Is Edmonton intentionally tanking?

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yogurt has culture. The Oilers only have mold.

Well the oilers do have yak instead of yop.

[Vulcan]

Maybe Gretzky should step up again.

Well, it's time they got their act together, folks. They're ruining the whole league. They had better stop running a Mickey Mouse organization and put somebody on ice." -- Wayne Gretzky about the state of the New Jersey Devils, 26 years ago today


http://www.coppernblue.com/2009/11/1...-c-k-e-y-m-o-u

actually now 30 years ago, unbelievable

[stignasty]

Sabres are now only one point behind the Oilers, with three games in hand.

[Table 5]

It definitely feels like if we have a chance of getting 29th, it will be the Sabres passing us instead of the Oilers. They've been playing some really solid hockey the last few weeks. I hope it's not just an anomaly.

[CaptainCrunch]

Why do people think that Gretzky is some kind of managerial savoir or even a coaching savoir. He was a awful coach in Phoenix. He did do some team canada olympic work but that's far different then the day to day grind of being an NHL general manager, and I doubt that Gretzky wants to work 365 days per year. Plus if he can't fix Edmonton if he went there as a part of the old boys club it would only tarnish his reputation because that situation is unfixable.

If Katz was serious he would have looked for an assistant GM with a strong drafting pedigree instead of hiring a inexperienced Mac-T.

There will be no changes in that management team, they're embeded in that organization like a termite nest in a wall.

The guy that's going to go to please the fans is Eakins, and I doubt that any coach will line up to work in that environment unless they get a massive term massive dollar contract.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Why do people think that Gretzky is some kind of managerial savoir or even a coaching savoir. He was a awful coach in Phoenix. He did do some team canada olympic work but that's far different then the day to day grind of being an NHL general manager, and I doubt that Gretzky wants to work 365 days per year. Plus if he can't fix Edmonton if he went there as a part of the old boys club it would only tarnish his reputation because that situation is unfixable.

If Katz was serious he would have looked for an assistant GM with a strong drafting pedigree instead of hiring a inexperienced Mac-T.

There will be no changes in that management team, they're embeded in that organization like a termite nest in a wall.

The guy that's going to go to please the fans is Eakins, and I doubt that any coach will line up to work in that environment unless they get a massive term massive dollar contract.

Nobody is saying " that Gretzky is some kind of managerial savoir or even a coaching savoir." It would just be cool if some outside source with standing went off on them.

[TjRhythmic]

I don't think a coaching change will help. They are like kids with a single mother that dates a lot. You have all these men coming through trying to tell them what to do, taking some interest in them and trying to raise them and they just look at him like, "whatever" and go about their business doing what they want to do, and how they want to do it. They pay no interest in these guys cause they'll be out soon enough and another guy will come in trying to tell them what to do, and how to do it. And the cycle continues again.

They needed to stick with one guy. If by chance Hall was the beginning of the rebuild then that coach, I think it was Renney, should've been the guy that carried through and coached until they were ready to make the next step if he wasn't it. Rebuilds need stability, this oilers team right now is standing on quick sand and they are in over their heads with no easy way out.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I believe there is zero chance Eakins gets fired this season. If you look at it from MacT's point of view that's his guy and his best bet is to keep him on as if the team continues to be the worst team in the league he gets the defenseman he wants and if Eakins makes progress in the 2nd half of the season then he doesn't have to face the uncomfortable and embarrassing situation of axing they guy you just brought in as GM's usually get two coaching hires before they face the axe and he would be down to his 2nd coach a season into his GM tenure.

Why would they? Eakins is doing a fine job losing the games for them so it means their chances of getting first pick overall is very high. I am sure McT and KLowe will trade Hemsky, Gagner and others for draft picks for next season or the season after. This team is an embarrassment to professional sports. Bettman should barred KLowe from running this team or any other NHL team.

[HotHotHeat]

Is there any truth to Friedman reporting Lowe offered to take a sabbatical?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Is there any truth to Friedman reporting Lowe offered to take a sabbatical?

Yes, he reported it before the first game on HNIC last night.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by nik-

I would say LA doesn't have a "franchise center" .. Boston either. They have 1A/1B's but none truly elite ... which is why I think the Reinhart/Monahan combo would be just fine for us.

Kopitar isn't elite, but is very solid, Richards is defensively elite but not offensively ... Stoll is defensively good. Bergeron/Krecji are both very solid but not elite.

How is Kopitar not a franchise centre?

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It definitely feels like if we have a chance of getting 29th, it will be the Sabres passing us instead of the Oilers. They've been playing some really solid hockey the last few weeks. I hope it's not just an anomaly.

Knock on wood!

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

How is Kopitar not a franchise centre?

I don't get it either.

Huge? Check.
Skilled? Check.
Dependable defensively? Check.
Does the small things that contribute to wins? Check.
Excels on either side of the puck? Check.
Fitness level to play 20+ minutes a night against the league's best? Check.
Plays 75+ games a year? Check.
PPG? Check.

[gradin-23]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I don't get it either.

Huge? Check.
Skilled? Check.
Dependable defensively? Check.
Does the small things that contribute to wins? Check.
Excels on either side of the puck? Check.
Fitness level to play 20+ minutes a night against the league's best? Check.
Plays 75+ games a year? Check.
PPG? Check.

Those all scream "very good centre".

But franchise centres, whatever that means to you, don't go on Kopi goalless droughts like he does.

Kesler isn't a franchise centre either.

[gradin-23]

If the Oil went 28-0 to end the year they'd likely miss the playoffs. Feel free to check my math.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by gradin-23

Those all scream "very good centre".

But franchise centres, whatever that means to you, don't go on Kopi goalless droughts like he does.

Kesler isn't a franchise centre either.

Kesler isn't in the same conversation as Kopitar, I agree.

[gradin-23]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Kesler isn't in the same conversation as Kopitar, I agree.

Good one.

Neither are franchise centres.

[puckluck2]

Kesler 383 points in 631 games .60 PPG

Kopitar 517 points in 575 games .90 PPG

Not even closely comparable. Kopitar is a franchise center.

Kopitar > Kesler

[Vedder]

Originally Posted by gradin-23

Good one.

Neither are franchise centres.

Not really a joke was it? You insinuated that Kesler and Kopitar are in the same conversation. Statistically that simply isn't the case.

Kopitar is 26 years old, has produced close to a point per game in his career, and was the number one centre and playoff point leader on a Stanley Cup winning team. I think LA is pretty happy with their "very good centre".

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...1885--nhl.html

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by nik-

I would say LA doesn't have a "franchise center" .. Boston either. They have 1A/1B's but none truly elite ... which is why I think the Reinhart/Monahan combo would be just fine for us.

Kopitar isn't elite, but is very solid, Richards is defensively elite but not offensively ... Stoll is defensively good. Bergeron/Krecji are both very solid but not elite.

"Elite" is how you define the word and who fits the criteria. If the best two way forward the league for at least 5 years isn't elite then I don't know who would fit that definition. Crosby, Stamkos, Ovechkin, Datsyuk?

Bergeron to me is elite. Krejci I agree isn't elite but both Kopitar and Bergeron are elite players. Bergeron especially.