There have been very few occasions when the Edmonton Oilers fan base was as divided as it was on 2024 NHL Trade Deadline Day. Some fans and pundits were commending the moves that Oilers general manager Ken Holland made just before the March 8 deadline. Others were not too happy (from “Staples: ‘The definition of insanity: Sourness on social media about Edmonton Oilers on deadline day’, Edmonton Journal, March 8, 2024).
On March 6, the Oilers brought in Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick, unsigned draft choice goalie Ty Taylor and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2024 NHL Draft in a three-team trade with the Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning. Anaheim received a first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Tampa received a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Holland turned around on March 7 and added depth defenceman Troy Stecher from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Holland didn’t have to trade a roster player or a prospect to get these deals done, and that’s seen as a victory. But compare the work he did with Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon when he added Tomas Hertl, Noah Hanifin and Anthony Mantha or Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito when he snagged Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo, and you have a real argument as to whether he really went “all in” as was the talk in the offseason.
Time Will Quickly Tell If The Deals Paid Off
I don’t believe in getting too high or too low at the NHL Trade Deadline because there’s still a lot of hockey to be played between now and the end of the regular season. In the Oilers’ case, they have 21 games left and that’s still a lot of time for players to gel on the ice and in the dressing room. I think one of Holland’s biggest considerations was not only adding the right players, but also the right personalities to go with what appears to be a tight-knit Oilers group. Former Oilers and Ducks’ head coach Dallas Eakins was interviewed on Edmonton Sports Talk on Trade Deadline Day and had glowing things to say about Henrique and Carrick both as players and as people. Whether you like Eakins or not, he would have an inside understanding of both organizations and their players, and for him to give a great review could mean good things for the Oilers down the road.
Related: Edmonton Oilers Trade Deadline History
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