The Ottawa Senators have signed the newly acquired Josh Brown to a two-year contract, inking the defenseman to a deal that extends through the 2021-22 season. Brown will earn $1MM in 2020-21 and $1.4MM in 2021-22, meaning the contract carries an average annual value of $1.2MM. Brown was recently traded from the Florida Panthers and was scheduled for restricted free agency.
Brown, 26, is expected to basically be a replacement in Ottawa for the outgoing Mark Borowiecki, bringing the same physicality to a group of defensemen that already has plenty of skill. The former Panther has scored just ten points in 96 career games, but stands 6’5″ and is a strong shot-blocker. Ottawa already has players like Thomas Chabot and Erik Brannstrom to carry the offensive burden on defense, though Brown could very well be asked to play more than the 13 minutes he usually received in Florida.
He also will serve as a leader under head coach D.J. Smith, who was with Brown at the junior level when they won the Memorial Cup with the Oshawa Generals. Brown was the captain of that team, tasked with shutting down Connor McDavid in the OHL Championship. Though he may not get those kind of assignments in this case, there’s little doubt that the Senators feel he can play a regular role on the team.
Ottawa Panthers