Holland never signs significant talent during the off-season. His work is always bottom six and bottom four dmen. It’s those extensions for those same players that haunt our nightmares.

Now, he did sign Nielsen but that was him doing everything possible to offset the loss of the mot underrated player in history.

Holland is adversely to making huge splashes in FA or by trade. I think Hosea was the last legitimate threat he signed on offense, and Rafalski is the last defensive star we signed. Both of them over 10+ years ago. That includes trades. Everyone else has been bottom six/bottom four players or former super stars (Richards, Bertuzzi, Stuart, Alfredsson, Vanek)
- RafiDRW

This next offseason will answer a lot of questions as far as this team goes.....I wonder what he will do with that extra cap space once Nurse gets resigned

This coming from a newfie-maple leaf fan
- oilpatch

Did you not read his location? I don’t get what you’re laughing at.

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
- RatedR80

Right, so if you have to severely overpay him then simply move on. I think he's a good player, but he's going to be pushing 30. A 3/4 year deal would be ideal.

Any team having McDavid in the lineup has a chance to make the playoffs but man making that the goal is asinine.

That Lucic deal though.......

That's worse than Eriksson's.

Y not put Draisaitl with RNH?

Y not put Draisaitl with RNH?
- nyrangers9479

Their numbers together aren't that good and McDrai's numbers together are among the best in the league. You don't break up a duo that has proven to possess enough offensive payload to almost carry a whole top-6 in hopes of "spreading the wealth". Instead, you try to add to the 2nd line and shape them into a comparable threat.

Their numbers together aren't that good and McDrai's numbers together are among the best in the league. You don't break up a duo that has proven to possess enough offensive payload to almost carry a whole top-6 in hopes of "spreading the wealth". Instead, you try to add to the 2nd line and shape them into a comparable threat.
- MaximumBone

I would just think anyone McD plays with would be good. Draisaitl/RNH could be a great 2nd line.

I would just think anyone McD plays with would be good. Draisaitl/RNH could be a great 2nd line.
- nyrangers9479

Sure everyone is much better with McDavid, but no player is able to turn ANYONE they play with into an effective 1st line. And further, sure they COULD be a great 2nd line but they haven't shown that to be the case in their limited opportunity. I don't risk the proven production of the dynamic duo in the hope that the two lines can replicate what the one already does.

I just don't think they play games that compliment eachother, either. They're each at their best when playing with someone who let's them fly under the radar.

Is it safe to come in here to discuss a possible RNH for Risto trade (other pieces moving with it)

I’ve read two articles since yesterday both mentioning that trade.

Is it safe to come in here to discuss a possible RNH for Risto trade (other pieces moving with it)

I’ve read two articles since yesterday both mentioning that trade.
- ImThatGuy

I think that it’d be a bad idea for the Oilers. Not that Risto is the worst, cause he’s bad, but because it guts the Oilers secondary scoring dramatically. There goes their second line center and it would force them to break up the Dynamic Duo, putting Draisaitl back as second line center. This further breaks down their scoring and makes their weak top six winger category significantly worse.

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

I think the depth players Holland signed are an upgrade on the AHL level players we played last year. We didnt spend big money or make any dumb trades. That has to be a win.

Holy horse muffins boys calm down. Rome was not built in a day. It took 4 years for chia to create this mess, Holland cannot fix it over night.

He was never getting a top 6 winger unless he could find a way to move Lucic. scoring wingers just moved up to between 6 and 8 mill a year this off season.

Holy horse muffins boys calm down. Rome was not built in a day. It took 4 years for chia to create this mess, Holland cannot fix it over night.

He was never getting a top 6 winger unless he could find a way to move Lucic. scoring wingers just moved up to between 6 and 8 mill a year this off season.
- oiler993111

Holland is really good at internal improvements. Not external. He’s mediocre through trade or UFA for impact players. Don’t expect much.

I think that it’d be a bad idea for the Oilers. Not that Risto is the worst, cause he’s bad, but because it guts the Oilers secondary scoring dramatically. There goes their second line center and it would force them to break up the Dynamic Duo, putting Draisaitl back as second line center. This further breaks down their scoring and makes their weak top six winger category significantly worse.
- RafiDRW

What if Buffalo added pieces

Connor Sheary and Zemgus Girgensons for example. Possibly Buffalo retain salary on Sheary.

Send back a guy like Kassian.

(Just trying to have a conversation in the dog days of summer)

Holland is really good at internal improvements. Not external. He’s mediocre through trade or UFA for impact players. Don’t expect much.
- RafiDRW

I think the Stanley cups won in Detroit and the fact that the wings were the last NHL team to miss the playoffs in the cap era say different.

Holy horse muffins boys calm down. Rome was not built in a day. It took 4 years for chia to create this mess, Holland cannot fix it over night.

He was never getting a top 6 winger unless he could find a way to move Lucic. scoring wingers just moved up to between 6 and 8 mill a year this off season.
- oiler993111

Ferland and Dzingel are both top 6 wingers on this team, and both signed on reasonable term deals under 4 mil. I don't have any hopes that Holland improves this team this year, but I am willing to give Tippet a chance to create some structure in the group that we do have.

What if Buffalo added pieces

Connor Sheary and Zemgus Girgensons for example. Possibly Buffalo retain salary on Sheary.

Send back a guy like Kassian.

(Just trying to have a conversation in the dog days of summer)
- ImThatGuy

Hard no for me. No more gutting the offense that we do have. And our D pipeline is looking much better than our F one too.

I think the Stanley cups won in Detroit and the fact that the wings were the last NHL team to miss the playoffs in the cap era say different.
- oiler993111

We were a teetering mess from 2012 until Datsyuk left. Lidstrom and the Eurotwins held up this team from 2010-12. All internal things. Hakan Andersen kept this team competitive. Holland did a lot of great work, but he inherited a team in 97-98 and used a poop ton of money to basically put together the best team ever assembled in 2002. Cap era was remnants of a great era with two of the best two way players in the last twenty years and a lot of depth for the win in 2008 and should’ve won in 2009. Since then Holland has created a vets only, has been loved team until the last two years.

What if Buffalo added pieces

Connor Sheary and Zemgus Girgensons for example. Possibly Buffalo retain salary on Sheary.

Send back a guy like Kassian.

(Just trying to have a conversation in the dog days of summer)
- ImThatGuy

I honestly don’t know enough about Girgs to say much about where he’d spot here. Sheary would be a middle six winger possibly, don’t know how he would gel with the top line.

Holland is really good at internal improvements. Not external. He’s mediocre through trade or UFA for impact players. Don’t expect much.
- RafiDRW

Really good at internal development? That means that he’s just content to sit around and do nothing rather than make a move and improve the team!

Really good at internal development? That means that he’s just content to sit around and do nothing rather than make a move and improve the team!
- Ihatebrianburke

He’s surrounded himself with good scouts and development staff overall. Is he great at it? Meh. But he’s good. Nyquist, Tatar, Jensen, Jarnkrok, Bertuzzi, Anthanisou come to mind.

Ferland and Dzingel are both top 6 wingers on this team, and both signed on reasonable term deals under 4 mil. I don't have any hopes that Holland improves this team this year, but I am willing to give Tippet a chance to create some structure in the group that we do have.
- Beergu

I don't think either are true top 6 wingers, more like middle 6. The winger that the oil need should be a natural goal scorer. dzingel has potential but the word was there are issues with the player and that is why columbus walked away when they need scoring.

I like ferland in the first half of the season but he consistently goes MIA in the last half of the season. 4 years for that, yikes.....

Holland was in on a number of players until they went past the value he placed on them. It is good to have a GM that goes into a negotiation with a number and if he does not get it he walks away rather that paying a premium.

He’s surrounded himself with good scouts and development staff overall. Is he great at it? Meh. But he’s good. Nyquist, Tatar, Jensen, Jarnkrok, Bertuzzi, Anthanisou come to mind.
- RafiDRW

That's a vast improvement over Tambellini, Lowe, Crack-T and Chiarelli

How do you female genitalias have $4,133,333 in buyout penalties with Lucic still on the books? Wtf guys?

How do you female genitalias have $4,133,333 in buyout penalties with Lucic still on the books? Wtf guys?
- AdamFrench

speaking of female genitalia how is your mom tell her thanks and she can come back and service the rest of the defensive line later......

speaking of female genitalia how is your mom tell her thanks and she can come back and service the rest of the defensive line later......
- oiler993111

She's great. Glad you guys can service her, my dad's a little bit too old for that sort of tat these days and I love to see her happy.