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 Adam
Messages: 7757
Registered: August 2005
Location: Edmonton, AB
6 Cups
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| smyth260 wrote on Thu, 19 February 2026 18:40 |
| JPro wrote on Thu, 19 February 2026 12:07 |
| Adam wrote on Wed, 18 February 2026 10:05 |
It's unfortunate that it sucked up even more of our cap space without being the obvious solution to the problem.
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There's no way any team/GM was going to give the Oilers an "obvious solution to the problem". After going to the SCF in back-to-back years, the best we were going to get was a lotto scratcher. One that would cost a lot more to get than we were giving up.
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On the other hand, Florida managed to get impact players like Jones, Marchand, and Tarasenko in the middle of making the finals 3 times straight. There are 31 other teams all at different stages and with different forces at play. The issue is the Oilers haven’t ever been smart opportunists during the McDavid era. Colorado has 2 good performing goalies (the double woods) acquired after winning the cup…suffice to say I don’t buy that success eliminates trading partners in this league.
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No, teams are (mostly) going to operate in their own best interests. So if you can find a way to help them address their needs - whether with draft picks or prospects or expiring contracts for greater flexibility, then they're going to be willing to trade with you.
There is an issue with being a top team in that the value of your draft pick is likely lower if a trading partner thinks you're likely to go to the finals or semis - but as you said, Florida and Colorado have overcome similar challenges. Tampa managed to retool several times as well (and did a much better job developing non-first round picks to the point where they were significant contributors and good trade chips.
I'm not convinced that Jarry was the right goaltender to replace Skinner...but who knows. Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised. If he's not a sieve in the second round, that's a major improvement.
All we can do is hope now related to that - there's no way we're geting another goalie this year.
March 6th os the trade deadline. It'll be interesting to see if they are able to meaningfully improve the team ahead of that this year or if the big acquisition is just Paul Coffey.
"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireBobbyNicks
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