[Rumour] Chiarelli meeting with the Oilers. UPD: press conference Friday to announce hiring?

[JohnnySkittles]

Sad day, looks like they're finally turning that ship around.

[Caged Great]

It's about damn time. Edmonton even with McDavid is still 3-4 years away from making the playoffs. I want to have a playoff series with them.

[puffnstuff]

Turn it around? First thing they have to do, because the SS Coil is sunk, is going to be locate the wreckage.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by JohnnySkittles

Sad day, looks like they're finally turning that ship around.

I've accepted that this is probably a reality. Aided by a decade of futility and a magic lottery ticket or two they have been loaded with enough ammunition to climb out of the abyss.

The only positive I can find is that the battle of Alberta will be meaningful again. The fun part is that the two teams will be so different us fans should be treated to some truly entertaining hockey.

[Vinny01]

If this move happens I think it is a big win for the Oil. Unfortunately either a POHO or GM position for the Oilers might be the most desirable job in the league. This is the worst run team in sports but they just hit the lottery and get to draft a generational talent. This doesn't even mention only one more year in Rexall then a brand new state of the art building.

I am glad the Flames are where they are right now as it makes the McDavid thing less of a big deal right now

[CaptainCrunch]

They can get McDavid, the ghost of Blackbeard the Pirate, the Incredible Hulk and throw the Staypuft Marshmellow man in net and the Flames will still run them out of the building.

Its the natural order of things.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

It's about damn time. Edmonton even with McDavid is still 3-4 years away from making the playoffs. I want to have a playoff series with them.

If they sack up and make some prudent moves, they could be back in the playoffs in 2 years. Maybe 1, if McLellan or whoever coaches them up properly.

Anything else is inexcusable. That franchise is not so far beyond saving.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

This is messed up.

If they were going to fire Lowe and MacTavish, they would've already. Seriously, who interviews a guy like Chiarelli while he has both a PHO and a GM below him already in place? Fire them first if you're conducting interviews to replace them, like every team ever has done in the history of forever. If they fire them now, after this 'interview', it will come off extremely bush league. But I guess that's Edmonton for you.

This is nothing like Calgary hiring Feaster. Assuming they aren't getting fired, a guy like Chiarelli isn't coming in to answer to anybody but Nicholson so what's this all about? Restructuring? Keeping the same 80s boys, but give them different titles? Sounds pretty "Oilers" so that probably be what will happen. I wonder what Chiarelli's initiation will into 'club entitled' will entail?

It's funny, when it comes down to it, it's not Lowe and MacTavish poisoning the Oilers... it's Katz, which is far worse (for them) because he's not likely going anywhere. He is a fanboy and is living out his childhood dream with his fingers all over an NHL team (sort of) as he vicariously lives his dream in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse of the NHL. It would be SO fitting if Wayne came back now.

Even Katz's 'good hire' supposedly in Bob Nicholson is not that great IMO. No NHL exec experience of any kind and BAM! Kingpin of an NHL team a year after being initiated into the fraternity. It doesn't exactly scream competence on behalf of Mr. Mullet. I really see no reason to believe Nicholson can turn this around, even with McDavid. This first 'move' doesn't inspire confidence either given how ass backwards his process already seems to be.

Bottom line, he's proven nothing as an NHL exec, even if he hires a team of super friends to help him out, all with fancy titles, I will need to see stability, improvement and results over a 5 year period before I start to take this laughingstock of a pretend NHL team seriously. Just like Linden in Vancouver, it was a hire with no real merit and we will see just have to see how it pans out. I'm not giving them the benefit of the doubt given their inexperience, they are the anti-Burkes in terms of earing it, and I can't respect that. To me they were 'name' hires more than quality hires. Neither worked their way up through the ranks, they were just handed the keys to kingdom based almost entirely on name appeal.

The end of the 2010's are shaping up to be as memorable as the 80s were for both Albertan teams, though I suspect for very different reasons this time.

[browna]

Yup, as I've mentioned ad naseum, nothing changes until Lowe goes. Nothing. Quinn and Renney were good coaches and Lowe turned them into frustrated shells of their former self.

Oilers putting on a good show now with the McDavid pick (they jumped into action pretty quick only after that happened) with Nicholson rifiling through his Rolodex (Chirelli helped in 2014 Sochi, no?) but with Lowe with any sort of position with that organization, expect more of the same even with him as GM, some new vague position for MacT, and McLellan as coach (if that's how it goes).

[OldDutch]

Just curious, what is the basis for the McLellan coaching rumours? How do we know he won't wait until off season to see all the options before choosing. Still thing even with McDavid they will need to prove themselves worthy to get a quality coach.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

It's about damn time. Edmonton even with McDavid is still 3-4 years away from making the playoffs. I want to have a playoff series with them.

I would fear the turnaround could be a lot quicker than that if they do in fact get rid of the entitled idiots in management.

I don't think they make the playoffs next year, but I could see them beung dangerous the year after. Just need to instill a culture and trade those that don't adopt it.

That's the thing. Even if Hall etc. don't buy in, they still have trade value. Maybe not as high as kool-aid blue fans think, but good trade value. In fact, it's probably smater to trade a few of them to shore up other positions, like defense.

[nfotiu]

The problem is that I don't think Hall, Eberle or Hopkins values in trades are that great with the contracts they bring with them. It is hard to see how they could turn any of those guys into a blue chip defensemen with a few years of team control.

Another way to look at it. If Hall hit free agency this summer, would anyone give him 5 years at 6 million/yr? How about 5 years @ 6million plus a good prospect or roster player? There's no way.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Another way to look at it. If Hall hit free agency this summer, would anyone give him 5 years at 6 million/yr? How about 5 years @ 6million plus a good prospect or roster player? There's no way.

He would easily get that from a team desperate for scoring. Hall is Phil Kessel-lite. He's not a great overall player but he does get goals and points and there will be teams willing to overlook his deficiencies.

[The Original FFIV]

Must be getting serious.

@nielsonTSN1260: Dreger tells us that Chiarelli's meetings with the Oilers continue today.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Must be getting serious.

@nielsonTSN1260: Dreger tells us that Chiarelli's meetings with the Oilers continue today.

Oil change season 9

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Must be getting serious.

@nielsonTSN1260: Dreger tells us that Chiarelli's meetings with the Oilers continue today.

I doubt it, the Oilers tend to be pretty decisive. I think Eakins' interview only lasted like 20 minutes.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Locke

I doubt it, the Oilers tend to be pretty decisive. I think Eakins' interview only lasted like 20 minutes.

They might have a real executive doing these things now, not a guy who decides who he's hiring before ever meeting the guy because the media says he's awesome.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Locke

I doubt it, the Oilers tend to be pretty decisive. I think Eakins' interview only lasted like 20 minutes.

This is Nicholson doing the meetings though not Lowe or MacT. Edmonton cleans house this summer and perhaps lands Chiarelli and could even be a dark horse for Babcock.

Trade Hall for D, sign a goalie and they could be very dangerous next year

[saillias]

We're talking about the same team that has no NHL defenseman right now, right?

They'd have to add 2 NHLers to that defense core to get to the level of the injury-riddled Penguins. Who have no transition game and a crippled offense because of their lack of puck movers.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by saillias

We're talking about the same team that has no NHL defenseman right now, right?

They'd have to add 2 NHLers to that defense core to get to the level of the injury-riddled Penguins. Who have no transition game and a crippled offense because of their lack of puck movers.

If they keep MacT and Lowe then no worries but they will have options to address these needs this summer. Perhaps they sign Cody Franson or Erhoff? A competent GM likely also shakes the core up by trading Hall or Eberle