[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't blame Puljujarvi for his poor development. Even with his refusal to go down to the AHL and get his career on track. Why?


Because the Oilers are the NHL's most idiotic franchise. They know absolutely nothing about character, leadership and class. That's the culture of the Edmonton Oilers. It has been like that for over 10 years.



Just read some of the stuff Ference talked about. There were cliques on the team. Players trying to hard in practice to actually get better would be ridiculed. They would go party until late and show up to the rink on game day tired.



I don't often say that you should listen to rumours, nor do I necessarily subscribe to the idea of "where there's smoke, there's fire!". However, there has just been way too many rumours that all too often seem to fill in some blanks.



Lastly, just use your own brains. Compare how the worst-run franchise does at developing players with how other teams do it.


Puljujarvi is probably at this point thinking: "This is how things are done in the NHL. This is how those guys did it, and look at them with their big contracts." He is now just as entitled as Hall was, Eberle was... that's the culture on the team. There is no strong veteran presence there to guide them. When the Oilers have a (unexpected) eureka moment and notice this hole, they sign someone known for being a really good leader (Ference), but then it is too late. The coach is already stuck giving these guys all the ice-time. The team goes on in the media about how good they are and how important they are. They remain the leaders on that team. They will laugh at the veteran leadership and totally shut him out.


Sorry, your team gets blown out, that is the exact time that a captain HAS to take the brunt of it with the media. That's called living up to your responsibility. That builds character. That helps to create culture.


"No, you are too good and too important to face this media crap after we get blown out. You just take it easy. We will let the shmucks on the team that we don't really care about face them."


It just exemplifies everything that is wrong with that team in a nutshell. No accountability. Let's just give our shiny new toys top ice-time to appease the fans because losing the right way is too hard. Let's just promote our star player over the team. Let's allow 18 and 19 year old kids to come in and SET the culture of the team.



Keep doing what you are doing Edmonton. I love you for it. But holy jeez are you guys ever stupid.