Good news: The Edomonton Oliers just completed their deal that they have been waiting for for so many years.
According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, the Edmonton Oilers are willing to trade anything but this year’s first-round pick, sniper Leon Draisaitl, and captain Connor McDavid.
The Oilers dropped to 5-12-1 on the season and 30th in the NHL on Wednesday night after losing 6-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes.
They’re fumbling around. They are seriously jeopardizing their season,” Rishaug said to CTV News Edmonton.
“Everything is up for grabs: your prospects, players on your roster, and your second-round pick…Ken Holland, in my opinion, is powerless in this circumstance.”
The general manager in question has already demoted his highest-paid goalie, Jack Campbell, to the minor leagues and fired head coach Jay Woodcroft and assistant coach Dave Manson.
After winning their first two games under new coach Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers responded admirably at first, but they have since lost three straight and given up 17 goals.
Defenseman Mattias Ekholm told reporters that even after the disastrous start to the season, he and the other players still have a great desire to turn things around and qualify for the playoffs.
“I know we’re a resilient group, and I know guys care in here, almost to the point where they care too much, and it gets to be a nervous thing or a pressure thing,” Ekholm stated.
“So that’s something we’re working on. To be able to perform under pressure and to be able to perform in a situation like this is hard, but it’s something we’re working on.”
Rishaug thinks the team is searching for tough guys, Stanley Cup winners, and guys who can infuse positivity into the locker room when it comes to trades.
Patrick Maroon, a current Minnesota Wild and former Oiler, was mentioned as a fit, but he expressed uncertainty about the Wild’s desire to trade for him.
According to Rishaug, the risk facing Edmonton and Holland at the moment is that every other general manager in the league is aware of the Oilers’ desperation and potential for a poor trade.
In a desperate attempt to find a goalie or a defenseman, is it possible for Ken Holland to make a poor trade? Thirty-one general managers are probably thinking, “Come into my office, Ken.” We are pleased to work with you,” Rishaug remarked.
“They’re not really in a position to make that big deal, unless they get lucky and find a team that’s equally desperate.”
Numerous hockey insiders have stated that the team is trying to find a goalie. On Wednesday, Stuart Skinner was substituted after allowing four goals on twelve attempts.
On Wednesday, he had a save percentage of.865, ranking 71st in the NHL, and a goals-against-average of 3.66, ranking 63rd.
According to Knoblauch, the Oilers continue to make mistakes in small details. On Thursday, he halted practice to make sure his players understood.
“We discussed with our players the idea of excelling at tasks that call for little to no skill. Things like finishing your check, playing defense, and making a small pass,” he clarified.
No matter your skill level, you can perform those. Any productive team is organized and adept at those little things.”
Many people find it shocking that the Oilers, who were among the best teams in the league at the end of the previous season, are now among the worst, according to Rishaug.
He agreed with Ekholm that the Oilers haven’t given up on this season, but he said that the players are probably among those who are confused.
“I think the idea of a five month death march to missing the playoffs is a nightmare that these players want nothing to do with,” he stated.
“I’ve been covering the Oilers for 23 years, and this year I made my first-ever cup prediction. Many had assumed that this would be very different.
The Washington Capitals will be the Oilers’ next opponent on Friday at 1 p.m. MT.
