How much longer do you think the Oilers will be this bad for?

[Hemmer]

The main reason for RNH and Eberle's struggles this season compared to last year is that they're not getting the same sheltered minutes that they got from Renney last year. Last season, Renney would limit their defensive zone faceoffs while giving the line more offensive zone starts. Also they were mostly not playing against the other team's top line and defenders. This year, Kreuger is using RNH's line in all types of situations and they're going up against other team's top lines and top pairing dmen. Unless your name is Crosby or Malkin, thats no small feat for any 19 year old player. And even though RNH hasn't produced like he has last year, his 2 way game is still excellent and he hasn't looked out of place at all going up against players like Toews and Datsyuk.

This season hasn't been a complete disaster for the Oilers. Hall, Hemsky, Gagner, Schultz, and Paajarvi have all played relatively well. I think if Eberle and RNH had maintained their pace from last season, the Oilers would be in a playoff spot right now. Having said that, after seeing the continuing struggles of the Oilers, I am questioning whether this team has the right make-up to be successful going forward. They have alot of skill and talent, but they lack the grit and size in the top6 to be true contenders. Also defence and goaltending need to be shored up as well. Still lots of work left to do and I'm not too confident in Tambellini/Lowe in getting that job done.

[neo45]

To make it simple, the Oilers are just way to weak up the middle, on the blueline, and in goal to have any success in the near future. I couldn't blame the coach at all if I was an Edmonton fan

[Tinordi]

This thread looks really bad on us. Both franchises are basically in the exact same position only Edmonton is 3 years advanced from the Flames. If you think we aren't following the same trajectory as the Oilers then I would suggest you give your head a shake.

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by stang

My expectations were around the 10th place. Not playoffs, but an improvement. So far I haven't seen an improvement.

Exactly. They didn't need to make the playoffs to show improvement but they did need to still be playing meaningful games in the stretch drive and hope for that is fading fast.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

This thread looks really bad on us. Both franchises are basically in the exact same position only Edmonton is 3 years advanced from the Flames. If you think we aren't following the same trajectory as the Oilers then I would suggest you give your head a shake.

give your head a shake, this thread is about the Oilers and the massive amount of hype they have gotten the past three years and continue to be terrible...not to mention 3 #1 picks

[schteve_d]

Originally Posted by VERVE

Wow boys, rather skewed and bias view of your team and the Oilers.
If Edmonton fans are dumb, then the Flames fans must be in a comatose state or lobotomized. Most Flames fans seemed to accept that former Sutter and now Feaster were and are doing fantastic to assembled a team of 2nd and third liners who are way-over agers and making the playoffs (and contend).

If you actually believe this you should have a gander at today's Game Day Thread (GDT)!

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by neo45

The Oilers expected to be a playoff team this year just as much as the Flames did.

Not sure about that. Maybe the players did because players generally have very high expectations, but I doubt management did, if they gave you the honest answer.

Some fans did and I've made a lot of money in the last three years from stupid Oiler fans - getting close to a thousand dollars including this season. However, the rational Oiler fans didn't expect the playoffs this year. I will say i did expect them to top the Flames this year and that is looking very uncertain season. I do totally expect that the Oilers will see the playofs before the Flames do, but that won't be this year or maybe next season.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Dr. Doom

This thread title is so annoying to see on the board.

The Flames are a gong show and heading into a black hole for years to come, and we're pondering the Oilers future?

Just plain weird stuff. Bunch of fans still in denial I gather?

We aren't in denial. Pretty much everyone on here has had enough and want big changes to happen with the Flames (With the exception of VANFLAMESFAN). I thought this thread could be an interesting topic to start seeing how long they have been out of the playoff picture (longer than us) and how many 1st overall picks they have gathered up and they have yet to gain any success from it when the Oilers management obviously wants this team to turn the corner already. I was hoping for some mature debate with the Flames and Oilers fans on this board when i made this thread.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Dr. Doom

This thread title is so annoying to see on the board.

The Flames are a gong show and heading into a black hole for years to come, and we're pondering the Oilers future?

Just plain weird stuff. Bunch of fans still in denial I gather?

Why is one not allowed to talk about another team while at the same time being aware of what's happening with the Flames.

The Oilers are one of the more interesting stories in the NHL this season and as the Flames #1 historic rival - they will be of even more interest here.

What's weird is why anyone would object to this thread.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

So, what did the Oilers do exactly to tear it down and rebuild? What was their brilliant strategy?

In the last few seasons the Oilers have signed or re-signed the following players: Khabibulin, Horcoff, Hemsky, Smyth, Eager, Whitney. That's not even mentioning the older players they went after but didn't end up signing.

In terms of purging higher priced players they:

-traded Dustin Penner for youth and picks
-traded Patrick O'Sullivan for Jim (Frickin) Vandermeer
-traded Tom Gilbert for Nick Shultz who was one year older
-signed Andy Sutton (37 years old)
-traded Cogliano for a 2nd
-signed Ben Eager, Eric Belanger, Cam Barker, Darcy Hordichuk, Martin Gerber, Jason Strudwick, Kurtis Foster
-traded Staios for a pick

So besides Penner, Cogliano and Staios where have the Oilers moved young players for the future? Where has been there concerted effort to tear it down and rebuild? Instead, the vast majority of their transactions of the last 3 seasons has been to try to bring in older players.

This is part of the myth that is building up around the Oilers: that they have taken the long view at the club and decided to rebuild. It's just not true. What has happened is that they've tried to compete every year but failed miserably. Then they pick first overall and try to convince everyone it was actually their plan all along to have the worst 3 seasons for one team in NHL history.

You'd think that after Lowe's sales job on Gagner, Cogliano, Hemsky, Nilson, O'Sullivan, etc. that some Oiler fans would smarten up and understand that the management of the team is awful. Fool me once shame on you, etc.

They're putting something special in the Kool-Aid up there.

This is a great post and a good argument against people who are against a rebuild and use the Oilers as an example. The Oilers are where they are because they refused the rebuild and were dragged into it. Sound familiar?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

This is a great post and a good argument against people who are against a rebuild and use the Oilers as an example. The Oilers are where they are because they refused the rebuild and were dragged into it. Sound familiar?

Curios, which teams elected to rebuild vs deciding to do it.

No one picks being in last place, all teams are thurst into it, it seems. Genuinely interested in what times picked it for themselves.

[Loyal and True]

I am quite happy to discuss the failure of the Oilers to capitalize on multiple 1st overall picks while the precious few ELC years expire. It is an enjoyable topic, and I look forward to many years of the same.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Curios, which teams elected to rebuild vs deciding to do it.

No one picks being in last place, all teams are thurst into it, it seems. Genuinely interested in what times picked it for themselves.

Chicago is probably the best example. Promoted talon, traded vets, picked 44 times in 4 drafts, hit two homers and struck out twice with top 5 picks, won the cup.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Chicago is probably the best example. Promoted talon, traded vets, picked 44 times in 4 drafts, hit two homers and struck out twice with top 5 picks, won the cup.

You're going to have to explain that one to me. Dale Tallon went out and signed #1 goalie Khabibulin and top pairing blueliner Adrian Aucion. Bulin was fresh off a cup win and Aucion was a huge minute eater and All-Star with the Islanders.

The Hawks then got the third overall pick and drafted Toews that summer.

Even that wasn't enough for Chicago. They then went out and got Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski.

The Hawks then finished 4th, won the draft lottery and drafted Kane.

Sucking was thrust upon them, it wasn't a plan.

Poor example.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Sakari

They need to realize that they can't do what the Penguins did. RNH and Hall are not the Sidney Crosby and Malkin of this decade. And Dubnyk is surely not the Fleury that they need. They need to draft defenseman, two of them. Once they have a solid blue-line and some actual leadership they might get somewhere. Until then, I look forward to the battle of Alberta for x years to come.

Your wish might be answer next draft. The Oilers will be drafting D Seth Jones as the first pick overall of 2013 Draft.

[Vinny01]

This is a team that needs to gut it's management team and coaching staff. Keeping Tambellini around and continuing to promote assistant coaches is doing nothing to change to losing culture that they have firmly established.

[trublmaker]

I was going to games during the Gretsky era when we continually had our arses handed to us and I gotta say I LOVE seeing his version of the coilers, may lowe and tambellini live long up there and keep up there awesome work.

[Ezio]

If the Flames do go the route of the Oilers in terms of a scorch earth rebuild, they need some good players in their prime years to help the younger ones adjust.

Suck this year, draft Nate MacKinnon and open the bank on Joe Pavelski. Make the latter the captain and have him lead the team and start a new era for the Flames. Come back strong next year, keep Kiprrusoff, Bouwmeester, Giordano and try to make the playoffs with youth embodied into the lineup. I'm not saying Iginla is the problem, but I think it serves best for both sides to move on and start a change in direction. Continue to collect picks in the latter rounds and hope some of them become quality NHL players. Easier said then done, I know but to avoid this Oiler type of incompetence, round out your youngsters with veterans in their prime years.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Ezio

If the Flames do go the route of the Oilers in terms of a scorch earth rebuild, they need some good players in their prime years to help the younger ones adjust.

Suck this year, draft Nate MacKinnon and open the bank on Joe Pavelski. Make the latter the captain and have him lead the team and start a new era for the Flames. Come back strong next year, keep Kiprrusoff, Bouwmeester, Giordano and try to make the playoffs with youth embodied into the lineup. I'm not saying Iginla is the problem, but I think it serves best for both sides to move on and start a change in direction. Continue to collect picks in the latter rounds and hope some of them become quality NHL players. Easier said then done, I know but to avoid this Oiler type of incompetence, round out your youngsters with veterans in their prime years.

Opening the bank for 2nd tier guys would be the worst thing the Flames could do and part of the reason the Oilers and Flames are in the situation they are.

Sure they need experienced guys to help but no reason to overpay for a 2nd line guy like Pavelski that is going to struggle without the support of Thornton, Marleau, Couture etc.

That sounds a lot like the 300+ goals, Nilsson, Gagner, Penner, Cogliano crap Oilers team from 2008/9-ish.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

You're going to have to explain that one to me. Dale Tallon went out and signed #1 goalie Khabibulin and top pairing blueliner Adrian Aucion. Bulin was fresh off a cup win and Aucion was a huge minute eater and All-Star with the Islanders.

The Hawks then got the third overall pick and drafted Toews that summer.

Even that wasn't enough for Chicago. They then went out and got Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski.

The Hawks then finished 4th, won the draft lottery and drafted Kane.

Sucking was thrust upon them, it wasn't a plan.

Poor example.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...08#post4108408