Edmonton Oilers Add Josh Brown to Defensive Lineup in Offseason Move

The Edmonton Oilers are making moves in the offseason, with insider Bob Stauffer hinting at the addition of a hard-nosed #6 right defenseman to the lineup, likely someone known well by Kris Knoblauch and company from their days in the OHL.

The player in question has been identified as Josh Brown, a massive and aggressive defenseman who played for the Arizona Coyotes last season, logging significant minutes on both even strength and penalty kill situations. Brown, a former Memorial Cup winner with Oshawa in 2015, has a history of facing off against stars like Connor McDavid during his OHL days.

TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported that Vinny Desharnais, a big and physical right-shot defenseman, will be hitting the market as the Oilers need to make space in their roster. Desharnais, known for his improvement in the past season and a half, played a critical role in Edmonton’s penalty kill.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Oilers are among several teams pursuing Jeff Skinner in the offseason. The former NHL referee Tim Peel shared insights from Evander Kane, who went through a strenuous routine of daily injections to keep playing in the NHL playoffs for the Oilers.

Edmonton radio host Jason Gregor detailed the Oilers’ financial standing after signing Arvidsson, C. Brown, and J. Brown, indicating the team’s remaining budget for three forwards and potential trades to free up cap space.

The addition of Josh Brown to the roster provides the Oilers with a physical presence on defense, complementing stars like Connor McDavid and bolstering the team’s defensive depth ahead of the upcoming season.