The Loss of Broberg and Holloway Gripe Thread

[Louis Cypher]

There was no reality where Broberg would've been happy in Edmonton, even at $1.8m. The damage was done well before.

This was Ken Holland's calling card. Overcooking prospects and waiting until they earn the role. You don't do that shit in the cap era. And you sure as hell shouldn't be doing it to your 1st rounders.

I disagree this is totally on Holland. Broberg was Hollands big pick in a deep draft. It was on the coaches that Holland hired who chose not to play him. Holland extending Kulak didn't help but it was the coaches final decision.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

I’m getting more and more curious as to what Brobergs issues were with the team/org. Like was it just lack of opportunity? Friction with teammates or coaches? Maybe he just didn’t want to live there? Maybe it was potential earnings, you see Nurse making a fortune along with McDrai, Bouchard should get paid, at what point could Broberg get a nice piece of that pie?

Honestly I’m a little suspicious of the core players and how well they treat new teammates, or how much say they have in the lineup/minutes played. There’s patterns of behavior that multiple coaches have exhibited that make me wonder.

 

[McDNicks17]

Of all the objections to the idea that we could have traded him, this one is not valid. Wherever Broberg's rights landed, he would have signed with his new team and play NHL games.

When Shea Weber signed his offer sheet with the Flyers, his agent went on radio shows and said that Shea wanted out of Nashville. But, Nashville matched because they knew there was no power there. If Weber sucked it up and played, of course Broberg would have. He absolutely would have played on the Oilers even, if offer sheets weren't an option for him

And that's the reason why it's valid. Broberg always had the offer sheet to fall back on.

He didn't have to suck it up and play anywhere. He could just go where he wanted and get a really nice pay raise.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I’m getting more and more curious as to what Brobergs issues were with the team/org. Like was it just lack of opportunity? Friction with teammates or coaches? Maybe he just didn’t want to live there? Maybe it was potential earnings, you see Nurse making a fortune along with McDrai, Bouchard should get paid, at what point could Broberg get a nice piece of that pie?

Honestly I’m a little suspicious of the core players and how well they treat new teammates, or how much say they have in the lineup/minutes played. There’s patterns of behavior that multiple coaches have exhibited that make me wonder.

There's no evidence that Broberg was a bad teammate. No evidence that he was poorly treated or disliked by his teammates or organization. No evidence he didn't want to play pro hockey in Edmonton. The Oilers sent their D coach to Sweden in off-season to prepare him for playing alongside Ekholm. Fate intervenes and Ekholm is hurt all camp and then the Oilers collapse to start the season in which Broberg started and then saw his ice time and starts wither on the vine as Woodcroft spun into season and job saving mode. Frustration set in and manifested with his agent making a public trade request.

Often the simplest answer is the right one. Another story of a disconnect between a player and team over opportunity and gaps in how each perceived the issue... though Holland acknowledged the organization's gaffes and his need to 'figure out' the Broberg situation (this last public comment coming after the Ekholm deal closed a solid third pair run by Bouchard and Broberg).

Ultimately Broberg controlled what he could control by taking the AHL demotion and stepped up with performance by reports and opinions of many as the or one of the best d-men in that league. Called up and sat as a playoff Black Ace until called on to play in final four NHL Stanley Cup competition.

Heavily scouted in the AHL by St. Louis and presumably other NHL teams with the work and successes achieved opened daylight to explore opportunity to play and a fresh start elsewhere. Pro careers are short. Unfortunately the Oilers misread the relationship and market despite the risk.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

There's no evidence that Broberg was a bad teammate. No evidence that he was poorly treated or disliked by his teammates or organization. No evidence he didn't want to play pro hockey in Edmonton. The Oilers sent their D coach to Sweden in off-season to prepare him for playing alongside Ekholm. Fate intervenes and Ekholm is hurt all camp and then the Oilers collapse to start the season in which Broberg started and then saw his ice time and starts wither on the vine as Woodcroft spun into season and job saving mode. Frustration set in and manifested with his agent making a public trade request.

Often the simplest answer is the right one. Another story of a disconnect between a player and team over opportunity and gaps in how each perceived the issue... though Holland acknowledged the organization's gaffes and his need to 'figure out' the Broberg situation (this last public comment coming after the Ekholm deal closed a solid third pair run by Bouchard and Broberg).

Ultimately Broberg controlled what he could control by taking the AHL demotion and stepped up with performance by reports and opinions of many as the or one of the best d-men in that league. Called up and sat as a playoff Black Ace until called on to play in final four NHL Stanley Cup competition.

Heavily scouted in the AHL by St. Louis and presumably other NHL teams with the work and successes achieved opened daylight to explore opportunity to play and a fresh start elsewhere. Pro careers are short. Unfortunately the Oilers misread the relationship and market despite the risk.

Very well put together summation of the whole situation.

I couldn’t remember when Broberg and Bouch were a pair either, thanks for the reminder. They were good together in that short stint, that could have been Brobergs opportunity but it was cut short.

Bah, so many “what ifs” with this org.

 

[Scrapin Ice]

The Broberg situation started before he was even drafted.
Nurse had Holland over a barrel and he cratered big time.
About a year ago some guy on here suggested and supported a trade 'Broberg for Kovacevic'.
Sure wish we had done that now. Kovacevic's been playing top 4 for NJD.
However both Luke and Brett have returned. This has pushed Nemec out of the lineup.
Maybe Kovacevic is available now.

 

[BlackDogg]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849874405289005057

I think that's piling on.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1850048251896136126

 

[Mr Positive]

And that's the reason why it's valid. Broberg always had the offer sheet to fall back on.

He didn't have to suck it up and play anywhere. He could just go where he wanted and get a really nice pay raise.

Again, if he were traded somewhere else that could match that offer sheet, and is comfortable overpaying if cap space isnt an issue, it's like there is no offer sheet threat. You are way overstating the power of the offer sheet. Whoever held the rights had all the power over him. We could have matched the offer sheet and he would have played for us. More established players have sucked it up and played

Your whole argument hinges on that he would sit out games if he went where he didn't pick to go. There's virtually no chance that would happen. He wanted NHL playing time more than anything.

 

[McDNicks17]

Again, if he were traded somewhere else that could match that offer sheet, and is comfortable overpaying if cap space isnt an issue, it's like there is no offer sheet threat. You are way overstating the power of the offer sheet. Whoever held the rights had all the power over him. We could have matched the offer sheet and he would have played for us. More established players have sucked it up and played

Your whole argument hinges on that he would sit out games if he went where he didn't pick to go. There's virtually no chance that would happen. He wanted NHL playing time more than anything.

That has nothing to do with my argument. He was never at risk at sitting out games because he essentially already had a contract with St. Louis way back in June.

If a team calls that they don't want, they just tell them they won't sign and why would a GM call that bluff? You're going to give up premium assets for a player without a contract who is already refusing to sign before you even trade for him? That's a quick way to get fired.

And like was posted above, only four other teams were looking to make the same offer sheet and they all had to clear cap space to do it, so it's not like teams with cap space were the ones looking to get him.