The Edmonton Oilers are in a class all their own.

They’re the last true dynasty the NHL has seen,

They’ve hosted generation-defining players multiple times in Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid.

And now, they’re truly the one franchise everyone should look to learn what not to do.

Yes. The Oilers are that franchise. Not the Coyotes, not the Senators, but the Oilers.

Well all know what they’ve done the past few seasons, but yesterday was a day like no other when it comes to moves that aren’t Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson.

A third round pick for a slight upgrade on defense. This guy has to be good right? He’s the one the Panthers gave up Jonathan Marchessault to keep an open spot on their protected list in the expansion draft.

Fine, it’s nothing, it’s meh. It’s moving deck chairs on the Titanic. Then, came move number two.

Who is Brandon Manning you ask? Well, let’s look at the video tape.

Yeah, that’s the play that broke McDavid’s collarbone, and ultimately cost him the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year (and a six figure bonus). It was an accident, wasn’t it? Well....

Connor McDavid says Brandon Manning admitted intent

“I did all I could defending him last year in the media,” McDavid said after Edmonton’s 6-5 loss to Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center. “Everyone wanted to make a big deal saying he did it on purpose, and he wanted to say some comments today about what went on last year. I thought it was one of the [most] classless things I’ve ever seen on the ice. He said some things, and our guys responded accordingly. I guess we can put the whole ‘if he did it on purpose’ thing to rest because what he said out there kind of confirmed that.”

Well, it’s hockey you know? Darcy Tucker and Mike Peca played on the Leafs together and got along fine. Let’s see how the Oilers fans are taking it.

Um...anyway here’s your news.

There’s a new episode of Back to Excited, and Fulecat is guest starring.

Back to Excited Episode 43: How Wrong Were We

The Centre of Leafs Nation takes a look ahead at the trade deadline.

Maple Leafs: Trade Deadline Blueprint

The Colour of Hockey has a piece about NHler Jim Paek, and career spanning the globe.

Jim Paek played in Pittsburgh, coached in South Korea, but calls Nottingham ‘home’

The Winnipeg Jets* are short a defender for January

Dustin Byfuglien out at least four weeks

The Sabres fans are turning on their team and it’s delicious

It’s starting to head downhill

Is the Jake Guentzel extension helping or hurting the Penguins?

The Penguins 2019-20 salary cap implications with the Jake Guentzel extension

I can’ resist, so here’s the Copper & Blue pieces for the trades:

Trade: Oilers send Drake Caggiula to Chicago Blackhawks in Exchange for Brandon Manning
Oilers Acquire Alex Petrovic From Florida

And here are some delicious tweets.

Okay, that last one was a little sad.

It’s the last day of 2018 Maple Leafs fans, let’s be happy our long struggle is over.

From The Branches