Connor Brown was dealing with a fractured toe during the finals, according to David Pagnotta.

When the Edmonton Oilers fought their way into the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals, the narrative centered around Connor McDavid’s brilliance, Leon Draisaitl’s playmaking, and Stuart Skinner’s emergence in net. But hidden behind the headlines was a story of quiet perseverance and grueling pain — one that only came to light in the aftermath of the Finals.

According to NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, veteran forward Connor Brown was playing through a fractured toe during the final series against the Florida Panthers — a painful, limiting injury that would have sidelined most athletes under normal circumstances.

“Connor Brown had been dealing with a fractured toe throughout the Finals, an injury that severely limited his mobility and affected his skating stride,” Pagnotta reported earlier this week. “But he chose to battle through it, never once using the injury as an excuse.”

This revelation adds a layer of context to Brown’s under-the-radar but invaluable contributions throughout Edmonton’s postseason campaign. It also paints a picture of the kind of resolve and toughness required to compete for hockey’s ultimate prize — even when the body is screaming for rest.

Connor Brown, 30, joined the Oilers last summer after a one-year stint with the Washington Capitals that was cut short by an ACL injury. Signed to a low-risk, incentive-laden deal by Edmonton GM Ken Holland, Brown entered the 2024-25 season as a depth piece with upside — a once 20-goal scorer known for his two-way play and high hockey IQ.

After a slow start to the season while working his way back to form, Brown’s game began to pick up late in the year. By the playoffs, he had carved out a regular role in the Oilers’ bottom six — killing penalties, grinding in the corners, and providing veteran leadership to a relatively young forward group.

However, Brown’s offensive numbers remained modest. In 22 playoff games, he recorded just 1 goal and 4 assists, drawing criticism from some quarters of Oil Country media. But now, with the fractured toe disclosure, that production — or lack thereof — comes with important context.

“We all noticed he wasn’t skating quite the same,” said an anonymous team source. “He’s usually explosive on puck retrievals, but in the Final he looked a step slower. Turns out, that was pain management, not performance.”

Brown never spoke publicly about the injury during the playoff run, staying focused on the team and deflecting questions about his personal game. That’s standard for most hockey players — a culture where playing hurt is a badge of honor, and excuses are often left unspoken.

While the exact date of the injury hasn’t been revealed, sources indicate that Brown may have suffered the toe fracture during Game 2 or 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, likely from a blocked shot or awkward collision along the boards.

From that point on, his ice time was managed carefully by head coach Kris Knoblauch. Brown averaged just 9:42 of ice time in the last four games of the series — a noticeable drop from the 12-13 minutes he was logging earlier in the playoffs. Despite that, his defensive zone starts remained high, suggesting the coaching staff still trusted him in tough matchups.

Skating with a fractured toe is more than just painful — it’s mechanically limiting. In hockey, the toe push-off is critical to acceleration, edgework, and stopping. An injury like Brown’s can significantly compromise a player’s explosiveness and stability on the ice.

“It’s not just about pain tolerance,” explained Dr. Steve Marchand, a sports physiotherapist familiar with NHL injuries. “A fractured toe affects every part of your stride. Players can tape it and play through it, but they lose lateral mobility and power, especially on the forefoot.”

Brown’s willingness to battle through that — while continuing to take the ice for penalty kills and defensive zone faceoffs — speaks volumes about his commitment.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are often described as a war of attrition. The longer a series goes, the more battered each team becomes. Edmonton’s postseason injury list grew longer as the weeks wore on.

In addition to Brown’s fractured toe, reports have emerged that:

• Darnell Nurse was playing with a torn hip labrum.
• Zach Hyman suffered from a shoulder sprain in Round 3.
• Evander Kane reportedly battled multiple ailments, including a sports hernia.
• Ryan McLeod dealt with a lingering groin issue.

These details — which surface only after the final buzzer sounds — are reminders of just how much physical punishment players absorb in pursuit of the Cup.

“It’s a badge of honor in the NHL,” said retired defenseman Kevin Bieksa on Sportsnet. “Guys don’t complain. They don’t want to come out of the lineup. It’s about the team and the dream — not your individual comfort.”

Connor Brown embodied that mindset. Though his offensive stats may have appeared pedestrian, his tenacity and grit were anything but.

After Game 7 — a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Florida on home ice — Oilers players gathered in the locker room with heavy hearts. The mood was somber, but stories began to emerge.

One veteran told reporters that Brown “was limping badly after games but kept suiting up,” while another called him “one of the toughest guys in the room.”

Head coach Kris Knoblauch also praised Brown’s professionalism:

“Connor gave us everything he had,” Knoblauch said. “He’s a pro’s pro. He never complained, never took a shift off, and continued to lead by example. That’s the kind of player every coach wants on his bench.”

Captain Connor McDavid echoed those sentiments:

“Brownie’s one of the toughest guys I’ve played with. People might look at stats and not see his value, but we do. He did all the little things, and he did them hurt. That’s heart.”

With his one-year deal now expired, Connor Brown becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Oilers have to decide whether to re-sign him — likely at a team-friendly cap number — or make room for younger, cheaper talent.

Despite the limited production, Brown’s postseason resilience may have strengthened his case for a return. The Oilers have several UFAs to manage, including Warren Foegele, Mattias Janmark, and Vincent Desharnais, so cap flexibility will be a factor.

Brown himself has expressed a desire to remain in Edmonton:

“This group is special. I’d love to be back,” he told reporters during locker cleanout. “There’s unfinished business here.”

That unfinished business — namely, the elusive Stanley Cup — still drives Edmonton’s core. And players like Connor Brown, who quietly sacrifice behind the scenes, are essential in building that championship DNA.

In a sport where high-skill talent often grabs the spotlight, stories like Connor Brown’s remind fans of the unseen battles taking place beneath the surface. The Stanley Cup Finals are as much about mental toughness and sacrifice as they are about goals and assists.

Brown’s fractured toe may not make the highlight reels, but it adds to the legend of the 2025 Oilers — a team that pushed through injury and adversity, only to fall inches short of hockey’s greatest prize.

For Brown personally, this postseason may become a defining chapter in his career. He didn’t lead in goals. He didn’t log top-line minutes. But he gave everything he had — even when it hurt to skate, to pivot, or even to stand.

“He’s the kind of guy you win with,” said one Oilers assistant coach. “That doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, but every player in that room saw it.”

Whether or not Connor Brown dons the Oilers sweater next season, his courage in the face of injury has secured his place in the hearts of fans — and in the lore of a hard-fought Stanley Cup run.

• David Pagnotta, The Fourth Period
• Sportsnet Postgame Panel
• Oilers Locker Room Interviews (June 18, 2025)
• NHL Injury Reports (Post-Finals Disclosure)