Things have turned sour in Edmonton real quick to end 2018. Six straight losses, one horrible trade, a panicking GM and hope is once again dying in Oil Country. Sitting right at the center of everything is general manager Peter Chiarelli and his newest addition to the roster Brandon Manning.
It took just over a day for Oilers fans to confirm that Brandon Manning is not a good hockey player. You always hope that the professional scouting staff of a hockey team has a better grasp on the talent of NHL players than your average fan but tonight proved that that is not always the case. Manning was a liability on the ice and outside of two big hits, had very little positive contribution to the game. If he wasn't good enough to be a regular in Chicago, a team below the Oilers in the standings and having a dreadful season, then how could he possibly be good enough for the Oilers?
This all looks real bad for Peter Chiarelli who traded away the Oilers fifth highest goal scorer for a defenseman who isn't capable of playing in the NHL. To hear his comments earlier today stating he's been trying to acquire Manning for over a year just goes to show how incompetent Chiarelli has become.
The sky is falling right now in Edmonton and right now the management group doesn't seem capable of finding any solutions. Brandon Manning is not better than Kevin Gravel, who was a healthy scratch tonight, and likely not even better than Jason Garrison, who was also a liability on the back end.
Manning's poor play cost the Oilers a win they desperately needed tonight. He was a -2 tonight, while playing the fewest minutes among defensemen. I have a hard time believing Ken Hitchcock will keep him in the lineup for the Oilers next game on Wednesday in Arizona. The Oilers can still salvage this season but each loss closes the window a little bit more.
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