The 2025 NHL Free Agency period opened on Tuesday. The New Jersey Devils, knowing they need to have a good offseason with jobs on the line, have already extended backup goalie Jake Allen to a five-year deal worth $1.8 million AAV.
The rest of the offseason will likely include addressing Luke Hughes's contract extension, and trying to fix the bottom six should be a key area that Tom Fitzgerald focuses on. He started that process on the first day of free agency when he signed former Edmonton Oiler RW Connor Brown to a four-year deal with a $3 million AAV.
Connor Brown has had an excellent career as a bottom-six player, primarily as a third liner. Throughout his nine-year career, he has averaged about 31.5 points per season. His highest career total was in the 2019-20 season with the Ottawa Senators, where he recorded 43 points. Brown is a bottom-six player, as he has been suited between the 3rd and 4th lines with Edmonton this season. In Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals, he got paired with another right winger, Vasiily Podkozkn, and centre Mattias Janmark.
Brown has had some struggles with injuries., In the 2022-23 season, he suffered an ACL injury in the fourth game of the season, which ruled him out for the remainder of the year. Then he also suffered an injury after a hit from Stars player Alexander Petrovic, from which he didn’t return until Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. Therefore, the medical staff must look into his injuries, as he is a great player when healthy.
During an interview with Sportsnet, Brown detailed why New Jersey was the right choice.
"The more I looked at it, the more the Jersey fit was just better and better. On the East Coast, close to family. Really good team. It checked a lot of boxes for me and my wife and the little guy and our dogs."Connor Brown, Devils winger
Overall, a great deal for the Devils, as he is a solution to the bottom 6, plus with him making two straight Stanley Cup Finals, this deal could work out for Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils.