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Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
It is puzzling why he stood up for Eakins in that interview. Ok, maybe his systems and one-on-one coaching sessions MAY have been underrated or something, but to have guys partying every night AND not going hard in practice? Anyone think Darryl Sutter would put up with it? Or Bill Peters right now? Or Bob Hartley? Ok, maybe these are more demanding coaches, but I don't think I would see that from guys like Mike Babcock, Quenneville, Trotz.. heck Green in Vancouver probably wouldn't stand for it.
Being a good coach in the NHL is not just about your X's and O's. It is about managing the players and making sure that the team is professional on and off the ice. I don't think that Hitchcock would be putting up with any of those shenanigans either. Maybe that is why the Oilers have been better since they hired him?
The Hall and Eberle trades make a lot more sense now after that interview. Also, I do remember that there were 'cliques' on that Edmonton squad that Ference was on. I remember he was on one clique with some other vets and Yakupov, while Hall, Eberle and I forgot whom else was on the other. At any rate, the Edmonton Oilers didn't put a stop to it and I bet that is one of the mitigating factors as to why they have such trouble developing players there. Remember when Hartley came down on Monahan and Gaudreau (and Bouma) the day after the 'Superbowl Incident'? That's what professional teams do - force their players to be professionals. Sure, go party - but don't you even think about breaking a team rule or showing up to practice late and/or not giving a full effort.
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I think the players realized they were bigger than the coach and would simply outlast him. Sometimes the coach needs the GM to back him up with a trade. That never happened for Eakins.
I would agree that Eakins probably needed to do more to reign in the party boys. I can't believe they had a derogatory name for someone who tried in practice - like that player was the problem. What a lazy, unprofessional group! The Oilers were powerless to do anything about it. E=ng