@OilersNation Knob played the depth guys in 23/24, back when they were good. 25/26 team trailed too often, that’s why top guys played so much. Frederic, Dickinson, Samanski etc aren’t of much use when you’re down 2-1. Key will be playing with leads again
What a blunder! Poor choice for an important position. This will be another problem contract. We finally get some cap space, and we blow it by signing a 4C to a 3C deal for 5 years. Just brutal!
@jpa1146 I actually think Holland did a pretty damn good job in the end. Brought in Ekholm, Hyman, Kane, Kulak, Brown, Henrique, Foegele, Perry. Some missteps for sure. But they were two goals from a Cup
I’m starting to feel that the Oilers’ Cup window actually may be closed.
It’s not just that they can’t keep the band together. The Pacific division is going to be a monster with San Jose and Anaheim upcoming.
There have been so many missteps and they’re aging out. Where do you find another Ekholm or Hyman once they’re too long in the tooth?
They haven’t replaced Kane, Perry or Kulak. Not as they are today, but as they were during the runs. And for all his flaws, you can’t just subtract Nurse outright and get better.
Broberg and Holloway could be filling in those gaps but of course that won’t happen.
The goaltending is worse today than it has ever been.
And of course McDavid looms large.
Unless Bowman can work some kind of magic and right the ship, this thing is listing quietly into the water
@frank_seravalli NHL must have known back then. Babcock was allowed to walk away from CBJ to prevent these details from coming out and save the league from a PR disaster
@Kgill39 Vegas has every right. Bowman’s an idiot for putting the organization in this position, and it’s blatantly obvious he’s not respected amongst his peers
@dstaples@Bookjie Why does it matter what the fans or commentators were saying? It’s the GM’s job. Nobody was clamouring for acquiring Ekholm and yet somehow Holland snagged him to our surprise and delight
@RajBauer Overpaid bc he was previously bridged, and the first D free agent singing that year was Seth Jones in Chicago for 8 x $9.5m. Guess who the brilliant GM was that gave that contract. Bowman! That ended up resetting the D market and Nurse got the same deal
The Jarry trade and the decision not to match Holloway alone are probably enough to merit a firing. And while I was/am highly critical of Holland's tenure, Bowman has yet to acquire a player of Ekholm or Hyman's level.