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Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Oilers trade Caggiula, Garrison to Blackhawks

Early Sunday, the Oilers made a splash acquiring Alex Petrovic in exchange for Chris Wideman and a 2019 3rd round pick.

Postmedia’s Jim Matheson and Sportsnet’s Mark Spector tweeted shorly thereafter the team likely wasn’t done, and now it appears the Oilers are looking at a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

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The deal, now made official by the Chicago Blackhawks, isn’t a deal that gets me very excited.

Manning, who is infamously known for breaking Connor McDavid’s collarbone in his rookie year and allegedly admitted intent to do so, is not a good defenceman. He has three points in 27 games this year playing 15.5 minutes a game and his goals for/against is

He, without a doubt, is not a better defenceman than Kris Russell, Alex Petrovic, Matt Benning, or Jason Garrison, so what is the point in bringing in another bottom-tier defender?

Let’s not even get started about how bad the optics are of trading for a player who seriously injured your franchise player, and best player in the world.

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While Caggiula is a player who has largely struggled during his time in Edmonton, he is quietly having his strongest NHL season. You could make a good argument that the Oilers lack of forward depth is a bigger need than that of an already busy defensive corp.

On top of that, Caggiula is due $1.5-million this year and next, while Manning is owed $2.25-million over the same time. No need to increase a payroll for a team that already has cap issues, if you ask me.

Norell isn’t a guy who checks many boxes in his own right. The 23-year-old, 5’11, 192 lb defenceman, has three assists in 28 SHL games this year.

He spent all of the last two seasons in the AHL, scoring a modest 18 points in 128 games.

I just… don’t get this trade. While I personally don’t have any information to suggest this, I can’t imagine this is the last of the deals to come.

Mainly, because the trades today don’t really make the Oilers better.

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On Twitter: @zjlaing


  • Big Jacks Meat

    Well everyone despised Kassian for breaking Gagners face , but then fell in love with him. Manning will be forgiven. He played for his team and did what he had to do , right or wrong. Now , he will stand up for Connor. Its Hockey people, stuff happens. Mcdavid will probably have him over for supper.

    • Chris_Cruise

      You’re right. Bad plays happen. But he crossed the line with the taunting.

      Pointing at his own collarbone and laughing at Connor showed Manning’s true colors.

      Is that even someone you’d want on your roster if they were a top player? Let alone risk animosity in the dressing room over a nobody??! We’re not talking Drew Daughty or Brent Burns here. We’re talking about a complete nobody who could have ended Connor’s career, and luckily it was only the season.

    • Chris_Cruise

      You’re right. Bad plays happen. But he crossed the line with the taunting.

      Pointing at his own collarbone and laughing at Connor showed Manning’s true colors.

      Is that even someone you’d want on your roster if they were a top player? Let alone risk animosity in the dressing room over a nobody??! We’re not talking Drew Daughty or Brent Burns here. We’re talking about a complete nobody who could have ended Connor’s career, and luckily it was only the season.

    • Chris_Cruise

      Kassian taunted Gags too while he was wired shut or playing with the cage. I can’t remember exactly. That was a terrible douche move and why despite winning fans over in the short term, Kassian will never truly win the hearts of fans over in the big picture. He was classless. Sure he’s matured but not many guys were as classless as him back then.

    • He didn’t just injure anyone, it was McDavid, and he put him out for like 2 months with a broken collarbone, a nasty injury on a dirty play that completely derailed the Oilers season. There’s a difference, like Brashear or McSorley. If McDavid does not extend and allow Manning to kiss the ring, he will be banished from the dressing room to the far reaches of the press box.

        • Lazarus

          Well you will be happy to know no one incident will cost Conner a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. Because that will never even be at their fingertips.
          Believe that. This team is so far from making a playoff push before Conner says “You know what? F@$^ this. I want out. Now. “

        • I don’t think anybody is denying that, but yes the McDavid injury took the Oilers out of it that year. Everybody knows that.

          What I’m saying is there is a difference in the severity of some infractions. Like McSorley, pretty much ended his career. It all hinges on whether or not McDavid extends his gracious hand toward peasant Manning. If not, Manning is as good as dog meat in the dressing room.

          Personally, I think it would be only too ironic to see Manning ride out the season watching McDavid play from the Oilers press box. Serve him right as far as I’m concerned.

  • rnj

    This is so trashy, aside from being a bad hockey move. Garbage dman for a pick – another losing trade. This guy is someone McDavid said on air “one of the most classless guys I’ve seen on the ice” and you bring him in to right the ship? Of all the dmen in the league?

    What is wrong with this organization. Holy smokes .. shameless..

  • ed from edmonton

    Anyone who doesn’t think D is the Oiler biggest problem hadn’t been watching since period 3 in Denver. Cags 1st period yesterday might have been the worst period of any player all year. Is Manning better than Garrison? I don’t know but I know Garrison was not part of the answer.

  • Real Oiler Fan since 83

    I don’t get why everyone is losing they brains. Seriously would you rather us stand pat and do nothing? There is not many options out there and quite frankly Mr Caggiula is only noticeable once every 3 games and this is the best league in the world. That isn’t good enough. Benning, widman and Garrison are D men that cannot get the puck out or move anybody in front of the net. Petrovic and Manning play a hard game in the D zone. We need this until Klef, Russell and Sekera are back. Calm down my friends.

      • Chris_Cruise

        This!!
        Why anyone thinks Sekera will be able to jump right into the lineup in a month is crazy.

        Even 20 years olds have a hard time acclimating to the speed of the game if they simply miss training camp! While being injury free and in the prime shape of their lives.

        Sekera, who is no spring chicken, is coming off of a horrendous string of lower body injuries and with a season more than half over.

        It sucks but he really shouldn’t be considered at all this season. The reality is he’s going to be slow, timing and touch will be off. And by the time he shows up the season very well could be lost so what’s the point. Let some young guys get their reps in. IMO anyways.

    • the reasonable person

      Yes I’d rather them keep draft picks and use cagguila for a pick at the trade deadline in a year where they will challenge for dead last. It’s coming. Florida will like picking 65th overall for the dman they would healthy scratch and would have let walk. This is a sick joke, even before the fact that one of the no-namr D men they added was Manning. Connor must be starting go get unhappy.

    • MrBung

      I would rather the Oilers fire Chia like they should have after last season. This team is making no progress and these desperation moves will do nothing to help the team now or in the future. These deals are getting done only for/by Chia to show he is “doing something”. Important work is done in June, not January. And the current team is a collection of all the poor moves and decisions he has made. The net effect is not good.

    • nijames

      seriously?? all they are doing is changing names in the back of the jerseys The players moved out are slugs and the ones coming in are the same. These trades don’t make the Oilers better or worse just the same. One injury to McDavid away from being the worst team in the league by far,

  • Big Jacks Meat

    Get over it you narrow minded fans. Manning did not give a crap about Connor and who would playing for the opposition ? You think no Oiler has ever done anything classless ? give your heads a shake. You obviously have never played completive sports. Tugging one out does not count. My lord , leave it alone. He is an Oiler now. A TEAM MATE.

    • rnj

      Yeah I bet you’ve played hockey. The Cobra Kai Badasses right? Clueless keyboard warrior. Injuring people intentionally isn’t OK, give your head a shake

    • Chris_Cruise

      Manning is a classless b!tch who doesn’t deserve to have his name on the same game sheet as 97. Get out of here with this “never played competitive sports” BS. Nothing screams dud more than someone trying to validate themselves on a forum. Let’s just assume most of us have and still play competitive sports ya donkey

  • rnj

    I’m sure you all remember McDavids response to Manning’s comment: “One of the most classless things I’ve seen on the ice”

    The classiest, never say a bad word about anyone Connor McDavid said this on national TV.

    And you bring in that defenseman, of all the guys in the league, to play behind him? And trade a third rounder and a body for him?

    For those who don’t want to waste time looking: Manning is -6 with 0 points in his last five games.

    Absolutely disgusting. This is trash. I feel betrayed as a fan. Why do we have to throw jerseys and buy billboards to make things happen?

    • Chris_Cruise

      Thank you. We’ll put. Anyone on here justifying this trade as something positive needs to give their head a shake. This was yet another example of no move being better than Pete’s move.

  • OldOilerFan

    I”ve long thought the Oilers have completely lost touch with their fan base (just count the number of bathrooms at our shiny arena), but this trade is just absurd. Chia is obviously grasping at straws but to acquire Manning? He’s got borderline stats, he’s not going to turn our season around any more than the other bags of pucks he’s brought in recently, and now you have a question mark in the dressing room. Good gawd…..

    • VvV

      There is enough washrooms at Rogers Place, the issue is people don’t know how to use them, they start the lineup from the entrance, where it is designed to start at each individual urinal. The Oilers even assigned staff to point this out and signs on the floor at one point, but everyone one was too dense to figure it out, just like zipper merging on the Henday.

    • nijames

      That’s what they need is another member of the boys club to take over. No Gretzky’s, no lowes no McTavish’s no Coffey’s please. Get some hockey guys in here and run this team.

  • The Whispererer

    As of now the RD is Larsson, Benning, Petrovic which means Russell is moving back to his natural left side which is now Nurse, Russell, Gravel , Jones Manning with Sekera about a month away and Klefbom a bit longer. Explain again why we needed Manning who is also signed through next year ? Is Nurse the next one out the door ?

    • ed from edmonton

      Well my thought is that for the next month the R D’s will be Late , Jones or Russel, and Pettovic. L D would be Nurse, Jones or Russel, Gravel or Manning with Benning and one lefty in the wings. I don’t know if Pettovic and Manning will help, but what they had since period 3 in Denver wasn’t working.

  • rivid

    All those people complaining about manning being the guy who hurt Conner get over it! Zack kassian did the same thing to Sam Gagne remember? If he turns out to be a good teammate that’s all that matters…. just so you are clear, Mcdavid was asked prior to this trade and gave his ?On it, so if he’s ok then the fans should be too.

  • Chris_Cruise

    Not sure if you guys saw this as well…

    Mark Spector
    @SportsnetSpec
    Told Chiarelli tried to include Ryan Spooner in one of the deals he made Sunday, to no avail.

    The Spooner-for-Ryan-Strome deal that seemed regretful at the time is, alas, regretted

    • Derzie

      Why? Does he not see the results? Why would anyone think they deserved to a keep a job based on these results? This alone is proof that he should not have the job. No self-awareness.

  • Rama Lama

    Who ? I’m sure we have not solved our problems. I think that some one at the Oilers told PC you are NOT allowed to make trades of any consequence.

    I will say that Drake is a good warrior, soon we will all be complaining that we do not have any warrior types on our team………sigh!

  • KootenayDan

    Not easy being objective anymore but it looks like two solid NHL defenseman have been added both with some edge to their game. Could be more than bandaids at the worst it has added depth and keeps the dyke from leaking.

  • Kneedroptalbot

    Peter Chiarelli single handedly Destroyed this franchise. Bruinizing the team and signing goons, trying to make a Big/Heavy/Slow team and trading away talent at every turn.
    Lucic, Kassian, Spooner, Benning, and now Manning!
    What a GOON squad he has assembled!!

    • Chris_Cruise

      Don’t you love how the ONE MAN responsible for this mess simply gets to hide while other ‘soldiers’ take bullets for his mistakes? Like a war general leading his troops into an ambush of certain death.

      Coaches, players, fans are all paying the price and will continue to do so long after he’s gone. That’s the biggest tragedy in all this. That he’ll get to wash his hands clean and move on, while we’re the ones left with the emotional scars. He’s in it for the paycheque while we’re in it with our hearts.

  • GK1980

    Really choked about cags leaving. Brutal just brutal! He shows heart most games and is still young. Gave up on him way too soon. Chia is a fool, a &&$$ing fool.

  • Clayton

    Doesn’t suprise me the Oil would bring Manning in. This is the same organization that brought in a guy convicted of vehicular homicide! Perhaps there is more to this acquisition than people think…maybe the Oil just got Chia’s replacement!?

  • Jimmer

    Hitch said it in the press conference. “Oilers need to outwork not outskill their problems.” That starts on the back end where Garrison, Gravel, Benning Wideman couldn’t stop a cycle to save their lives. Look both Petrovic and Manning bring no more speed, skill, puck moving ability than anyone of the above mentioned…but they are mean and will punish you for having the puck. Now…about those remaining 9 forwards after McDraiNuge…LOL!

  • Dallas Eakins Hair

    So we Cagguila and Garrison for Manning, someone who has two points less than Garrison? Who the hell is Robin Norell? I never heard of him.

    This is one of those trades, that makes me go what? Look I didnt like the raise Cagguila got, I thought it was an overpayment, Drake wasnt the best last year, but after he sat out I sure thought he was playing a lot better.

    Garrison hasnt played much, so his contract wasnt really a big deal it’s same money as Chaisson I believe. So I dont see this as a improvement…or much of anything it’s like taking one cardboard sub out and subbing it for another, no real difference

    Ought to be interesting to see whatMcDavid thinks of seeing Manning sitting across from him, if McDavid hasnt been thrilled about the season, this isnt going to help change his mind, privately I would think he just had a WTF moment. Did Chia even think this trade through, cause I have to wonder

    • ed from edmonton

      Did you watch the game yesterday. Cagulia’s first period might have been the worst period by an Oiler winger since forever. Its been reported than PC discussed the Manning deal with McD before he pulled the trigger.

      • Dallas Eakins Hair

        The whole team was terrible, There were plenty of players to point fingers at. As for McD blessing, you seriously dont think that the Oilers knew the storm that would be coming trading for Manning, the guy who ended McDavid’s first season? And that fans would be PO.’ed by it?

        Seriously this is a PR move by the Oilers toturn the heat down on the Manning trade from Boil to simmer, I am sure McDavid did get a call, after the deal was done to say they traded for Manning and I am sure McDavid was a good solider and said, no worries from me, what the hell else would he say, do you think McDavid is going to come out and blast the GM publicly? C’mon now, be realistic, McDavid will toe the line and put a smile on and say over and done with, privately I think he is not going to be happy about it at all. I would hope for Chia sake Manning is a thrown to another deal, or this comes down to one of the most idiotic trades since he has been GM here

        • OldOilerFan

          My thoughts exactly – there was documented stupid comments made by Manning after that incident. McDavid is such a class act NO way is he going to say anything to the contrary. Now they brought a question mark into the dressing room. Terrific ….