[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Let's see, strong systems coaches that have been turfed: McLellan, Hitchcock, Tippett

Let's see, good goaltenders that struggled in Edmonton and found success elsewhere: Dubnyk, Talbot (who is still doing quite well elsewhere, might I add). I seem to remember the fans running him out of town following one down year after several strong years. The team's struggles were all the fault of the goaltenders, but it turns out that narrative is not and has never been true.

So I have to say, I'm calling this out as bull####. This is a systematic issue with the organization over the years of not holding the young stars more accountable for their defensive development and leadership roles in creating a strong team play. It also has a LOT to do with some horrible GMs who continuously provide little to no quality support for the stars so they feel like they have to abandon the team game plan and play an individual offensive game in order to give the team a chance to win. If there was a lesson on how to NOT build a team around two superstars, this would be in a textbook.

The culture of the franchise has enabled these poor behaviors, and you can see it in any metric you want to look at over the years. Now it has become so engrained in who they are as pros that it would take a seismic shift in their careers (like getting traded) before they decide to make a change. That's not going to happen with the culture in Edmonton and so they will continue to languish.

Spector's piece the other day was bang on, but instead of others chiming in and noting where he was correct and maybe quibbling over a few minor points, he's currently being chastised and vilified by the fans and other media members. Again, this is a cultural issue surrounding the Oilers. Nobody is ever allowed to assess accurately and provide meaningful critique, so this will continue. Change only comes from being uncomfortable, and everyone is too comfy.

In short, it's time you realized something that everyone else here and around the league has realized.

Edmonton. Is. No. Good.

Nurse can’t even answer a softball question that hard hitting muck raking journalist Ryan Rishaug about “where his game is at.”

He’s now mentoring their younger defensemen. The tradition of unaccountable arrogance continues.