CiCi is our "Cloutier?"

[MiketheKing]

Perhaps, bringing in Cici is our 2026 version of Dan Cloutier--bringing in a player so bad, he insures us a blue-chip prospect through sheer incompetence?

Either a 5-D chess move to net us a modern day Doughty via the draft or trash GM move out of desperation?

Just asking, because it's sincerely painful to watch this slow plug on the ice consistently getting embarrassed.

 

[ICE24]

You can only blame the GM on this one, however, Ceci is not the only issue on this team. Holland was brought in to make this team into a second round playoff team. The moves he made, have failed to get this team into the playoffs.

For the next two seasons, he is going to make desperate moves to upgrade this team and they will fail due to his desperation. This team rode on Darcy Keumper's back and he is no longer able to carry the load. He stole so many wins and pity points that it looked like the Kings were actually a team that could possibly make a run.

 

[symbology]

 

[DryKing]

You can only blame the GM on this one, however, Ceci is not the only issue on this team. Holland was brought in to make this team into a second round playoff team. The moves he made, have failed to get this team into the playoffs.

For the next two seasons, he is going to make desperate moves to upgrade this team and they will fail due to his desperation. This team rode on Darcy Keumper's back and he is no longer able to carry the load. He stole so many wins and pity points that it looked like the Kings were actually a team that could possibly make a run.

I'd say coaching has failed to get the team into the playoffs more than anything else. Next season Holland will choose his HC and the clock officially starts. Based on what he did at the trade deadline, I don't foresee him making desperate moves.

He did make the roster a better playoff roster (on paper), but losing Gav along with an aging Doughty and Kopitar are areas he still has yet to show a plan for. Hopefully this off-season is a good one, and we get lucky at the draft. Still, I think he has done a good job so far.

 

[dannybuoy1]

I will take Ceci over Doughty. But both of them gone would be nice.

 

[MiketheKing]

I will take Ceci over Doughty. But both of them gone would be nice.

It's like choosing to rather be shot or stabbed to death

 

[ICE24]

I'd say coaching has failed to get the team into the playoffs more than anything else. Next season Holland will choose his HC and the clock officially starts. Based on what he did at the trade deadline, I don't foresee him making desperate moves.

He did make the roster a better playoff roster (on paper), but losing Gav along with an aging Doughty and Kopitar are areas he still has yet to show a plan for. Hopefully this off-season is a good one, and we get lucky at the draft. Still, I think he has done a good job so far.

Having two years left on his contract, I don't think he has time to make this team a playoff team without desperate moves that can easily fail. He has to take chances and hopefully they work. To say the least, it will be an interesting summer.

 

[King of Pentacle5]

I'd say coaching has failed to get the team into the playoffs more than anything else. Next season Holland will choose his HC and the clock officially starts. Based on what he did at the trade deadline, I don't foresee him making desperate moves.

He did make the roster a better playoff roster (on paper), but losing Gav along with an aging Doughty and Kopitar are areas he still has yet to show a plan for. Hopefully this off-season is a good one, and we get lucky at the draft. Still, I think he has done a good job so far.

Don’t be surprised if he signs DJ to an extension.

 

[Clif]

Don’t be surprised if he signs DJ to an extension.

Again - based on what? Holland has zero history with DJ. As we basically all recognize, the Kings are playing better than under Hiller but that’s not saying much. The record is still a joke. This feels like pessimism for pessimism’s sake.

What we need to be doing right now is prepping for why Woodcroft is going to embarrass us and do our homework to vilify this hiring before it actually happens.

 

[What party?]

As a jackass I'm torn between posting a beach ball or a pylon.

 

[DryKing]

Having two years left on his contract, I don't think he has time to make this team a playoff team without desperate moves that can easily fail. He has to take chances and hopefully they work. To say the least, it will be an interesting summer.

Yeah you may be right but, minus the glaring void Kopitar will leave when he retires, we look pretty good in terms of forwards.

The other way is getting a few lucky picks in the draft that are ready to make the NHL roster quickly.

Add a player like McKenna to the roster and it's not that far off as that leaves cap space to sure up the defense while solidifying the forward group.

Obviously that would take a good deal of luck to win the draft lottery though (something the Kings have never done).

Until we get a top tier HC, though, it's all academic.

 

[dannybuoy1]

It's like choosing to rather be shot or stabbed to death

100 percent.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Buy his ass out and turn the page

 

[Moog]

Bringing back Cloutier as a reference to what is going on currently with this franchise.

....and we have reached a new low.

 

[Bill Hicks]

Suit up Moverarve over Ceci.

 

[Bollocks]

Bringing back Cloutier as a reference to what is going on currently with this franchise.

....and we have reached a new low.

It's unfair though. Dan era can't be matched by this team. Sure, they're worse than the FO promised and we hoped, but there's an ocean of difference between Cloutier level bad and anyone on this roster level bad.

 

[Clif]

Buy his ass out and turn the page

There could be a player out there a team wants to unload where a swap could have mutual benefit.

This got me thinking about Nurse and paying that salary for two seasons, and how EDM desperately wants to unload that contract so they would probably actually do it. Hate to help them but Nurse is better than Ceci. Just wildly overpaid.

Then I saw EDM is paying him through the 29-30 season. Holy moly that is the mother of bad contracts for real.

 

[What party?]

There could be a player out there a team wants to unload where a swap could have mutual benefit.

This got me thinking about Nurse and paying that salary for two seasons, and how EDM desperately wants to unload that contract so they would probably actually do it. Hate to help them but Nurse is better than Ceci. Just wildly overpaid.

Then I saw EDM is paying him through the 29-30 season. Holy moly that is the mother of bad contracts for real.

Night nurse
Only you alone can quench this Jah thirst
My night nurse, oh gosh
Oh the pain it's getting worse

I don't wanna see no doc
I need attendence from my nurse around the clock
'Cause there's no prescription for me
She's the one, the only remedy

 

[Clif]

Night nurse
Only you alone can quench this Jah thirst
My night nurse, oh gosh
Oh the pain it's getting worse

I don't wanna see no doc
I need attendence from my nurse around the clock
'Cause there's no prescription for me
She's the one, the only remedy

The only remedy…are you saying the only player we could get for Ceci is 4 more years of Darnell Nurse? You may be right.

 

[What party?]

The only remedy…are you saying the only player we could get for Ceci is 4 more years of Darnell Nurse? You may be right.

Well, yes and no. Yes, I love a good set-up that leads to a Reggae song and no giving the Oilers a break from a mistake they made, is not my preference. I think Dean-o said buy Ceci out, seems like the path of least resistance especially since they are vaguely familiar with Mr. Ceci. (see below)

From the internet:
Oilers Contract Blunders & Poor Value

• Darnell Nurse ($9.25M AAV): Often cited as difficult to move, this contract is considered high for his performance relative to the cap, stemming from a high-scoring 56-game season.
• Trent Frederic (2025 Extension): Labeled by Yardbarker as one of the NHL's worst, this 8-year, $3.9M AAV deal is seen as too long for a depth player.
• Zack Kassian Extension: Initially a fan favorite, his extension became burdensome as his performance dropped to a fourth-line level, necessitating a costly trade to move him.
• Nikita Nikitin ($4.5M AAV): Considered one of the worst in team history, he was signed to a high cap hit despite poor previous performance.
• Cody Ceci ($3.25M - $4.5M AAV): Often viewed as overpaid for his top-four role, with his value debated heavily during playoff performances.
• Warren Foegele (2022-23 season): Faced criticism as a poor contract due to lack of special teams contribution and diminished scoring.
  The Hockey News +7

Historically Significant Missteps

• Griffin Reinhart Trade (2015): Oilers Nation calls this one of the worst in franchise history, trading two high draft picks for a defender who quickly became a bust.
• Milan Lucic Signing: A seven-year, $42M deal that failed to provide expected value, eventually leading to a trade for James Neal.

Threw in the Lucic for a twist of the knife but if a fun Heath Ledger's "Joker" way.