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Connor Brown is prepared for a do-over on the contemporary begin he was seeking to get with the Edmonton Oilers.

Arriving final 12 months in an try by crew administration to reconnect him with former junior linemate Connor McDavid, Brown discovered himself thrust into the highlight on the highest line in a task that quickly proved he wasn’t close to prepared for.

Not with having come off knee surgical procedure that restricted him to simply 4 video games within the 2022-23 season.

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However that didn’t dissuade the Oilers from bringing him in on a one-year contract price $4 million.

Issues quickly sifted into place and Brown discovered himself sliding down the lineup to the second, third, then fourth line and even winding up a wholesome scratch at instances.

It took him 56 video games along with his new membership earlier than lastly discovering the again of the web.

Whereas he completed with 12 factors (4 targets, eight assists) in 71 video games, Brown managed to carve his area of interest on a potent Oilers penalty kill, whereas additionally entrenching himself on a 3rd line alongside Adam Henrique and Mattias Janmark that oozed chemistry and proved a spark plug for the Oilers’ late push by means of playoffs.

This time round, the road all returned in free company, the knee is again beneath him and his eyes are wanting on the horizon of the season to return.

“I undoubtedly really feel more healthy, in order that’s clearly a optimistic,” Brown stated following an optionally available skate forward of Wednesday’s season-opener towards the visiting Winnipeg Jets. “Clearly, with this group final 12 months was final 12 months and it’s essential for us to remain within the second and are available ready.

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“Clearly, each crew within the league desires begin. These are the outcomes we would like, that’s the objective we’re making an attempt to attain. However for us, it’s essential to stay to our strategy of what makes us crew. And what we be taught right here as a crew and what we proceed to be taught that makes us good.”

After making all of it the way in which to Sport 7 of final 12 months’s Stanley Cup Ultimate, Brown and the Oilers have headed into this season with the main focus of staying the course.

“Generally you’ve acquired personnel change and that’s going to have an effect on the way you play,” Brown stated. “Now we have some new guys in so I believe there is perhaps some little issues like that, however so far as our crew, I believe we’ve discovered some success within the model we performed final 12 months.

“So, I can’t think about many adjustments.”

And that goes double for members of the third line, who made their impression felt on the scoreboard throughout that playoff run greater than members of the bottom-six on a crew like Edmonton’s in all probability ought to.

“I believe it’s essential to contribute offensively,” stated Brown, who added six factors (two targets, 4 assists) in 19 playoff video games final 12 months. “Particularly typically at house, you get some matchups and also you’re making an attempt to play defensive and simply defend the entire recreation. I attempt to rating and create alternatives, so we’re simply going to go on the market and play.”

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A 12 months in the past, Brown was the one new face among the many Oilers beginning lineup, in comparison with a handful of additives on the ice for opening day Wednesday.

“There’s undoubtedly some extra comfortableness with the familiarity of the group and the employees and town, and all of the issues that go into transferring a younger household,” Brown stated. “Undoubtedly slightly extra settled and I’m simply wanting ahead to it.

“I believe we get caught up in how we need to do and what sort of begin we need to have. On the finish of the day, that group in there likes to play hockey, that is what we like to do, we take pleasure in it. So, it’s simply one other alternative to go on the market and have some enjoyable.”

And you’ll wager it was rather more enjoyable skating onto the ice to open a brand new season Wednesday than the way in which they skated off of it following a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Sport 7 of the ultimate.

“It’s essential to sort of detach from final 12 months,” Brown stated. “When there’s highs and lows like that in a season, it may well linger with you, so it’s essential for us to simply detach and to get again to the second and again to the method of enjoying one recreation at a time right here. One interval. It begins with shift. It begins with constructing the identification of our group.”

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As for getting one other probability to begin issues off on the fitting foot with the Oilers, Brown stated he discovered one thing about himself final 12 months.

“I believe resilience is clearly one thing that involves thoughts,” he stated. “With the ability to sort of persevere by means of bodily challenges and psychological hurdles. I’m grateful to be again with this group and have one other shot at it.”

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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