People look at each transaction in isolation (for obvious reasons), but it is important to look at the overall impact to the team. And the Oilers have gotten smaller, slower, older, and softer this summer.
Out:
Desharnais, 6'7"
Ceci: 6'3"
Foegele: 6'2"
McLeod: 6'3"
Holloway: 6'1"
In:
Brown: 6'5"
Emberson: 6'2"
Arvidsson: 5'10"
Skinner: 5'11"
Podzolkin: 6'1"
They got smaller (by 2" on average), older (by more than 3 years on avg) and slower.
Most importantly, they got much softer. I thought the biggest difference in the Oilers this year, compared to past years, was that they could handle the physicality, and actually dish it out quite a bit. But they have lost several of their most physical players, along with some speed. Add in Kane on LTIR and they have gone from actually being one of the more physical teams, to being very soft again.
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