Oilers GM Ken Holland Getting Chirped for Duncan Keith Trade

The Edmonton Oilers were #1 on Duncan Keith's preferred trade destinations as the long-time Chicago Blackhawks defenseman wanted to be closer to his son. Oilers general manager Ken Holland made it happen and is now receiving a ton of slack for what he gave up to get the deal done.

🔁 TRADE 🔁

The #Oilers have acquired defenceman Duncan Keith & forward Tim Soderlund from Chicago in exchange for defenceman Caleb Jones & a conditional draft pick in 2022. #LetsGoOilers
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 12, 2021

First off everyone could not believe the Blackhawks did not retain any salary in the trade. Keith is set to make $5.5 million for the next two seasons and at 37 years old is overpaid. Considering everyone knew Keith had Edmonton as his first pick and knew the Blackhawks were looking to trade him, all Chicago's leverage was gone. The fact Edmonton "overpaid" with this trade makes no sense at all. No wonder Holland is getting the business online as the collective hockey world scratches their heads...

Duncan Keith, traded to EDM, has put up hideous results for the past several seasons in a steady decline consistent with a player in his late thirties. The Oil are praying that a smaller role will spark a huge improvement - it's a major gamble. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/28bksotACz
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 12, 2021

Everyone is so focused on the Duncan Keith trade being a bad one for the Oilers that no one is talking about how horrible it's going to be when Ken Holland extends him.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 12, 2021

The Duncan Keith trade is the tipping point: we're no longer really allowed to talk about Ken Holland's hands being tied financially by Peter Chiarelli.

Keith + Kassian combine for $9.1MM in cap space, and both were Holland decisions. He had money; this is how he's used it.
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) July 12, 2021

Connor McDavid to Oilers management: "Eichel, Kuznetsov and Tarasenko are all available."

Oilers management: "We've really got our eye on 38-year-old Duncan Keith."
— Michael Amato (@amato_mike) July 10, 2021

The Oilers fixing their defense with Duncan Keith pic.twitter.com/rxsx2YbnHn
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) July 12, 2021

Kinda feel bad for Duncan Keith because it's gonna seem like everyone is shitting on him personally, but really it's about the Oilers failing to comprehend value and leverage
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) July 12, 2021

Oilers management to Connor McDavid after the Duncan Keith trade: pic.twitter.com/0iq1tq5Cs7
— Michael Amato (@amato_mike) July 12, 2021

Holland cites the acquisition of Chris Chelios in 1999 in defending his trade for Duncan Keith. For context, Chelios got Norris votes the year Holland acquired him; Keith is five years removed from the last time he received a vote for that trophy.
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) July 13, 2021