Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach are the new names in Oil Country following Friday afternoon’s trade deadline. Whether the moves work has little to do with Stan Bowman.

Bowman was evidently satisfied with his moves, announcing Thursday that he likely wouldn’t make any more. Edmonton went into the final hours with extra cap space, giving fans hope that a deal would cross their X feeds.

The Bobby McMann speculation swirled, with the destination left unnamed by insiders, until the Seattle Kraken ponied up. There was a ton of noise about another new goaltender coming in, but obviously that didn’t come to fruition either.

So how are we feeling about these moves?

There’s a narrative going around suggesting that Bowman only brought in players that he was familiar with and that played for his former team. They’re essentially saying he had a lazy trade deadline.

While in Chicago, Bowman acquired Murphy from the Phoenix Coyotes for Niklas Hjalmarsson, and he drafted Dach in the 2021 NHL Draft, 62nd overall, in what was his final draft as the Blackhawks general manager. Lazy or a coincidence?

There’s a key layer missing from the “lazy” narrative.

Murphy and Dickinson have elite defensive traits and played a major role on the Blackhawks’ penalty kill, which ranks first in the NHL at 85.6 per cent. Bowman mentioned on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer that the PK system in Chicago is the same as Edmonton’s, suggesting it also factored into the decision to acquire both of them.

The Oilers’ biggest needs were a right-shot top-four defenceman and a shutdown third-line centre. They got both.

The market was thin for those kinds of players, too. John Carlson was the most notable, but the rest were either depth options or had a year remaining. Murphy was one of the best options available.

Nicolas Roy and Nic Dowd each found new teams after the Dickinson trade. Roy got Colorado a first-round pick and another late-round pick, while a 35-year-old Nic Dowd fetched Washington a second-round pick, third-round pick, and Jesper Vikman, a goaltending prospect.

Scott Laughton would’ve been a good addition, especially since he only cost the L.A. Kings a conditional third-round pick. With how late that deal was announced, you have to wonder if Toronto just cashed in whatever they could get for him.

The prices paid were fine for players who can help Edmonton win games and fill a couple of holes.

None of this matters unless his players start to pull up their socks and get to work. They were completely outclassed by the East-leading Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. Edmonton looked more like the 2010 Oilers roster chasing the first overall pick than one that should be going toe-to-toe with a fellow contender like Carolina.

This now comes down to Knoblauch. Despite going to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, a portion of the fan base has lost faith in him. Rightfully so.

Too many players don’t have roles, and when the times get tough, Knoblauch turns to McDavid and Draisaitl to save the day, despite them having lacklustre numbers together at five-on-five this season. Edmonton has struggled to build chemistry amid constant line shuffling. That’s now come into their defensive game, which is essentially non-existent.

Fans watched a team that suffocated and bled opponents’ offence dry in the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. Now they allow them to score goals like they’re going out of fashion. Edmonton has allowed 56 goals in its last 12 games, the worst mark in the NHL over that stretch.

With less than 20 games left in the regular season, the Oilers are clinging to a playoff spot and have no positive identity. Their only identity is that they leak goals and rely heavily on McDavid and Draisaitl to save them.

That’s on the head coach.

With that said, there is still time. Edmonton faces the Vegas Golden Knights tonight, and that’s when the pursuit has to begin. The players are good enough. The coach is good enough. So the team should be good enough. Can they be? Frankly, they don’t have a choice.

Bowman did his job at the deadline. Now it’s time for Knoblauch and the players to hold up their end of the bargain.

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