Hockey fans angered with San Jose Sharks after trade with Oilers

The Oilers had an urgent salary cap problem, being $8.2M over the limit after the St. Louis Blues signed Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets. The team was in no place of strength to negotiate a trade, and Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen reported that the Oilers may have to add a first round pick to trade Ceci. Instead, they got a draft pick in return, a quality young defender, and shed all of Ceci's contract.

Now, fans across the NHL are all livid that the San Jose Sharks seemingly helped the Oilers out with a great deal in a bad situation. San Jose Sharks fans are upset to have dealt so many assets for a player they'll likely trade again at the deadline this year, and other hockey fans are upset the Oilers were easily able to get out of their cap troubles.

The trade doesn't totally solve the Oilers' salary cap problems, but it at least gives them plenty more options with their offer sheet situation. Now it looks like the Oilers may have acquired replacements for their RFAs with Vasily Podkolzin and Ty Emberson, and if they don't match either offer sheet, they'd be under the salary cap with Evander Kane on LTIR. Clearing Ceci's $3.25M salary in this trade was vital to give the Oilers any options at all in this situation.

With these moves, the Oilers are solidifying their depth and adding cost-controlled players, making their roster look deeper than ever before even without Broberg and Holloway. They only have one day left to match the offer sheets from St. Louis, so the official news should be coming at any moment now.