The calls and texts began well in advance of free agency.
Mattias Janmark, Adam Henrique and Connor Brown, all unrestricted free agents with a strong market value after emerging as an impact line in Edmonton’s playoff run, had decisions to make.
They could go their separate ways and cash in somewhere else or return to the Oilers as a trio.
“Throughout the summer we all kind of chatted about different reasons for wanting to come back and we all touched base during free agency,” said Henrique, adding it made a difference knowing the other two guys wanted to keep the band together.
“That helped. It was part of the reason for each of us wanting to come back. Having those guys come back made it that much easier. Everybody is happy and excited how things played out.”
When the free agent market opened, everything fell into place in a hurry. Legitimate concern that all three of them were going to walk and the Oilers would have to somehow replace a complete third line that had become so important in the playoffs was put to rest by mid afternoon.
“Brownie signed pretty early and then me and Rico had a little contact during the day,” said Janmark, who re-upped for three years. “I texted him to see if he had an offer. He had an offer. I had an offer. We were both contemplating other offers but at the end of the day we were both back. It’s each guy for himself, but (the other two coming back) did play a factor for sure.”
The three of them are back together, skating as a line in training camp and the familiar chirping between Janmark on one side and Brown on the other picked up right where it left off last season.
“I take an Advil every morning before I come in and get to listen to them in the left and right ear,” laughed Henrique. “They’re might have to give me ear plugs on the bench. They’re always going on about something. It’s a lot of fun.”
Head coach Kris Knoblauch admits breathing a big sigh of relief knowing he’s able to start the season with a veteran line that counted for five goals, four assists and plus 11 in the seven-game Stanley Cup Final.
“I thought we were going to get probably one of the three back,” said Knoblauch. “I thought we would be lucky if we got two of the three.
“The fact we were able to sign all three of them is very fortunate. All three of them are very focused and passionate about having success and being on a winning team, the possibility of winning a Stanley Cup.
“And they enjoy being in Edmonton. They could have gone to other teams, good teams that would have paid them more, but they chose Edmonton and we’re very fortunate they did. I like those three together and we’re going to start with them.”
Turning Brown, Henrique and Janmark into an effective third line was never the original plan — Brown started on Edmonton’s first line at the start of last season and Henrique auditioned in the top six when he came over at the trade deadline — it just kind of morphed into what it became.
“Brownie and I played together at the World Championships so we knew each other a little bit,” said Henrique. “That helped the two of us understand each other — and Janny’s game can fit in with a lot of guys. He plays a hard, simple game.”
When opportunity arose, when it mattered most for the Oilers, they were ready.
“At the time we needed somebody to go out against the (Aleksander) Barkov line and play simple, try to play responsible,” said Janmark. “We did that and the offensive side came by itself.”
Now, we all wait and see if they can be that same game-changing third line that can play tight defence, score clutch goals, lead by example and win you games when the pressure it at its highest.
As much as he loves the way this line came together, Janmark is the first to admit there is a difference between catching lightning in a bottle and riding a wave of momentum in a playoff series and being effective for an entire season.
“It’s going to be harder now to do it for an 82-game regular season, but there was something there,” he said. “I do think when you put us together we can be a good line. Now we have to get back to work. We’re going to have an opportunity, but it’s not going to be given to us.
“I’ve played long enough to know that these lines can be temporary and a lot of things can happen, but we’re going to get a chance to pick up where we left off and hopefully we can find that chemistry.”
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