Hmm, let’s review a few years.

2017:
Flames trade 2nd for Curtis Lazar
Montreal trades 4th for Dwight King, yes, Dwight King who had 8 goals and 7 assists at the time.
Montreal trades a 6th for Steve Ott. They were really going for it that year.
Florida adds Thomas Vanek for a 3rd. Holland was the seller on that one.
Sharks add Jannik Hansen for prospect Goldobin (nice asset) plus a 4th. Hansen had 6 goals and 7 assists at the time.
Ottawa adds Viktor Stalberg for a 4th. He had 9 goals and 3 assists at the time.
Ottawa adds washed up Alex Burrows for young prospect Dahlen. Seems like they really coveted some veteran bottom 6 depth to go on a run that took them 3 rounds.

You know what, I was going to recap 2018 and 2019 but don’t want to waste me time. Believe what you want...

- uofcguy

You're proving my point... who were the GM's and then get back to me. The only GM who could be considered respectable is Ron Wilson. And Vanek is not and wasn't ever a 4th liner...

Funny but really, if you need a bottom 4 player. Josh may be the guy. Maybe.

You're proving my point... who were the GM's and then get back to me. The only GM who could be considered respectable is Ron Wilson. And Vanek is not and wasn't ever a 4th liner...
- mnhockeyguy

Oh how convenient. All of the examples are ignored because according to you these GMs are incompetent. So the Flames GM is incompetent now? Wasn't he the guy who swooped into to acquire Dougie Hamilton, then later flipped him for Lindholm and Hanifin? Nice moves. He bailed on Kris Russell and got a 2nd for him before the Oilers fell in love with him. Flipped Baertschi for Rasmus Andersson. He's a very good GM. He paid a steep price for Lazar at the trade deadline and it backfired on him. That happens.

Is David Poile in Nashville a bad GM. Remember when he paid a 1st to rent Paul Gaustad. Not saying we have anything that could fetch a 1st, but when you are at the deadline with a contender trying to make a run, you overpay to address the holes in your lineup. Some teams need d-men. Some teams need a back-up goalie. Some need forwards. Was Stan Bowman incompetent for adding Vermette as a depth center? Were the Bruins fools for adding Peverley and Kelly who helped them win a Cup?

Also, since you are so skilled at deciding which GMs are good and which ones are idiots, you might want to figure out the difference between Ron Wilson and Doug Wilson.

Hahaha poor o'le Archie. I liked the kid. He can skate very well/fast and has good hustle. I would of preferred him over others that have been dressed on the Pens 4th line the past few years.

Oh how convenient. All of the examples are ignored because according to you these GMs are incompetent. So the Flames GM is incompetent now? Wasn't he the guy who swooped into to acquire Dougie Hamilton, then later flipped him for Lindholm and Hanifin? Nice moves. He bailed on Kris Russell and got a 2nd for him before the Oilers fell in love with him. Flipped Baertschi for Rasmus Andersson. He's a very good GM. He paid a steep price for Lazar at the trade deadline and it backfired on him. That happens.

Is David Poile in Nashville a bad GM. Remember when he paid a 1st to rent Paul Gaustad. Not saying we have anything that could fetch a 1st, but when you are at the deadline with a contender trying to make a run, you overpay to address the holes in your lineup. Some teams need d-men. Some teams need a back-up goalie. Some need forwards. Was Stan Bowman incompetent for adding Vermette as a depth center? Were the Bruins fools for adding Peverley and Kelly who helped them win a Cup?

Also, since you are so skilled at deciding which GMs are good and which ones are idiots, you might want to figure out the difference between Ron Wilson and Doug Wilson.
- uofcguy

Neither Vermette or Peverley were considered 4th liners. Yeah Poile seems to win every offseason but the team has never won a stanley cup under him, just like Wilson. And in Calgary there seems to be a fair amount of discontent with how the team is built right now. They haven't been out of the first round since the 2014/2015 season while missing the playoffs multiple times. And Lazar was a former 1st round pick that was projected to be a top 6 player and many teams felt he needed a change of scenery. They didn't trade for him expecting him to play 4th line minutes. They made that trade because they thought he had more to give.

Maybe its time to look into anti-depressants bud... These blog posts are outright sad.

Maybe its time to look into anti-depressants bud... These blog posts are outright sad.
- Eersel

mayor Don Iveson is considering just pumping prozac into the drinking water.

Might I suggest you Google the last 12 years of Oilers hockey?
- Wildschwein

Maybe its time to look into anti-depressants bud... These blog posts are outright sad.
- Eersel

Your location is city of failures ffs. Time to look 👀 in the mirror bud.

I don't know why people are so negative. Holland has acquired cheap depth and created some competition for bottom 6 roles. Now guys like Cave and Brodziak have to beat out Archibald and Jurco and Granlund. That's good. Whoever can't win a job can be buried.
As for Sekera, they obviously have confidence that one of Jones, Bear, Persson can win a job.
Lots of these guys can also be sold at the deadline.
- uofcguy

Because of 12 (frank)ing years of being told to be patient, and to wait for next year. Trust the process. When it comes to them the only process I trust is, you put food in your mouth, poop comes out your bottom. But they could (frank) that up too.

yeah what the heck is going on over there?

i love watching oilers games from afar when rexall place is rockin, and this makes me sad (i am already a sad buffalo fan, but...yikes).

i think your GM needs to make some major moves this offseason, and i dont see that happening. hopefully he can get it goin for you folks.
- OlympusVII

I thought all sabre fans where sad, or wearing a protective helmet, your choice.

Oh how convenient. All of the examples are ignored because according to you these GMs are incompetent. So the Flames GM is incompetent now? Wasn't he the guy who swooped into to acquire Dougie Hamilton, then later flipped him for Lindholm and Hanifin? Nice moves. He bailed on Kris Russell and got a 2nd for him before the Oilers fell in love with him. Flipped Baertschi for Rasmus Andersson. He's a very good GM. He paid a steep price for Lazar at the trade deadline and it backfired on him. That happens.

Is David Poile in Nashville a bad GM. Remember when he paid a 1st to rent Paul Gaustad. Not saying we have anything that could fetch a 1st, but when you are at the deadline with a contender trying to make a run, you overpay to address the holes in your lineup. Some teams need d-men. Some teams need a back-up goalie. Some need forwards. Was Stan Bowman incompetent for adding Vermette as a depth center? Were the Bruins fools for adding Peverley and Kelly who helped them win a Cup?

Also, since you are so skilled at deciding which GMs are good and which ones are idiots, you might want to figure out the difference between Ron Wilson and Doug Wilson.
- uofcguy

As a Senators fan, I can attest to the fact that Dorion has lost the majority of the trades he's made. I'd count Dzingel for 2 2nd's and Duclair as his only undisputed win. Several of the examples in your OP were Dorion trades, so I think it's fair to criticize somewhat.

Also, he paid a 3rd for a rental on Viktor Stalberg, not a 4th. I remember how mad I was when the Bruins picked up Drew Stafford for a 5th, 24 hours later. Don't even get me started on Burrows for Dahlen.

WHERES MY NUGGER LAUGHS????

WHERES MY NUGGER LAUGHS????
- smellmyfinger

Banging his own sister.

Contrary to the thoughts of most of the board, I don't actually hate the choice they've made. While a top-6 W is a desperate need, it's not like the bottom-6 isn't an equally huge need. As far as goal share impact, I'd even go as far as to argue that fixing the bottom-6 is a bigger priority (though I don't have the math on that).

In an offseason where we had what little room we did and a 2020 offseason where we probably have around 12mil in effective cap space (post-resignings), then maybe going all in on trying to find a bottom-6 combination that works now is a wise course of action. That way, next offseasons money can be focused on fixing the issue at the top of the roster. This also gives time for Benson, Yano and others an extra year of time to see how desperate we'll need to be.

Again, not ideal but maybe for the best.

You're proving my point... who were the GM's and then get back to me. The only GM who could be considered respectable is Ron Wilson. And Vanek is not and wasn't ever a 4th liner...
- mnhockeyguy

Didn’t Rutherford trade a 1st for Ryan Reaves?

Ronnie franchise to be named GM of the Seattle team.

Didn’t Rutherford trade a 1st for Ryan Reaves?
- RobShouts

And don't Pens fans want to run Rutherford out of the building?

Contrary to the thoughts of most of the board, I don't actually hate the choice they've made. While a top-6 W is a desperate need, it's not like the bottom-6 isn't an equally huge need. As far as goal share impact, I'd even go as far as to argue that fixing the bottom-6 is a bigger priority (though I don't have the math on that).

In an offseason where we had what little room we did and a 2020 offseason where we probably have around 12mil in effective cap space (post-resignings), then maybe going all in on trying to find a bottom-6 combination that works now is a wise course of action. That way, next offseasons money can be focused on fixing the issue at the top of the roster. This also gives time for Benson, Yano and others an extra year of time to see how desperate we'll need to be.

Again, not ideal but maybe for the best.
- MaximumBone

Considering our bottom 6 produced next to nothing last year,it needed to be addressed badly...So if Holland can somehow bring in a top 6,I think he will have accomplished all he possibly could have..

Your location is city of failures ffs. Time to look 👀 in the mirror bud.
- shack67

This coming from a newfie-maple leaf fan

Go get your top 6 forward in Pittsburgh. If you can convince Hörnqvist to waive his NTC... he would be a nice/different type of player for the Oilers.

Neither Vermette or Peverley were considered 4th liners. Yeah Poile seems to win every offseason but the team has never won a stanley cup under him, just like Wilson. And in Calgary there seems to be a fair amount of discontent with how the team is built right now. They haven't been out of the first round since the 2014/2015 season while missing the playoffs multiple times. And Lazar was a former 1st round pick that was projected to be a top 6 player and many teams felt he needed a change of scenery. They didn't trade for him expecting him to play 4th line minutes. They made that trade because they thought he had more to give.
- mnhockeyguy

Don't poke him... You've been warned.

I think it's a good thing he hasn't committed any money this year, aside from buying out Sekera which unless he really needs the cap space could have waited.

Why would a GM come to an organization and want to make sweeping changes to the roster without really knowing what they really have in the organization.......that reeks of job insecurity.

Considering where the Oilers have been for most of the past decade or two, I don't think there were many great offers out there to improve the club. They still have the best young individual talent in the NHL as well as some other top young talent.

You kinda have to play through this a bit, clear some space and become better so that you can attract a decent FA or two at a good price. Draft a couple of good young talents and you're serious contenders on the 2nd half of the McDavid and Draisaitl deals.

RNH leaving could hurt if he can't be re-signed, but he's not a sign at all costs guy. Good draft by the looks of it, that can't hurt.

I think it's a good thing he hasn't committed any money this year, aside from buying out Sekera which unless he really needs the cap space could have waited.

Why would a GM come to an organization and want to make sweeping changes to the roster without really knowing what they really have in the organization.......that reeks of job insecurity.

Considering where the Oilers have been for most of the past decade or two, I don't think there were many great offers out there to improve the club. They still have the best young individual talent in the NHL as well as some other top young talent.

You kinda have to play through this a bit, clear some space and become better so that you can attract a decent FA or two at a good price. Draft a couple of good young talents and you're serious contenders on the 2nd half of the McDavid and Draisaitl deals.

RNH leaving could hurt if he can't be re-signed, but he's not a sign at all costs guy. Good draft by the looks of it, that can't hurt.
- golfingsince

Yes the Sekera thing does suggest cap clearing but I also think that’s their way of saying they are confident in Caleb Jones this season.....Nuge can be resigned we will have the cap space but the concern is does he want to resign seeing as every single year he has played minus one season has been a failure