Oilers fans react to losing Holloway and Broberg: "Joke management"
After a week filled with speculation, the Edmonton Oilers chose not to match the offer sheets Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg signed with the St. Louis Blues.
It’s not an ideal situation for the Oilers, who, in return for the two brightest young talents in their organization, have received just a second and third-round pick as compensation. They did add a bit extra, however, as the Blues also dealt them a 2028 third-round pick and the rights to defenceman prospect Paul Fischer in exchange for future considerations.
With Holloway signing a two-year deal worth $2.29 million annually, and Broberg signing a two-year deal with a $4.58 million cap hit, the Oilers ultimately chose cap space over their two first-round draft picks.
Management did make a few moves to help try and soften the blow, as they acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks late last week. They also acquired defenceman Ty Emberson from the San Jose Sharks but moved out Cody Ceci in the same deal.
While the decision to move on from both Holloway and Broberg should benefit the Oilers from a cap perspective with Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard in need of extensions, questions remain as to why both weren’t locked up months prior. After learning that neither was matched this morning, many fans expressed their frustrations with management.
joke management . zero picks zero young good players
— TalentedmrRicke.eth (@TalentedmrRicke) August 20, 2024
Trash can Stan doing what he does best
— Thechek182 (@thechek182) August 20, 2024
D is pretty weak at this moment, no plans to add anything before the season starts?
— Ryan Lauder (@lauder16) August 20, 2024
This one hurt. Finally seeing progress on those 2 players and now they’re gone.
— Michael McHale (@mchale39) August 20, 2024
They prioritized a few old vets over getting something done with these two players and it cost them. A 2nd for Broberg is laughable really. Good on the Blues for recognizing and taking advantage. Also, the Nurse contract just keeps on giving doesn’t it!
— Shaun (@Shaun_Chi97) August 20, 2024
They better add a right shot D before the deadline. Who exactly is going to be the 4d for the majority of the season? Pretty
Big hole to leave open, could easily sink their ship.— Darren (@deeskeez015) August 20, 2024
They need to make it to the deadline with a D capable of keeping the ship afloat.
Nurse needs a stellar bounce back year and Kulak needs to maintain.
Then we need 2 D to step up, with at least 1 playing in the top 4. That’s no small ask.
— K-JAM (@KevinJamieson86) August 20, 2024
Bowman cannot wait til the deadline to add to this D core! As soon as they make the decision to LTIR Kane, Stan gotta start working the phones. Who the hell are they even gonna get to fill in if a couple D get injured? Can’t believe I’m saying this but I miss Desharnais
— Chris White (@oiler83) August 20, 2024
Bob, we’re not going into the season with a right side of Bouch, Emberton and Brown are we? 😬
— Jayson Gagnon (@hiprock74) August 20, 2024
It started as one of the best off seasons ever for the Oilers. But then….. Because Oilers
— Bobby F (@FBobby80) August 20, 2024
Thanks to a fantastic opening day of free agency that saw them sign Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, the Oilers forward group will be arguably the best of any team in the NHL this coming season. The blue line, on the other hand, has gotten significantly weaker and may require Bowman to seek out a move to help upgrade it between now and the trade deadline.
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