Sabres Summer Free Agent Target – Connor Brown

30-year-old winger had 12 points this season with Edmonton after returning from serious knee injury

The Buffalo Sabres face a season where accountability will be stressed under head coach Lindy Ruff and areas of need will have to be addressed by GM Kevyn Adams for the club to snap their 13-year playoff drought. We have been taking a look at players who could be potential trade targets this summer over the last few weeks in advance of a year that has to be considered playoffs or bust, but now we will take a look at who the Sabres could potentially be pursuing when the free agent market opens up on July 1.

Buffalo is not likely to pursue big-ticket players like Jake Guentzel or Elias Lindholm, as they will be pursuing long-term big-money contracts, but they will be looking for role players with size and two-way ability that can be signed for a lesser term and cap hit.

Connor Brown – Left/Right Wing (Edmonton Oilers)

Stats: 12 points (4 G, 8 A) in 71 games, 4 points (1 G, 3 A) in 15 playoff games

2023-24 Salary - $775,000

With the Sabres looking to add bigger, tougher or more versatile forwards to play roles in their bottom six, veteran winger Brown and his experience in the Atlantic Division could be an economical and valuable depth addition.

A 2012 sixth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brown spent two more seasons with the OHL Erie Otters and led the league in scoring in 2014 playing on the wing with Connor McDavid. After playing in the AHL for the next two seasons, the Toronto native graduated to the NHL at the end of the 2016 season and scored 20 goals in his first full year with the Leafs under Mike Babcock.

Brown’s versatility was utilized during his three seasons in Toronto, playing in a top-six and bottom-six role and on the penalty kill. In 2019, he was traded to Ottawa and for three seasons, he was used more in an offensive role and scored a career-high 21 goals in the 56-game Canadian division 2020-21 season.

Following a disappointing 39-point campaign, Brown was dealt to Washington in 2022, but his career with the Capitals lasted four games, as he suffered a torn ACL in October. The 30-year-old signed a one-year, incentive-laden deal with Edmonton last season and he struggled to regain his scoring touch, finishing with 12 points playing mostly on the fourth-line.

There is the potential of an offensive bounce-back after a difficult season and Brown has been effective as a bottom sixer and penalty killer in the Oilers' run to the Cup Final. The Sabres could look to sign him or someone like him if they are looking to allocate their cap space to address needs higher in the lineup.