Not sure the handwringing. This is akin to "Oh wow, Lowe got Quinn AND Renney to coach, the Oilers are going to turn the corner". At least Quinn and Renney had success and were smart hockey guys. But they too were neutered. Quinn gave up after a year. Renney basically quit, and has since said he had pressure from above to play players and tactics he didn't want.
1)Lowe got Nicholson the job thanks to Wayne hiring Lowe out of pity in 2002. Lowe's not going anywhere, he's befriended Katz (if he even needed to) who also isn't going anywhere, and anyone Lowe throws under the bus isn't going to solve the issue.
2)Nicholson doesn't have experience running an NHL team. Dealing with multimillionaires, dealing with local business conditions (no longer is Labatt schmoozing him and giving him a blank cheque, with Edmonton's reputation he's schmoozing Rick's electric to get $5k in the door). Head of Hockey Canada is politicking (recall his big stink about not being able to use the HC logo in Vancouver 2010) more then hands on operations...and even if so, the hands on operations of bottom of the barrel NHL team. Again, this means Lowe has his hands all over things, no matter what title they give Nicholson to polish the turd.
3)Changes will be that Nelson is gone. Nelson was gone as soon as MacTavish said he was going to be behind the bench for the first 6 games. Then when they refused to give him credit for modestly turning the results around.
Surprised after Saturday he is still employed; with Lowe's ego and shiny new toy and McDavid, he doesn't want some no name coach coaching him, or leading his team into cities visiting all his hockey "pals" around the league.
4)MacT is safe, I think...he's Lowe's marionette, and you can tell through the clumsy phrases that he's a repeater, not a thinker....though in "revolutionary" fashion, as Lowe likes to think he is, I can see McT given a slight demotion while a "name" GM steps in, again, satisfying Lowe's ego and continuing need for sizzle over substance (see Kruger vs Eakins).
All in all, this is all optics. As long as Lowe is anywhere near the building, that reputation he's sunk that organization down to amongst players, agents, and even coaches, will carry on...which means no UFA's of any substance, and the lack of waiving of NTC's for any player good enough to be given one.
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