[News] Oilers to name Todd McLellan head coach

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I'm not even sure McLellan is that good of a coach, he had a star studded team for like a decade and couldn't take them past the 2nd round of the playoffs. The Sharks constantly underachieved while he was at the helm.

I've watched a lot of the Sharks and I've been saying for years (so not just cause its the oilers) that SJ was always unimpressive and underachieving.

[GranteedEV]

I can't wait for the Oil to blow their first 0-3 series lead to the other team in the same division as them that's clutcher and better with their back to the wall.

[Magnum PEI]

Six coaches in five years. Seven if you count Mac-T. That takes some skill.

[oldschoolcalgary]

nicholson, chiarelli, Mclelland and McDavid in the last couple of months (really sparked by that stupid NHL lottery system).

The oilers are definitely looking a lot better now, and it think its hard to argue that they aren't moving in a better direction than before.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

nicholson, chiarelli, Mclelland and McDavid in the last couple of months (really sparked by that stupid NHL lottery system).

The oilers are definitely looking a lot better now, and it think its hard to argue that they aren't moving in a better direction than before.

Yup. I knew the hilarious ineptitude would end, but I'm sad to see it go. My brother is an Oilers fan and he called them stumblebums, which I always thought was awesome. They may not be elite yet, but they finally are taking correct steps to change what was glaringly wrong

[Ashasx]

I'll give it 12 months.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Yup. I knew the hilarious ineptitude would end, but I'm sad to see it go. My brother is an Oilers fan and he called them stumblebums, which I always thought was awesome. They may not be elite yet, but they finally are taking correct steps to change what was glaringly wrong

yeah, stumblebums, keystone cops, really describe those guys to a <mac>T...

while its possible they continue to bumble their way forward, with those four pieces added, its a lot less likely.

[Wolfman]

A new coach won't keep the puck out of the net. Still lots of work to do!

[GirlySports]

I think he's like Terry Murray. He's a good coach that will take the Oilers into the playoffs in a few years but will never get them further.

[Sylvanfan]

Go back in time to the end of the 2013-2014 regular season. Than think that Chiarelli and Todd McLellan will both be working for the Oilers in 13 months. It blows my mind. 2 games into the 2014 playoffs a Boston and San Jose final looked like a good bet.

Today these two are trying to piece the Oilers back together.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Good hire. Sucks for Flames fans, but pretty sure next season will be the start of the Oilers returning to respectability in this league. Not saying all will be fixed in one year, or that they are even returning to the playoffs next year, but too many things coming together for them. Another first round pick, this time Mc David. And they are actually hiring legitimate hockey executives and now coaches to run their team. We can micro critique the moves of their new president or the merits of their new coach but at the very least they are NHL caliber individuals in their roles. That is not something they have even remotely come close to having for over a decade, which is literally mind blowing.

Still lots of work to do, and I'm not saying they are going to be a head of the Flames, but really really hard to think that this time they won't at least take a step in the right direction this year.

[memphusk]

Could be a tough draw for a guy that didn't win with the crew he had in San Jose. Baby steps are better than having those other dummy's at the helm though. I could of watched Eakins for a couple more.seasons though. Wow that guy is terrible.

[browna]

Quinn and Renney were well respected hockey guys too that Lowe managed to hoodwink. Didn't mean squat.

More credibility won't automatically mean the rush of free agents, or players waiving their NTC to go there...there is enough of the old regieme (Lowe) still lurking in the shadows, responsible for the disgrace of an organization, still around for that to happen. Until it does happen, outside of some more structure and discipline (like Renney and Quinn brought in), he'll have an uphill battle still because he needs all around experienced players to change the culture there, and they won't be coming right away, if at all.

I wonder if we'll ever hear from Lowe...he has to be steaming still at his demotion.

[Meers]

I'd like to express my deepest condolences to the McLellan family. It's tragic to lose a loved one in the prime of their life. The circumstances, of course, are especially heartbreaking - you never like to lose someone close in a flaming turd-filed dumpster fire.

His career is officially over.

No one can coach that box of snakes.

[Scoutski]

Unfortunately I am scared of where they might be able to get to in the next 2-3 years if they continue to make positive decisions. What next? Are they going to finally rid themselves of Kevin Lowe? Say it ain't so...

[dying4acup]

Scotty Bowman couldn't coach or GM a group like this to the playoffs. Once you are taught to believe that it's ok to lose, you can never go "balls to the wall" for a win.

Getting Chiarelli, MacLellan and McDavid is awesome, and I would have loved it for the Flames 2 years ago, but the oilers also need to get the losing culture out.

[Walter Reed]

Should this prove to be accurate I'll be pleased. Supposedly his reputation among his peers is solid & respected. While I don't foresee the Oilers getting into the playoffs immediately I'm of the opinion that Edmonton is a improved organization now from the conclusion of the season's end.

[activeStick]

McDavid has a strong chance at becoming a top 3 player in the league as soon as in 2 years and maybe moving the spotlight off Hall, RNH and Yakupov allow them to realize their potential. Even if they don't though, McDavid is quite the score for Edmonton.

Good GM and solid coach. There's little doubt in my mind the Oilers are going to improve under their new leadership group and with McDavid, should do so quite quickly... Still need a goalie and defense though.

[CaptainCrunch]

TM had trouble wrangling ego's in San Jose and while he's a coach he had the benefit of a supremely talented team in San Jose and didn't do much with it. The Sharks probably would have had the same results with dallas Eakins as a head coach, that's an exaggeration but not much of one.

The Oilers have the same elements as the Sharks in a lot of ways. A few very talented but non committed players in Eberle and Hall who are going to have to change their game to survive. RNH is a decent two way player but he's probably going to lose a bunch of ice time to McFlurry with Peanuts.

But what the Oilers don't have is San Jose's depth blueline and goaltending.

The Oilers might get there, but I'm more of the mind that they will do what they've done even with Chia at the helm. Lowe and Mac-T still have the favor and probably the Ear of Katz (Why do you think they weren't fired?) They'll find a way to screw things up.

Tom Renney and Pat Quinn came in as the same kind of high profile coaches, and the Oiler players quit on them early on.

[topfiverecords]

They're welcome to all the 9th place finishes they can handle.