Biggest Disappointment This Season

[McDNicks17]

That's more so because they were stuck on their original number and never really dealt with the guy.

They gave him the number they could afford. Holloway himself said his side was fighting on term and that was the sticking point.

 

[joestevens29]

Buffalo will be big fish hunting this offseason and 5 RFAs(McLeod, Peterka, Byram,Bernard-Docker, Quinn) to sign. McLeod might end up walking if he's looking at 5M+

With that said, we can do them a favor and take Peterka off their hands

They are big fish hunting, but how many big fishes are still in Buffalo that have asked for a trade?

Doesn't sound like there are a lot of people happy in that dressing room.

Granted one would think if some of those big fish want out they should get a good return, but they also had known Cozens wanted out since last summer and decided at the last minute a lateral trade for an injury prone player was the way to go.

 

[Canovin]

They are big fish hunting, but how many big fishes are still in Buffalo that have asked for a trade?

Doesn't sound like there are a lot of people happy in that dressing room.

Granted one would think if some of those big fish want out they should get a good return, but they also had known Cozens wanted out since last summer and decided at the last minute a lateral trade for an injury prone player was the way to go.

Buffalo is a farm team for the league at this point but doesn't mean players won't go there for a big payday, get a NMC and eventually choose the destination they want to play in

 

[joestevens29]

They gave him the number they could afford. Holloway himself said his side was fighting on term and that was the sticking point.

Which is a mistake by the Oilers. An extra year isn't exactly a big deal.

Doesn't work you waive him, which he probably gets picked up being a 1st round pick with size and speed. Or you send him to minors and you are stuck with 700k or so on your cap.

 

[joestevens29]

Buffalo is a farm team for the league at this point but doesn't mean players won't go there for a big payday

Oh I don't deny that, but losing more homegrown talent and overpay guys to come in isn't a recipe to get out of this tailspin of 14 or 15 years without playoffs. Although Pegulas don't seem to care about hockey with their Bills looking so good

 

[brentashton]

Wanting to win the hart and wanting the cup don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

They just need to make sure that they don’t drop their chances of winning the cup pursuing the hart.

I think a good coaching strategy would be to commend the strong year he’s had and indicate how great it would be to follow it up with a conn smythe.

Sure. I hope he wins both, maybe the Conn Smythe too.

But to think they will drop the ball on the playoff chase in order for Leon to win the regular season Hart is foolhardy. It’s not an all or none situation nor do I believe that the org would have that approach.

 

[McDNicks17]

Which is a mistake by the Oilers. An extra year isn't exactly a big deal.

Doesn't work you waive him, which he probably gets picked up being a 1st round pick with size and speed. Or you send him to minors and you are stuck with 700k or so on your cap.

They were the ones offering the extra year. Holloway and his agent didn't want it. Which is weird since they ended up signing a two year offer sheet instead.

That's why I don't buy into the victim story his agent is trying to sell. They've let a few too many details slip out that don't jive with it.

 

[Canovin]

Sure. I hope he wins both, maybe the Conn Smythe too.

But to think they will drop the ball on the playoff chase in order for Leon to win the regular season Hart is foolhardy. It’s not an all or none situation nor do I believe that the org would have that approach.

At this point I hope Stuart wins the Conn Smythe and carry the Oilers to the cup

 

[joestevens29]

They were the ones offering the extra year. Holloway and his agent didn't want it. Which is weird since they ended up signing a two year offer sheet instead.

That's why I don't buy into the victim story his agent is trying to sell. They've let a few too many details slip out that don't jive with it.

Seems a bit odd that the Oilers would demand that extra year. Even if you were worried about his 25-26 number if he had a season like this. Probably better to have him than a 3rd

 

[Canovin]

They were the ones offering the extra year. Holloway and his agent didn't want it. Which is weird since they ended up signing a two year offer sheet instead.

That's why I don't buy into the victim story his agent is trying to sell. They've let a few too many details slip out that don't jive with it.

Management and the players don't want him back. Good on Stan for not matching and affecting the entire locker room as everyone took a discount to stay in Edmonton. His forechecking and speed will be replaced by Frederic. His garbage time goals is not needed.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I'd wait until Savoie produces at the NHL level consistently before declaring anything on him.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Sure. I hope he wins both, maybe the Conn Smythe too.

But to think they will drop the ball on the playoff chase in order for Leon to win the regular season Hart is foolhardy. It’s not an all or none situation nor do I believe that the org would have that approach.

Well, unfortunately the org has done it before, and With Draisaitl. The year he was hobbled in playoffs that was a reinjury of an injury he sustained in March of regular season. But the team was fervent at the time to chase for first place, and of course Leon wanted to play (the guy would play on crutches, he'd have two sticks) The team had him out there for all but one rest game and then hit the playoffs. He was great in that playoffs but playing hurt and through injury the whole time. The team ought to have parked him a few weeks down the stretch.

But that was under Woodcrap. Looks like this time there might be more sensible response.

 

[brentashton]

Well, unfortunately the org has done it before, and With Draisaitl. The year he was hobbled in playoffs that was a reinjury of an injury he sustained in March of regular season. But the team was fervent at the time to chase for first place, and of course Leon wanted to play (the guy would play on crutches, he'd have two sticks) The team had him out there for all but one rest game and then hit the playoffs. He was great in that playoffs but playing hurt and through injury the whole time. The team ought to have parked him a few weeks down the stretch.

But that was under Woodcrap. Looks like this time there might be more sensible response.

I don’t remember that detail, but I know you are a learned Draisaitl follower, so I easily accept your information. I do hope the progression of organizational success since then has them in a much different frame of mind on this

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Yeah. Although I'm curious to see how next season goes for him. Lots of young guys get a big boost their first year on a team and fall off.

It's kind of funny how the story has changed on the offer sheets. At first it was losing Broberg that was the monumental mistake, but as predicted, the PDO bender dropped off and now he has 9 points in his last 41 games. Looks like the Oilers dodged a bullet on that one at least.

You're looking at the wrong measures if you think Broberg's play and contribution is predicated on scoring. This is about building a strong top four two-way defenseman who's just entering peak years. The player's ice time has increased as they push with meaningful stretch games with a potential playoff spot in play: 20:45 toi in March up from 20:19 toi in February. Capably managing 18:23 EV ice and 1:20 PK ice with utility to add some secondary PP ice .32 seconds. Acquiring Cam Fowler has shifted the offensive role to this well established veteran. A strong gap defender with size and reach, elite skating and all situational play still only evolving into peak years.

The Oilers dithering on their home grown NHL establishing young pedigree players is an unmitigated disaster. Holloway's offensive driver results just drive it home in a most obvious way. Badly misreading their relationships with both players and failing act pro-actively with them has been very costly when the market held a smarter evaluation on their potential and exploited inexperienced Oiler management to steal now blossoming big minute core players for pennies on the development dollar.

Precedent setting historic mistake. Oil young NHL castoffs are succeeding across three NHL organizations.

 

[K1984]

That's a factor that doesn't really get talked about enough. He's arbitration eligible.

There's been a bunch of guys like McLeod that don't even get qualified because their teams are terrified of the arbitration award.

The Sabres might suck enough to just not worry about it, but there's a really good chance he's getting paid or walking.

This is 70% of the reason he was moved IMO.

If he sneaks his goal total up closer or at 20, and his points around 50, the Sabres could be staring down the barrel of a $5M AAV.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Hilarious timing. Blues push into wild card with Broberg and Holloway leading a critical head-to-head match up against the Canucks. Broberg OT GWG on team high 24:57 toi game and Holloway 1+1 and 7 hit game. "St. Louis has hit its stride since returning from the Four Nations Face-Off, having won 10 of its last 13 games (10-2-1). The Blues have won four in a row for the second time in the last month after not winning more than three straight over their first 57 games."

Oilers push the Blues from walking the ledge of a rebuild into a reload team with their bad asset management.

Blues 4-3 Canucks (Mar 20, 2025) Game Recap - ESPN

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[harpoon]

Imagine being this giddy about the St Louis Blues. It’s beyond sad.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Imagine being this giddy about the St Louis Blues. It’s beyond sad.

Keep up. It's an indictment of Oiler management and the Summer of Jeff. Per the poll results he's a runaway winner. There's no need to try to glaze terrible asset management. Just funny and sad when those efforts happen that the bad decisions come up big for their new teams (whether St. Louis, Buffalo, or LA). Tonight it happened to role back to the Blues.

Keep on glazing though lmao.

 

[harpoon]

Keep up. It's an indictment of Oiler management and the Summer of Jeff. Per the poll results he's a runaway winner. There's no need to try to glaze terrible asset management. Just funny and sad when those efforts happen that the bad decisions come up big for their new teams (whether St. Louis, Buffalo, or LA). Tonight it happened to role back to the Blues.

Keep on glazing though lmao.

Did I mention management? I only commented about your pathetic fawning (repetitive) posts over the two little turncoats. And here’s a free tip old man, when you hear a new word like ‘glazing’, and you think it sounds neato, you should check and see what it really means before you try to use it in public.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Did I mention management? I only commented about your pathetic fawning (repetitive) posts over the two little turncoats. And here’s a free tip old man, when you hear a new word like ‘glazing’, and you think it sounds neato, you should check and see what it really means before you try to use it in public.

Haha. Truth is tough. Have the nuts to engage me directly instead of passive aggressive sideswipe. Terrible asset management. Lots of trying by a few to denigrate the player's character and abilities for choosing to leave for opportunity when this team's management literally sat on their assets until another team acted and reset their value. Use whatever hipster term you want for it. Oilers management walked themselves into a historic precedent of bad asset management. Even Jeff Jackson took the L on it.

 

[harpoon]

Have the nuts to engage me directly instead of passive aggressive sideswipe

You’re not worth engaging directly. This will be the last time it happens. Keep ‘glazing’ that 8x12 of your boy Dylan. Just keep it private eh.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

You’re not worth engaging directly. This will be the last time it happens. Keep ‘glazing’ that 8x12 of your boy Dylan. Just keep it private eh.

Keep up your passive aggressive side swipes. Funny to watch the lack of insight you offer in most cases. Biggest Disappointment this Season by popular demand is The Summer of Jeff. Feel free to believe differently.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Keep up your passive aggressive side swipes. Funny to watch the lack of insight you offer in most cases. Biggest Disappointment this Season by popular demand is The Summer of Jeff. Feel free to believe differently.

You're the one whos ignored all year when people argue why the Oilers didnt leave the space you think they should of and why it happened.

And then you get these hipster terms mixed up and it makes you look foolish.

Apparently the Oilers should plan for something thats never happened before.

 

[MessierThanThou]

Wish we could separate the Skinners.

It's clear that Jeff Skinner has been a top-six talent again since at least January. Knob was clearly holding him back.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

You're the one whos ignored all year when people argue why the Oilers didnt leave the space you think they should of and why it happened.

And then you get these hipster terms mixed up and it makes you look foolish.

Apparently the Oilers should plan for something thats never happened before.

The Oilers had from trade deadline to July 1 to pro-active engage in their RFA's who stepped up in a deep Cup run. Then they had another month and a half in a competitive market to negotiate or do anything with these two players. They made a bad decision to do nothing. Even after having extensive trade discussions just months before on these two players reinforced external interest in them. Not coincidently with the team and GM who bought low on both of them because the Oilers spent their money on July 1.

Do nothing and hope was certainly a strategy. Unfortunately Jeff and company missed all the signals of a growth cap market and external interest in two vulnerable free agents, notably one guy that was public with a trade request for like half the season. Spend all your money and leave an opening for something that's never happened before but then does. Deal with these players pro-actively coming through a Cup run and assess their interest in re-signing with progressive negotiation and you've got a chance. Do nothing until mid August and, well, I guess there was a chance after all. We see once again that Oiler management is bad at decision making. Top 6 forward and a top 4/maybe ultimately top pair d man given away for 2nd and 3rd round draft picks.

Funny the lengths that some go to defend poor management. Then complain endlessly about the goaltending. That too is a management choice before the money got spent this summer.