The Edmonton Oilers had been lauded for not solely their opening day of free company, however a commerce a short while later that despatched Ryan McLeod to the Buffalo Sabres in trade for Matthew Savoie. Many even believed that they gained free company, as they added two top-six forwards, Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, to an already deadly ahead group.
Associated: Flames Missed Huge Alternative to Signal Oilers’ Broberg and Holloway
That mentioned, there have been another strikes, one specifically, that rubbed many, together with Oilers followers, the incorrect means. Consequently, they had been ranked to have one of many worst entrance places of work within the NHL primarily based on a brand new fan performed survey in an article revealed by The Athletic (from ‘Dom Luszczyszyn: NHL front-office rankings, 2024: How followers really feel about each workforce’, The Athletic 8/6/24).
Oilers’ Entrance Workplace Close to Backside of the League
Had this survey been performed previous to July 24, the Oilers’ entrance workplace seemingly would have been ranked a lot increased. As an alternative, they got here in shockingly low at thirtieth amongst all 32 NHL groups. That, largely, as talked about by the writer, Dom Luszczyszyn, was because of the hiring of normal supervisor (GM) Stan Bowman.
Following the departure of Ken Holland, it was Jeff Jackson who was serving because the interim GM. His masterclass in free company had Oilers followers praying he would stay in that position, although he made it clear on a number of events he wasn’t fascinated by doing so. Then, all of the reward he had racked up went out the window nearly instantly following the hiring of the extraordinarily controversial Bowman.
“Jeff Jackson was having a top-notch summer season, one which had the Oilers trying like no-doubt Stanley Cup favorites for subsequent season,” Luszczyszyn wrote. “After coming so shut in 2024, the Oilers regarded just like the workforce to beat in 2025. All of that goodwill appeared to evaporate with the franchise’s controversial hiring of Stan Bowman, which was panned by many followers.
“On prime of being banished from the league for 3 years for what the NHL deemed an ‘insufficient response’ to sexual assault allegations introduced forth by former Blackhawks participant Kyle Seaside, there’s additionally a prolonged monitor document of questionable decision-making in Chicago.”
As Luszczyszyn alluded to, whereas many felt Bowman shouldn’t be employed as a consequence of his insufficient response relating to Seaside’s sexual assault allegations, many really feel he wasn’t an excellent GM to start with. He made a number of questionable hockey choices throughout his tenure in Chicago, with maybe the 2 most notable being buying and selling Artemi Panarin for Brandon Saad, and signing Seth Jones to an eight-year, $76 million deal.
The signing of Jones is one specifically that worries Oilers followers, as an extension must be labored out for Leon Draisaitl earlier than free company subsequent offseason, and shortly after each Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard will want new offers. Whereas all three will obtain vital contracts, it’s essential they don’t get overpaid, and plenty of aren’t assured that Bowman is able to ensuring that doesn’t occur.
Survey Continues to Fault Oilers
Being low on this annual survey from The Athletic is nothing new for the Oilers. Final 12 months, they sat twentieth amongst all 32 groups. Whereas nonetheless fairly low, that marked their highest end. They got here in at twenty third in 2022, twenty eighth in 2021, twenty second in 2020, twenty eighth in 2019, and twenty ninth in 2018. This reveals there isn’t a lot confidence in anyway of their entrance workplace, which might be nicely justified provided that regardless of having two of the sport’s finest in McDavid and Draisaitl, they’ve but to win a Stanley Cup.
Associated: Flames May Quickly Be Far Superior to the Oilers
The arrogance within the Oilers brass has seemingly gone down even additional now, because the group is more likely to lose a minimum of considered one of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway after each signed provide sheets with the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday (Aug. 13). It’s a significant mistake from the group, as each gamers are first-round picks who’ve vivid futures within the NHL, and will have remained on this roster for years to return.
