BLOG: Oilers react post-game to Green's acquisition

LOS ANGELES, CA -Oilers players arrived in the dressing room following their 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday to news that the club had acquired defenceman Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings before the final horn sounded.
Oilers General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Ken Holland acquired the veteran in exchange for forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional draft pick in either 2020 or 2021.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins:
"I just got word from our media guy, but it's exciting. Obviously we're in a different position than past years and we're pushing right now, so adding a guy like that, a very experienced guy and high-end defenceman, it's definitely exciting times."
Mike Smith:
"When you're adding pieces to try and make your team better or boost your team at this time of the year, it's exciting," Smith, who made 21 saves on 23 shots, said. "It's an exciting time to be playing important games and it's so close, so it's like a playoff mentality right now. Any time you add a player of that calibre, it's exciting for our group."
"Obviously take some time to let it sink in, but Mike Green's a player that's been around a long time, has tremendous skill back there, can skate, and obviously a veteran presence that's been around. So I think it's a great add for us and obviously it's an exciting time to play important games like I said."
"It's better than subtracting players, so I think any time you add a player with the calibre of Mike Green is obviously exciting. I just found out about it too, so it's an exciting time to be playing important games. Obviously I've been on the other side of it when you're playing in February or March and game's don't matter, so I think that's no fun at all and this is when you want to play. This is why we play, and when you're adding players like him, it's an exciting time for the group."

Riley Sheahan:
"It's huge for us. He's a great player and obviously he's fun to watch. He's a smooth skater and makes some great plays, then in the locker room he's a great guy. So to add a guy like that who can help some of our young talent and be a veteran presence in the locker room is huge for us. We're definitely happy to have him."
"I think it just kind of shows the confidence there, and we already know we've been playing some good hockey. To add a player like that is huge for us, so we just have to keep the ball rolling and everyone's got to keep buying in like they have been and see what happens."
Connor McDavid:
"It's exciting. I've definitely been on the other side where you're losing friends to trades and all that, so it's nice to be on the other side where you're acquiring guys and trying to make a push. I think Green's a great player. He's a veteran guy, he's been around a long time, and moves the puck really well. We're really looking forward to having him come and join."
"I think we've put ourselves in a position where he can go out and get guys and give us an opportunity to keep moving forward and keep pushing not only towards a playoff spot, but a playoff run. That's exciting."
Head Coach Dave Tippett:
"A good, veteran puck-moving D who gives us some depth on the back end now. One of the areas we were looking at, and Kenny was able to get something done. So we're very happy about adding him to our group."
"It's way better to add, and I said that the other day. It's way better to add then subtract, and your whole team is a little more at ease with it. I look at those players in that room and they've earned the right to keep pushing here. Kenny's added a piece for us which will help, but I give the credit all to the players. They're the ones that have to come out and get the job done, and they want to be a good team and want to be a playoff team. They want to earn the right to be a playoff team. To put ourselves in this position where we're looking to try to get better down the stretch, that's a positive sign for us."