Ex-NHL GM Criticizes Oilers’ Decision To Let Prized D-Man Walk Away in 2024

[SRV1990]

No one in the NHL thinks much about the Blues win. However, they can't take their eyes off the one that Edmonton lost.

In the history books, Army and St Louis will be known more for the Stanley Cup that they stole from Edmonton (and the greatest duo ever) than the one that they won for themselves.

Kinda (bleep) IMO.

I would much rather have the GM that builds his team through the draft instead of stealing from other's benches.

Well I’d rather be able to visit this forum without having to read drivel - in every thread - from a human doormat with a 2nd grade education who lives in his moms basement and exists on bologna sandwiches. Sometimes we don’t get what we want though.

Can you imagine being such a brain dead d-bag that you'd value HOW a team acquires talent more than the results of the talent acquired? I mean, no one can truly be that stupid, right? Count me as one who doesn't give two [censored] how any of the professional teams I support acquires their talent, as long as they win. "Just win, baby" - Al Davis

No team has ever won a Cup because of Offer Sheets. Nearly every Cup winner attributes acquiring great talent in the draft.

You know who uses offer sheets? GM's in desperate roster shape--like Army.

You're a [fork]ing idiot, your schtick is way past old and your "opinion" garners zero respect from 99% of forum members. But keep making a fool of yourself, at least it's good for a laugh or two.

[Old_Goat]

If anything the complaint should be the team didn't realize the players they had under RFA were better than the players they were picking up on the FA market. They didn't trad Ceci until after the offer sheets indicating they really never respected the skills of Broberg or Holloway. I am glad Army realized the skills pf those two players.

I see the Edmonton Cup window as closed. No way to get enough into that team as it is and a reboot or move of the top two is almost unthinkable. If the Blues win the Cup with Broberg or Holloway they will just lose their minds in Edmonton.

You could be right about that closed window. IF they could get an amazing goalie talent, that could keep it cracked open. But that is a very hard thing to do. You just never know until you have one. Goalies can go hot & cold (like a putter in a golf bag) from seasons-to-seasons and if they are proven special, then other teams are reluctant to trade them. And there is less angst to just let them go based upon age alone.

[Harry S Deals]

Nearly every Cup winner attributes acquiring great talent in the draft.


The Florida Panthers would like a word

Calgary basically won Florida Cups with Bennett and Tkachuk.

'24-'25 Panther Cup scoring leaders...6 out of their top 8 points leaders were acquired NOT drafted by Florida. Only Barkov (ahem..6 goals) and Lundell were drafted by the Panthers in this mix. In fact the top 5 Panther playoff goal scorers were all ACQUIRED

You're another moron with a keyboard you embarrass yourself, still looking for Calum Ritchie's hattrick lol.

[Old_Goat]

No one in the NHL thinks much about the Blues win. However, they can't take their eyes off the one that Edmonton lost.

In the history books, Army and St Louis will be known more for the Stanley Cup that they stole from Edmonton (and the greatest duo ever) than the one that they won for themselves.

Kinda (bleep) IMO.

I would much rather have the GM that builds his team through the draft instead of stealing from other's benches.

This is the dumbest thing I'll read on the internet today.

You have to consider the source, he knows nothing! He is just a poor little troll who wants attention. He can't back anything up.

You need to crawl out from under your rock. Do some research, man. It will be refreshing for you. Maybe it will open your eyes.

Here is a fresh ranking from The Hockey Guy. He generally loves the Blues. Of the last 30 Cup winners, he ranked the Blues 2019 team at #26.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0Dnc5Hd8qw

LOL! It may pass time ranking Cup teams but it means NOTHING. NOTHING. ZIP, NADA, NOTHING.

I'd rank them by the parades. St. Louis and the Blues and all the fans put on a great show. That seems more valid, fan response.

Amen. No flipped burning cars. No riots nor injuries. A lot of genuine fans and players sharing their joy and respect for each other giving their all -- players on the ice as teammates and fans working and spending their hard-earned money to show up and positively cheer at every game. As Tyler Bozak said on the stage under the Arch, "Right now, this is the center of the hockey universe, not Saskatchewan!"

[dr0zombie]

If anything the complaint should be the team didn't realize the players they had under RFA were better than the players they were picking up on the FA market. They didn't trad Ceci until after the offer sheets indicating they really never respected the skills of Broberg or Holloway. I am glad Army realized the skills pf those two players.

I see the Edmonton Cup window as closed. No way to get enough into that team as it is and a reboot or move of the top two is almost unthinkable. If the Blues win the Cup with Broberg or Holloway they will just lose their minds in Edmonton.

You could be right about that closed window. IF they could get an amazing goalie talent, that could keep it cracked open. But that is a very hard thing to do. You just never know until you have one. Goalies can go hot & cold (like a putter in a golf bag) from seasons-to-seasons and if they are proven special, then other teams are reluctant to trade them. And there is less angst to just let them go based upon age alone.

Where I am is Edmonton has to convince McDavid to stay with the team. They need a goalie and forward depth of better value. Without it I am not, as good as Edmonton fans are, it is worth it for McDavid to never win a cup to stay loyal to the team. He could go to Toronto or Montreal on a on or two year deal and still bring a cup win to Canada.

[dhsux]

If anything the complaint should be the team didn't realize the players they had under RFA were better than the players they were picking up on the FA market. They didn't trad Ceci until after the offer sheets indicating they really never respected the skills of Broberg or Holloway. I am glad Army realized the skills pf those two players.

I see the Edmonton Cup window as closed. No way to get enough into that team as it is and a reboot or move of the top two is almost unthinkable. If the Blues win the Cup with Broberg or Holloway they will just lose their minds in Edmonton.

You could be right about that closed window. IF they could get an amazing goalie talent, that could keep it cracked open. But that is a very hard thing to do. You just never know until you have one. Goalies can go hot & cold (like a putter in a golf bag) from seasons-to-seasons and if they are proven special, then other teams are reluctant to trade them. And there is less angst to just let them go based upon age alone.

Where I am is Edmonton has to convince McDavid to stay with the team. They need a goalie and forward depth of better value. Without it I am not, as good as Edmonton fans are, it is worth it for McDavid to never win a cup to stay loyal to the team. He could go to Toronto or Montreal on a on or two year deal and still bring a cup win to Canada.

I don't have my pulse on McD's situation in EDM and i think even he isn't sure right now either but I agree they can ill afford to lose him for multiple reasons.

And imo, if they should lose him, just one of those reasons is the fans aren't going to blame McD .......they will Blame the Oilers.

[TheJackBurton]

If anything the complaint should be the team didn't realize the players they had under RFA were better than the players they were picking up on the FA market. They didn't trad Ceci until after the offer sheets indicating they really never respected the skills of Broberg or Holloway. I am glad Army realized the skills pf those two players.

I see the Edmonton Cup window as closed. No way to get enough into that team as it is and a reboot or move of the top two is almost unthinkable. If the Blues win the Cup with Broberg or Holloway they will just lose their minds in Edmonton.

They have a shot to make the Cup finals just simply because the Pacific is likely the easier division and their first two rounds will be very winnable just due to Drai and McDavid.

[callitwhatyouwant]

There's a reason why McDavid hasn't signed yet. That reason could be a variety of issues. But, it's either uncertainty with the direction of the Oilers. Uncertainty about contract length because if he doesn't get it done there, he doesn't want to be married to a long term contract and would prefer a 3-4 or 1 year renewable. Or, the player's association isn't allowing him to take XXXX amount of dollars and want him to push the envelope, because it makes all of their contracts go up. Someone brought up a great point on a podcast, even if he wanted to sign a team friendly deal, the PA wouldn't allow it because it does harm to all of their contracts. When you are the clear number 1 player in the league, you have to carry the torch for better or for worse while you are in your prime. 5 years from now, different story.


That being said, I wonder if the EX NHL GM was criticizing the Oilers decision because they are missing out on those sweet Broberg jersey sales. After all, Jersey sales is all that matters right? Or is it not offering waivers to good players? Or is it not developing top players in the league like Thomas. I can't remember, it's getting so confusing.

[Bubble4427]

5:32 am googling Blues…everyday

On days I decide to work, yes. Other days I do it later.

I'll be going on vacation for 10 days in a week and won't be posting at all.

Will you be trying to break your record while I'm gone? lulz-lulz

Where you going if you don’t mind me asking?….or is it a staycation?

[a smell of green grass]

The only thing worse than letting Broberg go was letting Peitrangelo go. Edmonton went to the Finals without Broberg. St Louis went to Mailloux land 6 years later.

Ask yourself this question...

Which GM would have done BETTER without Broberg, Edmonton or St Louis?

Edmonton returned to the Finals.

St Louis had one of the oldest defenses in the league in 2024, and that was WITH BROBERG. How does a GM just complete a re-whatever and end up with one of the oldest defenses in the league? How is that even possible? Army stole Broberg BECAUSE HE HAD TO. The Blues would have been bad, ugly and hopeless without Broberg.

[DawgDad]

The only thing worse than letting Broberg go was letting Peitrangelo go. Edmonton went to the Finals without Broberg. St Louis went to Mailloux land 6 years later.

Ask yourself this question...

Which GM would have done BETTER without Broberg, Edmonton or St Louis?

Edmonton returned to the Finals.

St Louis had one of the oldest defenses in the league in 2024, and that was WITH BROBERG. How does a GM just complete a re-whatever and end up with one of the oldest defenses in the league? How is that even possible? Army stole Broberg BECAUSE HE HAD TO. The Blues would have been bad, ugly and hopeless without Broberg.

Pietrangelo has nothing to do with Broberg. You could throw Eichel, MT, or a hundred other guys into the pot of guys that got away. Grasping for straws here.

As for the Oilers, they have ZERO Cups in the past six seasons, the Blues have ONE.

THE D? Nobody has said the [whatever] is over. It is not. The Blues had several defensemen under long term contract so they focused on collecting young forwards first. There is nothing more to it than that. Actually, having all those defensemen and Binner under contract is what avoided a tanking style teardown. I for one view that as GOOD management.

When it's all over it is possible the Blues will have had just two down seasons in their transition from the Cup team core back into a perrennial playoff team. Your post does not come off well in context of what has really happened and what is still under way.

[a smell of green grass]

The only thing worse than letting Broberg go was letting Peitrangelo go. Edmonton went to the Finals without Broberg. St Louis went to Mailloux land 6 years later.

Ask yourself this question...

Which GM would have done BETTER without Broberg, Edmonton or St Louis?

Edmonton returned to the Finals.

St Louis had one of the oldest defenses in the league in 2024, and that was WITH BROBERG. How does a GM just complete a re-whatever and end up with one of the oldest defenses in the league? How is that even possible? Army stole Broberg BECAUSE HE HAD TO. The Blues would have been bad, ugly and hopeless without Broberg.

Pietrangelo has nothing to do with Broberg. You could throw Eichel, MT, or a hundred other guys into the pot of guys that got away. Grasping for straws here.

As for the Oilers, they have ZERO Cups in the past six seasons, the Blues have ONE.

THE D? Nobody has said the [whatever] is over. It is not. The Blues had several defensemen under long term contract so they focused on collecting young forwards first. There is nothing more to it than that. Actually, having all those defensemen and Binner under contract is what avoided a tanking style teardown. I for one view that as GOOD management.

When it's all over it is possible the Blues will have had just two down seasons in their transition from the Cup team core back into a perrennial playoff team. Your post does not come off well in context of what has really happened and what is still under way.

Does the name Adam Jiricek ring any bells for you? The Blues have been trying to replace Pietrangelo for many years now in several different ways. The latest attempt is Mailloux.

Pietrangelo was a TOP5 pick. Army is tring to get a TOP5 quality RHD on the roster without having a TOP5 pick, and it's very ugly.

[roessjd]

SOGG: You do not understand reality.

The Blues would be sold and moved out of St. Louis if they tanked for that Top 5 pick. The city will not support a team that is terrible for multiple years. They have to stay competitive or raise ticket prices to stay afloat. You pay over double the price for the same seat for a Blackhawks home game. How many people in St. Louis would pay double the current ticket price, especially if they were losing every game?

[moose-and-squirrel]

just throwing it out there

NHL Average Ticket Prices (2024–2025)
Team Average Ticket Price

Toronto Maple Leafs $385

New York Rangers $363

Chicago Blackhawks $320

Boston Bruins $310

Vegas Golden Knights $305

Montreal Canadiens $300

Philadelphia Flyers $290

Pittsburgh Penguins $285

Edmonton Oilers $275

Vancouver Canucks $270

Washington Capitals $260

Los Angeles Kings $255

San Jose Sharks $250

Calgary Flames $245

Minnesota Wild $240

Tampa Bay Lightning $235

Nashville Predators $230

Detroit Red Wings $225

Dallas Stars $220

St. Louis Blues $215

New York Islanders $210

Colorado Avalanche $205

Buffalo Sabres $200

Winnipeg Jets $195

Ottawa Senators $190

Arizona Coyotes $185

Florida Panthers $180

Anaheim Ducks $175

Carolina Hurricanes $170

Columbus Blue Jackets $165

New Jersey Devils $160


Source: Statista - NHL Ticket Prices 2024

[2forDiving]

The only thing worse than letting Broberg go was letting Peitrangelo go. Edmonton went to the Finals without Broberg. St Louis went to Mailloux land 6 years later.

Ask yourself this question...

Which GM would have done BETTER without Broberg, Edmonton or St Louis?

Edmonton returned to the Finals.

St Louis had one of the oldest defenses in the league in 2024, and that was WITH BROBERG. How does a GM just complete a re-whatever and end up with one of the oldest defenses in the league? How is that even possible? Army stole Broberg BECAUSE HE HAD TO. The Blues would have been bad, ugly and hopeless without Broberg.

Pietrangelo has nothing to do with Broberg. You could throw Eichel, MT, or a hundred other guys into the pot of guys that got away. Grasping for straws here.

As for the Oilers, they have ZERO Cups in the past six seasons, the Blues have ONE.

THE D? Nobody has said the [whatever] is over. It is not. The Blues had several defensemen under long term contract so they focused on collecting young forwards first. There is nothing more to it than that. Actually, having all those defensemen and Binner under contract is what avoided a tanking style teardown. I for one view that as GOOD management.

When it's all over it is possible the Blues will have had just two down seasons in their transition from the Cup team core back into a perrennial playoff team. Your post does not come off well in context of what has really happened and what is still under way.

Does the name Adam Jiricek ring any bells for you? The Blues have been trying to replace Pietrangelo for many years now in several different ways. The latest attempt is Mailloux.

Pietrangelo was a TOP5 pick. Army is tring to get a TOP5 quality RHD on the roster without having a TOP5 pick, and it's very ugly.

So we had one of the oldest defenses last year and your solution was to make it older with the highest paid guy likely done for the season if not forever?

[Hooking]

Hindsight makes it even worse.

Not sure why this is big news. It would be bigger news if someone thought it wasn't a steal a year later because the results are obvious - it was a steal.