The year Nurse got his contract was when he racked up all kinds of points playing OT with McDrai. Win faceoff back to Nurse. He gives puck to someone and gets an assist. Opponents eventually figured out a way to stop these automatic goals. The fact that Holland and the rest of management couldn't see this is beyond me.

At this point:

1) Jackson fires Holland and takes over on an interim basis with Gretzky. Then conduct a true search this summer.

2) Jackson instantly fires Woodcroft, Manson, and especially Schwartz. Hire Q. Who cares if a small number of fans are upset. Q brings in his own staff.

3) Connor Brown gets waived and is never see again. Sorry for the hurt feelings.

4) Jackson somehow orchestrates a major trade. Swap Campbell for Carter Hart. Will unfortunately cost more assets. Does adding a 1st and a guy like Broberg or Holloway get that done? Maybe add more. Philly then buys him out this summer.
- Cooleus

6 years of dead cap for Campbell?

The Flyers already have Hayes, DeAngelo and Ellis on the dead cap books...plus realistically they have Petersen for 5m.

As much as that sounds juicy to take Campbell for the boatload of assets, it would probably hurt them more.

Total crap post. He knew what was going on and decided it wasn’t worth dealing with. He’s as guilty as any of them and shouldn’t be allowed back in the NHL. Just cause Hockey Canada paid hush money, doesn’t make it any better.
It’s funny all those former convicts you claim to get a 2nd chance are all former Oilers.
- K-man25

Q was the lowest ranking person in the room. He gets called into a meeting that include the team President, Vice-President, Senior Vice-President, GM, Assistant GM...and then Q. Collectively, the decision was to delay for a few weeks and then dismiss the alleged offender. So what was Q supposed to do in that situation. "Hey I know I'm the lowest ranked person in the room, but I disagree with all of you and I'm going to call 911 right now in case any of this stuff is actually true". As a group they did the wrong thing, but let's not pretend Q had an easy way out of this situation.

Oh, and 2nd chances happen all over the NHL. Bob Probert. Doug Gilmour. Theo Fleury. Ryan O'Reilly. Patrick Kane. Auston Matthews Keep going?

Q was the lowest ranking person in the room. He gets called into a meeting that include the team President, Vice-President, Senior Vice-President, GM, Assistant GM...and then Q. Collectively, the decision was to delay for a few weeks and then dismiss the alleged offender. So what was Q supposed to do in that situation. "Hey I know I'm the lowest ranked person in the room, but I disagree with all of you and I'm going to call 911 right now in case any of this stuff is actually true". As a group they did the wrong thing, but let's not pretend Q had an easy way out of this situation.

Oh, and 2nd chances happen all over the NHL. Bob Probert. Doug Gilmour. Theo Fleury. Ryan O'Reilly. Patrick Kane. Auston Matthews Keep going?
- Cooleus

So, if he was the lowest ranking person in the room, how did he get punished when Cheveldayoff got nothing? Quite obviously he did something that warranted action from the NHL that was beyond just being there.

I don’t follow the oilers much…but aren’t Nurse, Ekholm and Bouchard top 4 dmen?
- knagra

Nurse is making more money than Makar!! Can you imagine the thought process behind that!?

LOL

Q was the lowest ranking person in the room. He gets called into a meeting that include the team President, Vice-President, Senior Vice-President, GM, Assistant GM...and then Q. Collectively, the decision was to delay for a few weeks and then dismiss the alleged offender. So what was Q supposed to do in that situation. "Hey I know I'm the lowest ranked person in the room, but I disagree with all of you and I'm going to call 911 right now in case any of this stuff is actually true". As a group they did the wrong thing, but let's not pretend Q had an easy way out of this situation.

Oh, and 2nd chances happen all over the NHL. Bob Probert. Doug Gilmour. Theo Fleury. Ryan O'Reilly. Patrick Kane. Auston Matthews Keep going?
- Cooleus

Yeah I can just see him being scared to rock the boat.

You made the list, I was just pointing out that the 3 easiest to name, played for the Oilers.

Welcome to the terrible asset management style of Ken Holland. This is exactly what I thought would happen to any team that took him on after Detroit finally got rid of him. He left Detroit a complete dumpster fire with no talent and salary cap hell. Yzerman has done a pretty good job cleaning up the mess and getting rid of all of deadwood players. Holland delayed the rebuild by at least 5 years because he doesn't like them and wanted to keep the playoff winning streak alive... Best thing the Edmonton ownership can do it get rid of him ASAP.

This is about the time for Jero and Iggy to pipe in and give their 2 cents.

Oilers lose to the Sharks on Thursday and Woodcroft gets the axe. Book it.

Oilers lose to the Sharks on Thursday and Woodcroft gets the axe. Book it.
- Oildrum

It’s too bad if it happens because I don’t see him being the problem here and he shouldn’t get scapegoated. It was a monumental error to go into the season again with the same D and goaltending that wasn’t good enough last year. Hoping and praying for internal growth is the road to ruins. We’ve all seen it before with years of endless rebuilding here. Now we actually have decent talent and can’t properly support them because of poor cap management.

I don’t care who it offends, Connor Brown has 0 points and doesn’t deserve any bonuses. Cut ties now. We don’t owe him anything. He hasn’t performed at all. This should be no different than releasing a player from a PTO. He hasn’t proven anything, so he deserves nothing!

The left-wing media and fanboys speak loudly. The other 99% of fans really don't care that much. People who make mistakes and become better people deserve a second chance. Look at Craig MacTavish. Kassian. Kane. List goes on.

Also, have some perspective on what Q actually did. He didn't abuse anyone. He heard about an ALLEGATION as the team was on the cusp of winning the Cup. He expressed a view that this would create quite a distraction so let's handle this in a few weeks after the season. Was that wrong - sure, he admits that now. But there were many personnel higher up the management chain that ultimately made that decision. Q didn't have sole control of the situation. What Hockey Canada did was worse in my opinion. There was clear evidence of using hush money to try and make problems disappear. How many Hockey Canada folks are still employed?
- Cooleus

100% correct. good take

So, if he was the lowest ranking person in the room, how did he get punished when Cheveldayoff got nothing? Quite obviously he did something that warranted action from the NHL that was beyond just being there.
- Load Management

hahahahhahahahaha....you wanna know what he did? He was straightforward, honest, and hard nosed. He is a hard-nosed, pull no punches, no BS kind of guy, and you softies hate that. So he got punished. People just didn't like him because he is "a big meanie". lol
(there used to be a similar guy in the Whitehouse that's going to jail for even less).

It’s too bad if it happens because I don’t see him being the problem here and he shouldn’t get scapegoated. It was a monumental error to go into the season again with the same D and goaltending that wasn’t good enough last year. Hoping and praying for internal growth is the road to ruins. We’ve all seen it before with years of endless rebuilding here. Now we actually have decent talent and can’t properly support them because of poor cap management.
- Ihatebrianburke

If you guys keep repeating it...so will I:
It's not the defense and the goaltending...it's the outright laziness and work ethic of the forwards. Watch how many times our top forwards coast after they lose the puck and take an extra 2or3 seconds before getting on their horse and backchecking. Watch how many times our offensively minded only fwds fly the D-zone early. Our best forwards are the worst ones actually. The forwards are always chasing, putting pressure on the D, which gives MANY more high % shots, thus beating the goalies more often.
yes, our D is very average (I'd say slightly above), yes our Goalies are very average (I'd say slightly below), but why did it work in Vegas? Why did it work in PIT? etc. etc. It's because the forwards play fkn D!!!

It seems to be an 80s "run and gun" style in EDM that they refuse to change. This is what you get.
Draisaitl for Danault straight up would have fixed this...and we would have gotten 3or4 other prime assets (maybe even a goalie! lol)

Q was the lowest ranking person in the room. He gets called into a meeting that include the team President, Vice-President, Senior Vice-President, GM, Assistant GM...and then Q. Collectively, the decision was to delay for a few weeks and then dismiss the alleged offender. So what was Q supposed to do in that situation. "Hey I know I'm the lowest ranked person in the room, but I disagree with all of you and I'm going to call 911 right now in case any of this stuff is actually true". As a group they did the wrong thing, but let's not pretend Q had an easy way out of this situation.

Oh, and 2nd chances happen all over the NHL. Bob Probert. Doug Gilmour. Theo Fleury. Ryan O'Reilly. Patrick Kane. Auston Matthews Keep going?
- Cooleus

BABCOCK...

It’s too bad if it happens because I don’t see him being the problem here and he shouldn’t get scapegoated. It was a monumental error to go into the season again with the same D and goaltending that wasn’t good enough last year. Hoping and praying for internal growth is the road to ruins. We’ve all seen it before with years of endless rebuilding here. Now we actually have decent talent and can’t properly support them because of poor cap management.
- Ihatebrianburke

The Oilers had an ALL-STAR goalie last season and you think it was an error to go with the same goaltending into this season?

Watching the Oilers vs Canucks last night, the Oilers lacked structure, the defence was caught out of position resulting in several goals. Yes, the Oilers have some defencemen that are not great, but it is up to the coach to get them to play a proper system.

I am not a Canucks fan, but look at the turnaround from a year ago. Under Boudreau, they looked lost, couldnt play defence, had no systems or structure. Sure the Canucks made a few moves this off-season, but those moves are not what has the Canucks looking so good right now - it is the systems and structure Tocchet has instilled on them.

The Oilers had an ALL-STAR goalie last season and you think it was an error to go with the same goaltending into this season?

Watching the Oilers vs Canucks last night, the Oilers lacked structure, the defence was caught out of position resulting in several goals. Yes, the Oilers have some defencemen that are not great, but it is up to the coach to get them to play a proper system.

I am not a Canucks fan, but look at the turnaround from a year ago. Under Boudreau, they looked lost, couldnt play defence, had no systems or structure. Sure the Canucks made a few moves this off-season, but those moves are not what has the Canucks looking so good right now - it is the systems and structure Tocchet has instilled on them.
- stefano76

Switch goalies and it would be a different outcome. Campbell gave up two goals that Demko saves. Goaltending is 50+% of hockey outcomes. Can't win with the league's worst goaltending that Skinner and Campbell are providing. Another example; Carolina has been the best defensive team for several years and still are now. Yet their terrible goaltending is sinking the team this year.

hahahahhahahahaha....you wanna know what he did? He was straightforward, honest, and hard nosed. He is a hard-nosed, pull no punches, no BS kind of guy, and you softies hate that. So he got punished. People just didn't like him because he is "a big meanie". lol
(there used to be a similar guy in the Whitehouse that's going to jail for even less).
- JLO961

After last night, I've changed my mind. He’s the perfect fit for the Oilers.

Switch goalies and it would be a different outcome. Campbell gave up two goals that Demko saves. Goaltending is 50+% of hockey outcomes. Can't win with the league's worst goaltending that Skinner and Campbell are providing. Another example; Carolina has been the best defensive team for several years and still are now. Yet their terrible goaltending is sinking the team this year.
- jfkst1

but the person i quoted said that last years goaltending wasnt good enough to start this season and that there needed to be an upgrade in net.

yes Skinner and Campbell are playing bad, but if Skinner was playing like last season, there is no way the Oilers record would be as bad as it is.

If you guys keep repeating it...so will I:
It's not the defense and the goaltending...it's the outright laziness and work ethic of the forwards. Watch how many times our top forwards coast after they lose the puck and take an extra 2or3 seconds before getting on their horse and backchecking. Watch how many times our offensively minded only fwds fly the D-zone early. Our best forwards are the worst ones actually. The forwards are always chasing, putting pressure on the D, which gives MANY more high % shots, thus beating the goalies more often.
yes, our D is very average (I'd say slightly above), yes our Goalies are very average (I'd say slightly below), but why did it work in Vegas? Why did it work in PIT? etc. etc. It's because the forwards play fkn D!!!

It seems to be an 80s "run and gun" style in EDM that they refuse to change. This is what you get.
Draisaitl for Danault straight up would have fixed this...and we would have gotten 3or4 other prime assets (maybe even a goalie! lol)
- JLO961

Several years ago I thought Gibson for Draisaitl would be a good trade. The Oilers would have gotten their missing piece at the time along with $2+ million in cap space. of course, every Oilers fan on here called me a f@cking idiot. Most probably still will.

Several years ago I thought Gibson for Draisaitl would be a good trade. The Oilers would have gotten their missing piece at the time along with $2+ million in cap space. of course, every Oilers fan on here called me a f@cking idiot. Most probably still will.
- duxcup07

A straight up Gibson for Draisaitl trade would arguably be the worst trade in NHL history. Gibson has not had a good season in five years (2018-19). Dostal has been better this year too. Draisaitl is great value on his contract. Moreover, Gibson will never waive his NTC for Edmonton.

Someone suggesting Soup to Philly for Hart? Zero chance of that, even zero chance last season when Hart couldn’t stop a beach ball. That’s how GM’s get fired. Holland once again has to sweeten the pot to rid a bad contract.

Hurricanes need a goaltender, but they won’t be looking at the Oilers for one.

Good luck to whoever GM’s their way out of that Oiler mess

Someone suggesting Soup to Philly for Hart? Zero chance of that, even zero chance last season when Hart couldn’t stop a beach ball. That’s how GM’s get fired. Holland once again has to sweeten the pot to rid a bad contract.

Hurricanes need a goaltender, but they won’t be looking at the Oilers for one.

Good luck to whoever GM’s their way out of that Oiler mess
- nanook82

Briere should do that for at least the next two unprotected first round picks from EDM. Philly needs a full rebuild and keeping Hart is pointless. Campbell's contract doesn't hurt them.

Jack Campbell has been placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment.