Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
It's a predictable pattern. The Oilers also got early "buy in" under McLellan and Tippet, but history shows that it does not last. They will turn on Woodcroft, too.
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Yup, because when frustrated, the guy that’s insulated himself for 26 years within the organization, edicts from above, through the GM first, and then directly to the coach, or in some cases, directly to the players too.
NHL coaches and GMs prefer to handle their own business, so when they start to get told what to do or whatever other undermining occurs from above, they usually eventually push back.
In Edmonton, that then gets the cue to get the state sponsored press starting their campaign to get the masses riled up. Renney found that out. Eakins found that out. Richards never had a chance. MacLellan found that out, so did Tippett. Woodcroft may not have the balls to push back and his lack of experience will make him a puppet of Lowe more so than the last two coaches.
My guess is that they think of replacing him next summer as the team doesn’t reach where they got this year (or even close) but they hold off…grudgingly…he makes it to November 2023, when the Oilers come out of the gate slow.
Holland lasts until next summer as he gets the blame for executing the decisions and requests from those above him…or the summer after that as Connor’s D day starts to loom. He will get blamed for the Nurse deal and everything else; Smith, Keith, Kassian etc during his smear campaign.