Of course its not fair because Holloway was a developing player just finding his NHL game still, which is completely acceptable at that young age and with limited stints up in the show.
What you need are good players. And in a salary cap world you also need cheap players. Management got pantsed thinking that offer sheets wouldn't hit two valuable young players coming off a deep playoff run.
If the Oilers knew Broberg wasn't going to sign then they should've traded him. Letting him go for a second is laughable management.
I just did. See edit, see Dallas citation. 3 prospect forwards in the lineup offering immense performance for a contender. This contending teams don't have time for prospects is flat out bs and you know it.
They wanted opportunity to play and when finally given rope within deep NHL playoff competition stepped up to help the team. The reward was watching management prioritize every one else including paying day 1 pricing for Josh Brown and Stetcher while waiting on their own negotiation. The league watched the Oilers spend big and fail to negotiate with young, NHL ready first round pedigree talent until the league reset their value and acted with a paralyzing buy low, minimal risk offer. Spending all their money and letting their young talent hang out there proved to have a devastating consequence. It was the exact type of play I would expect a super agent to club CEO to identify and actively manage a quite obvious vulnerability.
I don't have the time now, but it was an interview with Holloway on one of the Edmonton podcasts, I believe.
I'll let it go. Even at that its a lowball offer even assuming it. Thats not much and especially when the team is playing multiple vets that contribute jack squat or making injured Arvid a priority or Skinner. Any agent is going to be suggesting that this club isn't putting value on you at all and probably time to be considering any other offers. Its on the Oilers this occurred, not Holloway, In the end it is our opinions on the basis of the limited info we know and that is released.
Because he has no certainty he can get his draft pick back from Pittsburg. No idea if other teams might step up to offer sheet as well. He was known to deeply covet both players with reported deep trade deadline discussions going back two seasons. The Blues had NHL roster players of interest to Edmonton and a solid prospect pool through which to explore trade options. He sold the vision of fit, opportunity and alignment to the Blues young core. The Oilers management failed in their poor decisions to mitigate known high risk through any form of pro-active effort with two players that had just shown their mettle for team success that rolled to Game 7 Stanley Cup Final.
Uhhhh... JP plays for the Pens and has 8 points in 20 games this year.
"Hey thanks for helping us get to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Can't talk now, it's July 1 and I have to dash to sign Josh Brown and Troy Stetcher but I'll be in touch in late August. Talk then!"
He sure does. I'm sure Patrik Puistola will definitely amount to something someday in a league far, far away.
Seems like a pretty standard offer for an RFA coming off a 9 point season to me.
I read it last night on these boards (might be the PGT, can't find it at the moment) that it sounded like Jackson/Bowman were caught completely off guard by the offer sheets, like it never occurred to them that it could happen. They just assumed that both would sign and got fleeced hard. If one or both had no intention of signing then trade them.
They said that two happening at once is rare and that was surprising.
C'mon. Was only a 38 game season and player scored 6 goals. 5 more in playoffs. Prorates to 15Gs for an energy player with all kinds of upside and motor. The only question concerning Holloway was injuries. The injury he had this season was a fluke, could happen to anybody. On potential alione, and already demonstrated, Holloway was worth more, and clearly was.
Because that goal is first in their hearts.
These guys are paid millions of dollars to manage this team. Sorry, but being surprised isn't an excuse. Could've been the same team, could've been two separate teams. The fact remains that they dropped the ball and hard. and given how average this team is so far this season coupled with the successes of the outgoing players makes this that much worse.
Practically every cup winner during the salary cap era has had major contributions from young players on cheap or ELC contracts. Holland had an outdated way of thinking with his over ripen prospects approach. It worked great pre cap with Detroit and an owner that was willing to spend to win, not so much now with everyone on an equal money playing field.
"gee we're surprised that two guys that were unsigned that are our top prospects that we are entirely exposed to losing on offer sheets were both offered, guess what, offer sheets. Like dumb and dumber.
... and a hole at defense with their reactive contingency planning that will require a market based upgrade to ice a d-corp that can support a deep playoff run (and protect inconsistent goaltending).
Holloway is the type of complimentary player that you win Cups with.
I'm reminded of that scene in the Empire Strikes Back where the Imperial Captain comes out of hyperspace too close to Hoth and alerts the rebels to an incoming Imperial attack, allowing them the ability to get prepared for an assault.
And if that salary cap doesn't get used at all? Or used on a worse player? The pro scouting for this team is bloody awful.
