On the 31 Thoughts Podcast this week Marek referenced something we’ve all been saying for years.
In reference to Detroit...
Quote:
... “just let this team stay in games as long as you can, and it helps when you have a netminder and it helps when you have a blue line that can get the pucks to the forwards, and I know those have been a couple of challenging spots for the Detroit Redwings.
But, I’m with you, look at the young players they’re bringing in, I think they’ve done a really good job of having veteran players around these kids so you’re not just handing out gigs, you’re not just handing out spots. I think the best thing you can hope for on a day-to-day basis is these kids get to play a full 3 periods, and by that I mean, the game isn’t over 1/2 way through the game. You’re not getting blown out 6-2 going into the 3rd period, where ‘we just have to go through the motions and play an empty calorie 20 minutes.
So to your point, we’re seeing that with Detroit.
I always look at that when at what point... and I’ll use the Oilers here as an example when they had Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle that crew, do you say to yourself what are we really learning about these players and what are these young players really learning when...A. You don’t have a defence that can get the forwards the puck.
B. You’re out of game by the time the midpoint of the second period rolls around.
C. You’re out of the playoffs by Christmas. Like if you want to talk about not giving your kids a chance to succeed or grow, that was it.
That era of Oiler really should be a case study for other teams around the NHL on how not to do it and how not to do it and how you can hurt development of players by not putting them in a situation where you get to feel what a real 3 periods feels like in the NHL.”
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However... as Marek flies too close to the sun in his critique of previous Oiler teams... he fails to mention what has changed.
They still don’t have a blueline that can get forwards the puck or goaltending that can keep them in games they have no business being in.
The only thing they learned, or lucked out in, from their previous rebuild is to get better forwards in McDavid and Draisatl.
That’s it. Lottery balls. That was their lesson.