[News] Bob Nicholson stepping down from Hockey Canada

[CaptainCrunch]

You know there's got to be a great soap opera ish script in this Oilers story line somewhere

For characters you have

Daryl Katz - A combination of Palpatine the evil emperor from Star Wars, but not as smart or evil, kind of a naive stupidity

His Kid - That kid writes himself in my mind, spoiled with a insanely bad home perm

Kevin Lowe - Like a Viper, stealth stupidity who knows winning

Dallas Eakins - The Ted McGinley of the Oilers, uses lots of hair product oh so stupid

Mac-T - The straight man with a Master Degree from the University of Phoenix which is the Harvard of on line colleges

Steve Smith and Buchberger - two footstools in Edmonton Pajama's

And Bob Nicholson - I figure he's going to be the Arthur Carlsson of the whole family, there to deflect critism about the old boys club and play with his train set. Or the evil henchman bought in to suppress an uprising by the people, a Bane so to speak.

[Vinny01]

Nicholson will be brought in to appease a furious fanbase who has basically given up on their teams managment. This gives Lowe and MacT one last shot at it and failure this year will result in Gretzky coming in as President and Messier as GM

[Coach]

Can't see how that's an improvement on his HC gig.

But he's an older guy, looking to get a good Oilers 6x6 to carry him into retirement?

[jschick88]

Well looks like it's happening.

Reid Wilkins ‏@ReidWilkins 3m
The Katz Group has called a news conference for 10am tomorrow morning.

Jason Gregor ‏@JasonGregor 41s
#Oilers brass flying in from Kelowna for press conference tomorrow. Likely for Nicholson. Wouldn't fly in for minor announcement.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

His Kid - That kid writes himself in my mind, spoiled with a insanely bad home perm

Is it really necessary to drag his kid into it, since I'm willing to bet no one here knows anything about him other than what he looks like.

Nothing wrong with Oilers hate but can we leave the kid out of it?

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by Ped

Is it really necessary to drag his kid into it, since I'm willing to bet no one here knows anything about him other than what he looks like.

Nothing wrong with Oilers hate but can we leave the kid out of it?

We shouldn't even know what he looks like, but Katz insists on making him a focal point of the draft each year.

[browna]

There should be a pleathora of fodder for the "no good" thread after Lowe takes the mic tomorrow.

Again, I just don't see how the experience of being the top guy at a wide ranging organization like Hockey Canada, which have much different ideals and goals than an NHL organization, relates to basically giving the keys to running the business side of an NHL team.

For Lowe though, Nicholson's value is in the fact that he's a recognizable name that he's just throwing out to the fanbase, in order to placate them and dispel the notion that he's not hiring anyone but the Boys on the Bus.

However, fact is, he's gotten to know Nicholson after Gretzky added Lowe to the Olympic program in 2002, so they already have that buddy buddy relationship. As a bonus, Nicholson's much more removed from than other NHL people outside of Edmonton, (who are already within the league) who know the depth's of Lowe's abilities to perpetually continue decimate a franchise's reputation off the ice.

[nik-]

If would be so much better if all their media wasn't so whipped and would actually call out the ####ty job they do. They don't though, since they know the Oilers are so sensitive that they'll cut off their access.

I would love to see a reporter goad Lowe into another tantrum.

[metallicat]

Lowe knows a thing or two about winning, you know.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Locke

Thats ridiculous. You know what that is? That is Bob Nicholson getting paid to sit on his ass as a reward for allowing Kevin Lowe to tag along on Team Canada all these years.

There is no 'business side' to the Oilers. They have 'x' number of seats for which they charge 'y' number of dollars to achieve 'z.' Business side complete.

Unless they need Bob to see if he can get them a discount on rubber gloves and lube for when the season-ticket prices go up again.

Someone has to decide where to stitch the team logo on the next order of sweat pants.

[Enoch Root]

So (based on the speculation) the Oilers are going to bring in a great hockey guy with an outstanding reputation but they are going to keep him away from hockey operations?

Words do not describe the Oilers. (well, other than 'no good')

[GreenLantern2814]

Kevin Lowe is not going to be long for this job. I know we rag on the Oilers, but Bob Nicholson was not leaving his gig at Hockey Canada to be marionetted around by Katz and co and destroy his legacy. He's exactly what the Oilers need, and that's good for the Flames.

Your biggest rivals can't be dumpster fires of organizational incompetence. It's like having a junkie brother and you're the 'good one' by default, and all you've done is graduate high school.

When your rivals are great, it forces you aspire to greatness. You don't aspire to be incrementally better than the worst-run franchise in the league. LA saw Chicago win their 2nd ring in four years and thought 'That should've been us' - don't think that's not a huge reason why they're a win away from 2 rings in three.

Get it together, Edmonton, I want to hate you because you matter. I want to hate you because you stand in our way of a Stanley Cup. How much longer can we get off kicking the kid with the extra chromosome?

[killer_carlson]

I bet Lowe steps down or into another role

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I bet Lowe steps down or into another role

That guy is a parasite who lives off cronyism, I'm sure one of his buddies will find a way to line his pocket while he destroys whatever hockey organization is unlucky enough to have him if he leaves.

Actually come to think of it he has the exact profile, commitment to cronyism, lack of actual practical skills and the right amount of greasiness to get involved in politics.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

John Shannon@JSportsnet
Speculation has Nicholson being named Vice-Chairman of Katz Group. Looks like he will be responsible for all KG Sports properties.

[sempuki]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

John Shannon@JSportsnet
Speculation has Nicholson being named Vice-Chairman of Katz Group. Looks like he will be responsible for all KG Sports properties.

Bob Nicholson is going to be the guy who fires Lowe, because Katz is too much of a coward to do it himself. "Sorry Kevin, Bob says you have to go now. We can't play anymore."

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by jschick88

Well looks like it's happening.

Reid Wilkins ‏@ReidWilkins 3m
The Katz Group has called a news conference for 10am tomorrow morning.

Jason Gregor ‏@JasonGregor 41s
#Oilers brass flying in from Kelowna for press conference tomorrow. Likely for Nicholson. Wouldn't fly in for minor announcement.

So they want nothing to do with being in Edmonton too unless they HAVE to

[theoforever]

Originally Posted by sempuki

Bob Nicholson is going to be the guy who fires Lowe, because Katz is too much of a coward to do it himself. "Sorry Kevin, Bob says you have to go now. We can't play anymore."

While it would be logical for Nicholson to replace Lowe, this is Edmonton and logic doesn't apply.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I bet Lowe steps down or into another role

Maybe he'll take over Nicholson's role with Hockey Canada! If they want me to start cheering for the Russians that would likely do the trick, putting Lowe in charge.

[Robbob]

so what's the over/under on how many times Lowe mentions his cup rings or the gold medals he and Bob won?