The Loss of Broberg and Holloway Gripe Thread

[McDNicks17]

Yup, was really pissed that the goalie that I've been defending so ardently put on another good performance. Man that just boils my blood.

What I don't get is why are people upset about people griping in a thread that's specifically about griping? You wanted us to use specific threads to voice grievances and now apparently even that isn't allowed.

Sorry for questioning Oilers management. They're perfect and have never made an error ever.

It's a discussion forum. What do you expect?

Did you think this is a thread where you're supposed to just complain and never respond to each other?

 

[bobbythebrain]

3 points and OT winner. Pretty, pretty, pretty good

 

[McShogun99]

I understand not matching Broberg but not matching Holloway was always a headscratcher. He looks like a finisher in STL.

I think management didn't match Holloway to stick it to him for signing an offer sheet. They gave up a potential top six winger with character for a 3rd and to save around a million on the cap.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

hahahaha your need to bitch and moan about this team is just insane. Yes, this is a gripe thread. Convenient that it sees an uptick in volume from you whenever the Oilers win. Oil win a big game...Skinner plays well....can't...be...happy...MUST...bitch...about....management

I praised the team on winning a key game and keeping pace with the other teams that also gained points.

I also saw Holloway score a nice goal to win the game last night. Two things can be true at once.

 

[Canovin]

For some reason the title of the thread has eluded people, but I'll put that aside.

Poor asset management has plagued this team for a very long time and this is the epitome of it. I can certainly understand the hesitance to match Broberg's offer sheet. That was too much for a player that's still very raw. Holloway's though... Even if he didn't pan out, $2.29m for a couple of years is extremely reasonable. He's doing very well in St. Louis, showing them what he showed us last year. Call it PDO or whatever floats your boat but he's still succeeding in St. Louis. That's the point. McDavid and Draisatl can't drive the offense every single night. Holloway could certainly help in that regard.

The two kids held out since last winter. Obviously waited for an offersheet. And that's what happened. The Oilers lost what could have been cost controlled young players but they chose $$.

The Oilers are playing their best hockey right now and that's without Kane and Arvid and RNH and Skinner are still feeling it out.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I think management didn't match Holloway to stick it to him for signing an offer sheet. They gave up a potential top six winger with character for a 3rd and to save around a million on the cap.

If that's true that's really stupid.

It's a discussion forum. What do you expect?

Did you think this is a thread where you're supposed to just complain and never respond to each other?

It's a thread about griping that management lost two young players for basically nothing. I'm curious to hear your opinion on how the Oilers managed this situation well.

The two kids held out since last winter. Obviously waited for an offersheet. And that's what happened. The Oilers lost what could have been cost controlled young players but they chose $$.

The Oilers are playing their best hockey right now and that's without Kane and Arvid and RNH and Skinner are still feeling it out.

So match Holloway's offer sheet. Doesn't seem all that complicated.

 

[Canovin]

If that's true that's really stupid.


It's a thread about griping that management lost two young players for basically nothing. I'm curious to hear your opinion on how the Oilers managed this situation well.


So match Holloway's offer sheet. Doesn't seem all that complicated.

The kid signed an offersheet. I'm sure the guys in the lockerroom would prefer to not have those type of guys in the lockerroom.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

The kid signed an offersheet. I'm sure the guys in the lockerroom would prefer to not have those type of guys in the lockerroom.

Humans will always do what's in their best interest. Anyone who says they wouldn't have taken a big pay raise and a chance for more playing time is lying.

 

[McDNicks17]

It's a thread about griping that management lost two young players for basically nothing. I'm curious to hear your opinion on how the Oilers managed this situation well.

That's two different things though.

Having an issue with not signing Holloway is really an issue with the Oilers signing Jeff Skinner because, like I said earlier, it was pretty much impossible to do the former while the latter happened.

I was a fairly vocal Skinner detractor pre-signing, but it is what it is now. Might as well try to be optimistic and cheer for an Oiler.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

That's two different things though.

Having an issue with not signing Holloway is really an issue with the Oilers signing Jeff Skinner because, like I said earlier, it was pretty much impossible to do the former while the latter happened.

I was a fairly vocal Skinner detractor pre-signing, but it is what it is now. Might as well try to be optimistic and cheer for an Oiler.

I'm not cheering against Jeff Skinner. I hope he pans out but the early returns are disappointing. The Oilers had ample time and opportunity to get Holloway signed one way or the other. If they needed to shuffle cap space out (and they did when they traded Ceci) then do so. Everything surrounding this situation doesn't paint a pretty picture for Oilers management. Teams find ways to make things fit all the time, and that's what GMs are paid millions of dollars to do.

This situation wouldn't even be so annoying if the players we signed scored more and if we weren't one of the worst drafting teams in the league. The prospect pool is not great to put it nicely.

 

[bobbythebrain]

The two kids held out since last winter. Obviously waited for an offersheet. And that's what happened. The Oilers lost what could have been cost controlled young players but they chose $$.

The Oilers are playing their best hockey right now and that's without Kane and Arvid and RNH and Skinner are still feeling it out.

They didn't choose $, they mishandled it. Jackson clearly thought the top 6 needed an upgrade and didn't view Holloway as that guy.
He blew the $ on 2 players who aren't doing jackshit right now

 

[Canovin]

They didn't choose $, they mishandled it. Jackson clearly thought the top 6 needed an upgrade and didn't view Holloway as that guy.
He blew the $ on 2 players who aren't doing jackshit right now

Jeff has been fine on the bottom 6. And Arvid is helping the Oilers accrue cap space. The Oilers are putting on a clinic. What more do you want?

 

[McDNicks17]

I'm not cheering against Jeff Skinner. I hope he pans out but the early returns are disappointing. The Oilers had ample time and opportunity to get Holloway signed one way or the other. If they needed to shuffle cap space out (and they did when they traded Ceci) then do so. Everything surrounding this situation doesn't paint a pretty picture for Oilers management. Teams find ways to make things fit all the time, and that's what GMs are paid millions of dollars to do.

This situation wouldn't even be so annoying if the players we signed scored more and if we weren't one of the worst drafting teams in the league. The prospect pool is not great to put it nicely.

The Oilers didn't really have many options to move out money though.

We'd be talking guys like Kulak, Janmark and Perry as the only realistic options and you'd be losing a guy filling in amazingly in the top4 or two guys that have played really well and who wouldn't clear enough cap to accrue cap space for a top4 D move at the deadline, so either way you're basically losing a top4 D to fit Holloway.

Not signing Skinner is pretty much the only way to fit Holloway at the offer sheet $$. They could have snuck him in at $1.3-1.5M which apparently they were offering, but Holloway chose St. Louis. C'est la vie.

 

[Shanahanigans]

Always felt like this management underrated Holloway's offensive game. In 2021, he was 3rd in NCAA Big 10 scoring as a 19 year old, #1 was Caufield who was widely considered a blue chip prospect (and is a year ahead). He put up respectable numbers in the AHL as a rookie, and was essentially a PPG player in the AHL in his last 2 years despite being jerked back and forth, and never playing with a true #1 centre down there. When he was drafted, his scouting report was that he had untapped offensive potential. Well, the Oilers developed that potential for another team.

I can't overstate the stupidity of drafting this player in the 1st round, developing him from 18-22, him having a great playoffs as a rookie, and the Oilers letting him go because they wanted to sign 32 year old Skinner who'd just been bought out. And now, Holloway is on pace for 30 goals as a 23 year old. Brutal asset management, but this organization deserves it.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

The Oilers didn't really have many options to move out money though.

We'd be talking guys like Kulak, Janmark and Perry as the only realistic options and you'd be losing a guy filling in amazingly in the top4 or two guys that have played really well and who wouldn't clear enough cap to accrue cap space for a top4 D move at the deadline, so either way you're basically losing a top4 D to fit Holloway.

Not signing Skinner is pretty much the only way to fit Holloway at the offer sheet $$. They could have snuck him in at $1.3-1.5M which apparently they were offering, but Holloway chose St. Louis. C'est la vie.

I know that Perry has done reasonably well but I still would've been hesitant to sign him given his age. Henrique has been okay but not really approaching the value we signed him for. Arvdisson and Skinner have shown why their former teams moved on from them. Move out Derek Ryan. That Josh Brown was even on their radar is extremely puzzling.

There was a lot of time to figure out a solution. Even if you go over the cap there's still time to move things around before the season starts. I'm just not buying this excuse of "it's hard". Well, yeah, of course it is. That's why you're paid millions of dollars to figure it out.

 

[bobbythebrain]

Jeff has been fine on the bottom 6. And Arvid is helping the Oilers accrue cap space. The Oilers are putting on a clinic. What more do you want?

A cost controlled, young top 6 winger for Drai instead of the carousel they keep schlepping out there

And I highly doubt Jackson got Skinner or Arvi to play bottom 6 and acrue cap. That was never the plan

You're polishing a turd here

 

[Canovin]

A cost controlled, young top 6 winger for Drai instead of the carousel they keep schlepping out there

And I highly doubt Jackson got Skinner or Arvi to play bottom 6 and acrue cap. That was never the plan

You're polishing a turd here

Holloway would be part of the carousel like he was when he was here.

Skinner and Arvid were brought to do more for sure. But the Oilers are making the most of a bad situation. In fact their bad situation is still really good as I pointed out

Will people stop complaining when a healthy Kane and Arvid get added to an already potent Oilers team?

 

[MessierII]

Holloway would be part of the carousel like he was when he was here.

Skinner and Arvid were brought to do more for sure. But the Oilers are making the most of a bad situation. In fact their bad situation is still really good.

Will people stop complaining when a healthy Kane and Arvid get added to an already potent Oilers team?

It will hurt more in the next couple years than it does this year. We are loaded this year regardless. Especially if we can add something at the deadline.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Holloway would be part of the carousel like he was when he was here.

Skinner and Arvid were brought to do more for sure. But the Oilers are making the most of a bad situation. In fact their bad situation is still really good as I pointed out

Will people stop complaining when a healthy Kane and Arvid get added to an already potent Oilers team?

I mean it's not like Arvid was all that effective even when healthy. Relying on guys who have been out injured for significant periods of time to jump in and immediately contribute seems like a gamble.

 

[KCC]

Remember how much flak I was getting in real time in July for suggesting that the Arvid and Skinner deals were awful in context and did nothing to help the club? Then again when people were telling me to shut up because we've lost nothing in Holloway. jebus.

"he's just a nothing player" many here said. but as per usual that was just the copium. We lost him so people decided he was awful.

WE could have this same impact player here.

Edm was adding pieces which is fine. It’s just that edm decided not to match when holloway’s deal was more than anffordable and they could have done it. Broberg on the other hand wasn’t.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Edm was adding pieces which is fine. It’s just that edm decided not to match when holloway’s deal was more than anffordable and they could have done it. Broberg on the other hand wasn’t.

Adding pieces you need is fine. Adding players that aren't going to improve the contending club status doesn't make as much sense. You gotta find some diamonds in the rough sometimes. I prefer the plays of getting a player like Kapanen on the cheap vs going again for an injured player in Arvid (a repeat of the Connor Brown mistake) except this time paying him 4M X2. The current Arvid wasnt worth that. Skinner, well he's always going to be Skinner. A contending team shouldn't land on a player that has an incomplete game. Especially a contending team that work hard to limit GA.

 

[Soundwave]

Team is guilty (and this includes the coaches even Knoblaugh) of not trying different combinations long enough.

Why is RNH stapled to McDavid still while like there's 3-4 guys that could desperately use a spell on his line to get their confidence going?

PP time should also not be locked in to only 5 players. We never used to do that even as of a couple of years ago guys like Evander Kane got looks on PP unit 1, now it's like no one does.

I think it creates a bad vibe on the team too where other players feel like there's the "cool kids club" of a the select few that get to play with McDavid and then there's everyone else left to fend on their own.

 

[Drivesaitl]

There's certain posters here who still can't look past the fact that Podkolzin is no Holloway and matching 2 mill was a tough order.... It's mind boggling.

Its Soundwave. I didn't see anybody else saying Pods is better than Holloway. For those wondering its harder for me as McLeod and Holloway were my two favorite younger players here. I was a huge fan and backer of these players. Loved them. Sometimes its a gut punch and theres been a lot of players through the years that I've liked and have been moved out. Harder time too adapting to change. Or change for the sake of it. Getting Skinner and Arvid was for the sake of it. Holloway was a natural fit in topsis and it was crystal clear. The Oilers just had to give him those minutes and keep him there, and yes I was saying that last season. The Oilers already had enough topsix players.

The use of placeholding vets over giving prospects minutes has been one of the faults of this org not just recently.

Holloway is a stud, and we had him and lost him. The one that got away. Holloway will be worth a lot more in next contract. Oilers could have had him at 1.8M as per some sources. How do you not retain a guy that is showing every look of being a potential power forward and scoring winger. One could say exactly another quantity we needed. The speed score package Holloway brings also key. Another missile for opponent coverage to lose sleep over.

It isn't even rocket science. Look at the Rush goals Holloway typically likes to score and then look at how Drai is the best in the world at setting up such rush plays. jebus. Soon as Holloway found his game he was going to be a contain threat to opponents. Speed and hands. Good combo.

 

[bobbythebrain]

Holloway would be part of the carousel like he was when he was here.

Skinner and Arvid were brought to do more for sure. But the Oilers are making the most of a bad situation. In fact their bad situation is still really good as I pointed out

Will people stop complaining when a healthy Kane and Arvid get added to an already potent Oilers team?

He would be part of development cuz he wouldn't have been a rental like the others.

Give the Blues credit. They saw a player ready to take the next step.
Jackson clearly didn't. He f'ed up.

 

[McShogun99]

Plot twist.

It's the summer of 2026 and the Oilers send dual offer sheets to STL for Broberg and Holloway.