Mason Shaw skates in his first Wild practice this year. Minnesota missed the playoffs for just the second time in the last 12 seasons and the first since 2019. They will try to get back into the playoffs next year and signing one or two players in Free Agency could help them do that. The Wild aren't going to sign Sam Reinhart, Jake Guentzel, or Elias Lindholm. They would likely look to a few bottom-six type players to round out their depth. CONNOR BROWN – RIGHT WING (EDMONTON OILERS) Brown could help Wild's PK woes. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA3MzMzNDg4MTYzMDM4MzE4/usatsi_23577065.jpg] Brown could help Wild's PK woes. Stats: 12 points (4 G, 8 A) in 71 games, 6 points (2 G, 4 A) in 18 playoff games 2023-24 Salary - $775,000 During the regular season Brown struggled. He started the year on a line with Connor McDavid hoping to spark the Brown that scored 21 goals in 2020-21. But it didn't work. Brown was eventually demoted to the fourth line where he played most of the season after. Brown, 30, is now a huge part of the Oilers, who were down 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers and have now forced a game seven. The 6-foot forward isn't going to be a consistent scorer but he is producing in the series so far. Brown has one goal and one assist in the six Stanley Cup Finals games. Both the goal and assist came on the Penalty Kill. Edmonton has one of the best Penalty Kills in the whole NHL and Brown is a big part of that. The Oilers are 18-for-19 on the PK during the Finals and have killed off 46 of their past 47 penalties. Edmonton has a playoff best 94.1 percent efficiency rating in 24 games (64-for-68). A successful penalty kill is something the Wild don't know much about. In fact, the penalty kill has ended the Wild's season in each of the last three years. The St. Louis Blues scored eight power-play goals in the first round of the 2022 Playoffs to eliminate the Wild that went 53-22-7 during the regular season. Minnesota allowed nine power-play goals to the Dallas Stars in the 2023 Playoffs and were eliminated in six games. Last year the Wild did not make the playoffs. The penalty kill was a big reason why. During the season the Wild had the third worst penalty kill in the whole NHL. For the Oilers, Brown's role has strictly become killing penalties and playing good defensively in the bottom six. The Wild need help on the penalty kill and at some point they may need to just bring in a penalty kill specialist. Brown would fit the bill. Evolving Hockey has Brown projected [https://evolving-hockey.com] to get a three-year deal worth $2,023,000 a season. I would think Brown could get a one-year deal at around one million. Brown won't provide much offensive upside to the Wild but he would provide some much needed help on the penalty kill and play fine defensively on the Wild's fourth or third line. Should the Wild sign Brown? Tell us what you think here. [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/minnesota-wild/posts/mlDKjHjXpo3sT6VltiaD] Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. WILD NEWS
