Oilers will miss Kane and Brown’s style of play this season – Hockey writer – Edmonton Oilers
It’s only over a month since the Edmonton Oilers lost Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, and during that time their team has seen some big changes. Between trading and losing some parts in free agency, the lineup has been booming. While this can lead to good things like creating hat spaces and bringing in new players, it can also have an impact. Especially when you lose a specific player with certain styles.
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Of the many losses, Evander Kane and Connor Brown are the two most famous. They are all key parts of the last two long playoffs and bring unique aspects to the roster. While it’s great to take off your hat and attract young players, losing two such people is bigger than one thinks.
Brown and Kane’s influence
Kane and Brown were both famous during their time with Edmonton. Kane scored 111 points in 161 regular season games and 42 points in 68 playoff games, while Brown scored 42 points in 153 regular season games and 15 points in 39 playoff games. But their impact comes not only from the key points on the score sheet.
Both players can always be found in tennis, behind the net and on the wall. They always use their bodies and toughness to drive the hockey online. They do so in any way necessary. They are the kind of people who do their best and do their best to win, especially in the playoffs. They are all very versatile, 200-foot players, especially Brown. It is very obvious that they are not only good at teammates and fans, but also the reception they receive. A great example is the reception Brown received when he made a surprise lineup for Game 4 in the Western Conference Finals last season.
They injured Connor Brown pic.twitter.com/y8rxwkfx5l
– Shan (@shan_savvy) May 28, 2025
The good energy they bring and the solid game will be deeply missed. The Oilers have been quiet to replace what they lost in the offseason, but are the pieces they added enough to fill the gap?
What did the oil worker use?
So far, through free agents, trade and other avenues, such as international signing, the Oilers have brought some different forwards to try to fill the holes ahead. They started with Czech striker David Tomasek in early April and have had many offensive successes overseas over the past few seasons. Then in the action after the season, signing Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar to trade with free agents and getting promising young forward Isaac Howard from Tampa Bay Lightning.
But while these are good works, they are not a solid alternative to Kane and Brown missing. Tomasek and Howard have potential, while Lazar and Mangiapane have shown flashes in the past, but they don’t seem to provide the kind of spark that guys from the past have done. It’s two different styles between the new guy and the old guy, maybe that’s what General Manager Stan Bowman aims, but now, from the outside, it’s not the ideal look. The team may need to seek more additions or let the rest of the team fill the gaps themselves.
How to replace lost things
Replacing lost things is difficult. One or two of these new acquisitions are still likely to improve greatly, and we see we’re used to flickering from the six and hard game. But, if not, there are other options. The free agent market is still open, and although it has been selected, the oilers can still find diamonds in rough places to help them.
Finding power forwards in the market is also an option. A defensive player with certain offensive skills, such as Yegor Chinakhov, is considered a potential move. He has asked for a deal with Columbus blue jacket and may have something to prove bootcamp. Chinakhov or one of his players will make a good move for Edmonton at the right price.
If Bowman completes the action, the workload may fall on the current player. People like Zach Hyman and Mattias Janmark, and even other veterans, need to lead the way and become the main force. They need to be leaders and be the first to enter the corner. This is the only way to play in Edmonton.
Oilers fans and players will miss Kane and Brown, and all the other teams they won in the West. But it’s time to strengthen the new players (and some old times) and keep the team in place.
