In my opinion that’s the worst part of that. Like if it was sakic or yzerman than at least you could say you got fleeced by an elite GM but bowman is up there with jim benning himself. It’s like Chia getting fleeced by Snow all over again.
- RedC21

That is really depressing.
But hey! I wonder in Yzerman can pull a trade like the Drouin for Sergachev trade this summer!

In my opinion that’s the worst part of that. Like if it was sakic or yzerman than at least you could say you got fleeced by an elite GM but bowman is up there with jim benning himself. It’s like Chia getting fleeced by Snow all over again.
- RedC21

True story

Fire Holland.

Could be worse... try being a Wild fan.

Could be worse... try being a Wild fan.
- Tweaterben

Oilers fan base probably just fell by 25% today.

OMGolly, traded a nothing defensemen and a fringe pick for a guy who knows what winning is like. What's this team doing? Holland is has been... doesn't he know by now that the only way to win in the NHL is to put a bunch of soft players with good analytics together in a stew and watch skill beat everything?

And when skill doesn't beat everything, complain about the officiating until the officiating is only there to protect star players until the game is set up so that skill beats everything... geez so dumb, what was Holland thinking?

I hope the next Oilers GM is a 20 something math nerd who thinks the eye test is as antiquated device that boomers use to judge everything and only looks at advanced stats to assemble his team.

OMGolly, traded a nothing defensemen and a fringe pick for a guy who knows what winning is like. What's this team doing? Holland is has been... doesn't he know by now that the only way to win in the NHL is to put a bunch of soft players with good analytics together in a stew and watch skill beat everything?

And when skill doesn't beat everything, complain about the officiating until the officiating is only there to protect star players until the game is set up so that skill beats everything... geez so dumb, what was Holland thinking?

I hope the next Oilers GM is a 20 something math nerd who thinks the eye test is as antiquated device that boomers use to judge everything and only looks at advanced stats to assemble his team.
- archromat

It's not the player. It's the 5.5M cap hit. This was a situation where the Oilers were primed to win the trade in a landslide and they absolutely lost.

OMGolly, traded a nothing defensemen and a fringe pick for a guy who knows what winning is like. What's this team doing? Holland is has been... doesn't he know by now that the only way to win in the NHL is to put a bunch of soft players with good analytics together in a stew and watch skill beat everything?

And when skill doesn't beat everything, complain about the officiating until the officiating is only there to protect star players until the game is set up so that skill beats everything... geez so dumb, what was Holland thinking?

I hope the next Oilers GM is a 20 something math nerd who thinks the eye test is as antiquated device that boomers use to judge everything and only looks at advanced stats to assemble his team.
- archromat

1. Keith has won zero playoff series in half a decade so guess he forgot how to win.
2. When Keith did win, it was on a team with skill and good analytics.
3. Are you implying Keith in any way will protect anyone on EDM?
4. There is no way a random fan wouldn't be better than Chiarelli or Holland.

This deal makes Hall for Larsson look good. Congrats Kenny.

It's painfully obvious to me that this author hasn't watched Keith play in recent years. Yes, he doesn't produce, but he will be the Oiler's most dependable D-man on the team for the next 3 seasons. Keith doesn't get on the scoresheet, but his zone coverage is as good as can be, and he's still quick. Author has zero idea what he's talking about. This is exactly what you Oilers need. You already have 2 of the top scorers in the league, you want Bobby Orr too now, or what? Doofus.

It's painfully obvious to me that this author hasn't watched Keith play in recent years. Yes, he doesn't produce, but he will be the Oiler's most dependable D-man on the team for the next 3 seasons. Keith doesn't get on the scoresheet, but his zone coverage is as good as can be, and he's still quick. Author has zero idea what he's talking about. This is exactly what you Oilers need. You already have 2 of the top scorers in the league, you want Bobby Orr too now, or what? Doofus.
- Zapur

Shut up, retard.

This deal makes Hall for Larsson look good. Congrats Kenny.
- wreckage

Lmao get your head out of your ass. Freaking rookies.

OMGolly, traded a nothing defensemen and a fringe pick for a guy who knows what winning is like. What's this team doing? Holland is has been... doesn't he know by now that the only way to win in the NHL is to put a bunch of soft players with good analytics together in a stew and watch skill beat everything?

And when skill doesn't beat everything, complain about the officiating until the officiating is only there to protect star players until the game is set up so that skill beats everything... geez so dumb, what was Holland thinking?

I hope the next Oilers GM is a 20 something math nerd who thinks the eye test is as antiquated device that boomers use to judge everything and only looks at advanced stats to assemble his team.
- archromat

OMGolly, traded a nothing defensemen and a fringe pick for a guy who knows what winning is like. What's this team doing? Holland is has been... doesn't he know by now that the only way to win in the NHL is to put a bunch of soft players with good analytics together in a stew and watch skill beat everything?

And when skill doesn't beat everything, complain about the officiating until the officiating is only there to protect star players until the game is set up so that skill beats everything... geez so dumb, what was Holland thinking?

I hope the next Oilers GM is a 20 something math nerd who thinks the eye test is as antiquated device that boomers use to judge everything and only looks at advanced stats to assemble his team.
- archromat

People on here commenting this is bad , really have no clue what the Oilers need and how this helps. I swear that the idiots that think this is real bad have been watching hockey for maybe a day. No clue what so ever.

Lmao get your head out of your ass. Freaking rookies.
- bigape

Don't you have a window to be licking?

Take a pill bud.
- shack67

I get people being pissed that salary wasn’t retained , and I think Holland could of waited till the 16th to make the deal and played his hand better. But maybe there was another team willing like Seattle. Who could take the cap hit to their advantage and pay 1/4 of the salary. At any rate it’s a player that’s a beast and will continue to be so. Hope you all remember this when Keith kills it

Holland had all the leverage and like the cuckold he is he bent over and took it in the ass from Bowman.
- Reveen

Think your forgetting the fact that Bowman has the player the Oilers wanted. Retention would of been nice , but according to KH himself the price would of been a player he wasn’t interested in loosing. So he gave up a player that can’t find his way to be a steady contributor to the bottom pair. A player that was healthy scratched a lot more than he played. A part time bottom pair guy.

It's not the player. It's the 5.5M cap hit. This was a situation where the Oilers were primed to win the trade in a landslide and they absolutely lost.
- wreckage

It’s a price they were willing to pay. What they weren’t willing to give up was a Broberg/McLeod/ Lavoie/ Bouchard in order for salary retention. So not ideal, but the Oilers got their guy for Caleb I can’t even hold on to the bottom pair slot. Lmao

It’s a price they were willing to pay. What they weren’t willing to give up was a Broberg/McLeod/ Lavoie/ Bouchard in order for salary retention. So not ideal, but the Oilers got their guy for Caleb I can’t even hold on to the bottom pair slot. Lmao
- bigape

Got their guy...a 15 point 38 year old making 5.5M

losing a 48 point 30 year old in the process

How are they better? Oilers will be a bubble team

As a Blackhawks fan who just listened to Holland's press conference, I think Oiler fans are lucky to have a GM who gave honest answers, setting forth his reasons for the deal, his negotiations with Bowman, his recognition of risks and his hoped for but not guaranteed results. Do Oiler fans want him to not make changes to a roster that has had no playoff success?

Im on the fence with this. This isnt a salary dump from Chicago's perspective, Keith requested to be traded, otherwise Chicago would have most likely kept him for his 2 remaining years. Remember, he's only owed like 2.5 then 1.6 in real money. His cap hit of 5.5 per year is what burns here, who cares about Jones or the 3rd. Ok, so he's 37/38, but by all accounts his fitness levels are elite and players like Keith dont come along too often, especially ones that want to go to Edm even if they are on the tail end of their careers. Looking at his analytics in recent years, it's obvious he isnt what he used to be. Chicago though was deploying him like he was in his prime when in actual fact he is better suited in a second pairing role, hence his analytics were caved on a poor Chicago team. He still has enough gas in the tank. Edmonton will deploy him as a second pairing. I think he will be fine there. An important element that Edm is missing are the intangables.....leadership and such. He'll bring that and hopefully teach something that nobody else on the roster can. But that cap hit....well, its early in the offseason and more things will need to happen.

By getting rid of Neal and Koskinen either through trades or buyouts will essentially cancel Keith's cap hit all out (mostly if bought out). I think getting these 2 guys off the roster will soften the blow to a greater degree and we can move on and be better for it. Us armchair generals can say what what we want, fact is that by all accounts, McDavid, Drai, RNH, and Nurse approved. They wanted this. Also, keep in mind Klefbom being in the IR, frees up his salary too. Sounds like he's not close to returning, if at all. Cap is fine, we still have enough $$$ for the changes we need. I might not like the full 5.5m cap hit, but the Oilers are better today than what they were yesterday. I dont think it's a great trade by any means, but if this is what it cost to bring the guy here for 2 years.....fine.

I'm embarrassed that I've been defending Holland for 2 yrs.
His zoom interview on TSN is just down right embarrassing to the Oilers organization. ("I felt it was a good trade because Keith was a great player a long time ago")
After Chiarelli, just more embarrassment.

Keith likely actually helps Edm, but at a cap hit of $5.5, he then hurts them.
It blows my mind how anyone can defend such brain dead trades.

The Oilers have 2 terrible contracts (Neal and Kosk), now 3 bad contract (Kassian, Keith and Turris), and as of right now, $2.25mil in dead cap.

THEY CAN NOT AFFORD BAD CONTRACTS.

Next is more lost cap in buyouts.
Almost zero chance to ice a championship team.

1. Keith has zero playoff series in half a decade so guess he forgot how to win.
2. When Keith did win, it was on a team with skill and good analytics.
3. Are you implying Keith in any way will protect anyone on EDM?
4. There is no way a random fan wouldn't be better than Chiarelli or Holland.
- jfkst1

I find the hysterics on both sides of this deal beyond amusing. Yes, Holland should have insisted that Hawks keep some of the cap hit. But if Caleb Jones turns out to be anything other than a healthy scratch turnstile, everyone will be shocked on both teams. And likely a 3rd round draft choice - BFD. Bringing a guy with 3 Stanley Cup rings to this young group is not the worst strategy in the world. And take a deeper look at who Keith was partnered with for much of the last four years. They will make Dougie Hamilton look like Victor Hedman by comparison.

On the Hawks side, the defense just became much worse, which is a reflection both of the difficulty in rebuilding a blue line in today's NHL (when you don't have low draft picks and make unwise selections of smurf and smurf on the blue line) and the complete health washout of Seabrook. It is not like the Hawks are close to anything right now - in fact, they are closer to a lottery pick than a playoff spot unless a couple of guys raise the level of their blue line acumen by at least one pairing or even two in short order.

Chicken little would be impressed...

As a Blackhawks fan who just listened to Holland's press conference, I think Oiler fans are lucky to have a GM who gave honest answers, setting forth his reasons for the deal, his negotiations with Bowman, his recognition of risks and his hoped for but not guaranteed results. Do Oiler fans want him to not make changes to a roster that has had no playoff success?
- BMWChiFan

Generally fan bases want the GM to improve their team, not make it worse. Complicated concept eh? EDM is supposed to be a competitive cap max team and willingly took on a 38 yr old depth dman at $5.5m cap hit for two years without any incentive. Doesn't get much worse than that.

Generally fan bases want the GM to improve their team, not make it worse. Complicated concept eh? EDM is supposed to be a competitive cap max team and willingly took on a 38 yr old depth dman at $5.5m cap hit for two years without any incentive. Doesn't get much worse than that.
- jfkst1

Yes, actually it can be much, much worse. Trading Phillip Danault to Montreal for two guys who contributed zero to the playoff run or the playoffs, and the team then spent the next five years trying to find a depth center. Oh, and I forgot, the Hawks threw in a second round draft pick because, well, it was Stan Bowman.