit, where he signed a two-year deal. The 24-year-old had 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 57 regular-season games last season and five points (three goals, two assists) in 12 playoff games. … Nick Bjugstad, F: Acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on March 2, the 31-year-old had six points (four goals, two assists) in 19 regular-season games with the Oilers and three goals in 12 playoff games before signing a two-year contract to return to the Coyotes on July 1.

On the cusp

Dylan Holloway, F:The 21-year-old made the Oilers' opening night roster and had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 51 games but was sent down to Bakersfield of the AHL and injured his shoulder in his first game. He returned to play 12 AHL games and had 10 points (seven goals, three assists). If he remains healthy, the first-round pick (No. 14) in the 2020 NHL Draft should again open the season with Edmonton. … Xavier Bourgault, F: The 20-year-old had 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 62 games with Bakersfield last season, his first as a pro. The first-round pick (No. 22) in the 2021 NHL Draft may get a longer look in training camp to see if he can win a top-six spot but is more likely to start the season in the AHL. … James Hamblin, F: The 24-year-old made his NHL debut on Nov. 28, 2022, and did not have a point in 10 games but was an effective role player with Bakersfield, scoring 28 points (10 games, 18 assists) in 52 games last season.

What they still need

Defenseman depth. A lack of it proved to be Edmonton's demise in the playoffs last season. The Oilers were the highest-scoring team in the NHL in the regular season (3.96 goals per game) but had issues keeping the puck out of their own net, allowing the 16th-most goals per game (3.12). They don't have a lot of space under the NHL salary cap to add a veteran defenseman, but it would be surprising if they once again entered the playoffs thin on the back end.

They said it

"When you look at the window that we're in right now and what we've accomplished the last two years, the core of our team is signed up, and if you look at the age of the core of our team, they're in their prime." -- general manager Ken Holland

Fantasy focus

Brown missed most of last season because of injury but showed flashes of fantasy potential with the Ottawa Senators in 2020-21 with 21 goals in 56 games. Brown could shatter his NHL career highs across the board if he can stick with McDavid, the perennial top-ranked player in fantasy hockey, and/or Leon Draisaitl, the second-ranked player in fantasy -- making him a glaring sleeper pick this season. -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Zach Hyman -- Connor McDavid -- Connor Brown

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Leon Draisaitl -- Evander Kane

Dylan Holloway -- Ryan McLeod -- Warren Foegele

Mattias Janmark -- Lane Pederson -- Derek Ryan

Darnell Nurse -- Cody Ceci

Mattias Ekholm -- Evan Bouchard

Brett Kulak -- Vincent Desharnais

Stuart Skinner

Jack Campbell