[News] Oilers name Bob Nicholson CEO

[Locke]

I dont see what could happen to make Nicholson move Lowe and MacTavish out.

I mean, if anything this fits the Oiler definition of success.

What I can see however, is promotions! Promotions for all!

Its like one of those bad American Class-Action Lawsuit infomercials that you see late at night:

"Are you an 80s-era Oiler with a cup ring? If so please contact Katz, Lowe & MacT LLP for your free seven-figure paycheque and employment for life reward! No questions asked and no qualifications needed!

Our policy is: If we can pay Buchberger we can pay you! So come on down to Rexall place to collect your cheque!"

[Mongo]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Were Lowe and Mactavish also at the presser?

MacTavish is in Switzerland scouting the U18s

Lowe is at Rexall Mansion combing Katz' kid's hair so it is ready for the Draft.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Who cares, this is a public relations move. This was the same Bob Nicholson who was in charge of the top to bottom forensic audit and deemed that it wouldn't look at Lowe and Mac-T.

All this is doing is saying to the fans, we got McDavid look at the changes.

his next move will be that he will announce that he'll take the summer to evaluate the organization again, and then the only change he'll make is to recommend that a veteran coach be bought in and Nelson named co-coach.

Mark my words, Katz probably gave him carte Blanche over the oilers organization except for Lowe and Mac-T.

Katz desperately wants both of them to be around and worshiped if McDavid turns the franchise around.

Totally disagree. Bob would not take a PR role. I think he will act firmly and decisively to put his stamp on this like he did with CDN hockey.

I'll go a step further and say Katz told him this might be coming a year ago, instructing Bob not to rock the boat until they saw what the current team accomplished. Either the team made the playoffs and lots of money, or they would fail and might win McD (or another star player).

Katz is a ruthless Billionaire. I doubt he cares about Lowe as much as some guys think he does. What he likes most is making money and being a winner in all his ventures. There is no way he is happy with teh gong show up there.

IMO this is bad news for us, because Oilers might stop sucking in a few years.

[Dogbert]

Can't imagine the league didn't step in on this one. I'd bet my house that Katz got dressed down good by a red-faced Bettman at some point between Saturday night and now.

[burn_this_city]

This is terrible, first they get another top player, one they might even struggle to ruin. Now there's rumors of meaningful change in management occurring?

[Ruttiger]

One thing he didn't say was how he's looking forward to working with Lowe and MacT. I'll cling to the hope that omission creates for as long as I have to.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by mongo

mactavish is in switzerland scouting the u18s

lowe is at rexall mansion combing katz' kid's hair so it is ready for the draft.

lol

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by Mongo

Lowe is at Rexall Mansion combing Katz' kid's hair so it is ready for the Draft.

Nice.

[Coach]

So much comedy will be lost this summer. I think this is the writing on the wall for Lowe and Co. Too much terrible too ignore, even with friendships in the balance.

[V]

Originally Posted by Mongo

MacTavish is in Switzerland scouting the U18s

Lowe is at Rexall Mansion combing Katz' kid's hair so it is ready for the Draft.

Well I think MacTavish has already proven that Skype works in Switzerland. I'd like to see The Skype Firing: Part Deux.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by V

Well I think MacTavish has already proven that Skype works in Switzerland. I'd like to see The Skype Firing: Part Deux.

The Skype Firing: Fire Me Once, Shame on You, Fire Me Twice Shame on Everyone But Me.

[dino7c]

you guys honestly think Mac T and Lowe are getting fired

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by dino7c

you guys honestly think Mac T and Lowe are getting fired

I guarantee you that Bettman called Katz between the lottery and now and told him that, regardless of how he felt about it, McDavid was his, fair and square. However, the league needs to market this kid, and more of the bungling we've seen from the Oilers for going on a decade now wouldn't jive with the plan and would not be acceptable.

I might not like Bettman's way of handling the league's business, but if he wants something to happen, you can bet the farm it will.

[N-E-B]

MacT and Nelson gassed.

Replaced by Mike Milbury as GM and Pierre McGuire as coach.

[badradio]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

BOA might actually mean something in a couple years which would be awesome.

It means something now... 2 points... and I like the Flames taking them every BOA... The West is strong enough already, don't want the Oilers to turn it around.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

I guarantee you that Bettman called Katz between the lottery and now and told him that, regardless of how he felt about it, McDavid was his, fair and square. However, the league needs to market this kid, and more of the bungling we've seen from the Oilers for going on a decade now wouldn't jive with the plan and would not be acceptable.

I might not like Bettman's way of handling the league's business, but if he wants something to happen, you can bet the farm it will.

I guarantee that didn't happen

[saillias]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I guarantee that didn't happen

Exactly

If anything forced the Oilers into changes it was McDavid's reaction, media's reaction, social media's reaction, NHL fan reaction. Not some silly fantasy of Gary Bettman calling up Katz and scolding him about how to handle his team. lol.

[GreenLantern2814]

I want the Oilers to succeed with KLowe/MacT, in spite of everything. I don't want to live in a world where this isn't relevant.

[tvp2003]

In any other franchise, this would be the perfect opportunity for Nicholson to come in and clean house, and the owner wouldn't be left with egg on his face.

However, this is Darryl Katz and the Edmonton Oilers, where up is down and failure is success. Does Katz and his "boys club" fanboy ego win out over making money and being a successful NHL team? Tough to say...

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by saillias

Exactly

If anything forced the Oilers into changes it was McDavid's reaction, media's reaction, social media's reaction, NHL fan reaction. Not some silly fantasy of Gary Bettman calling up Katz and scolding him about how to handle his team. lol.

People have been reacting that way to the Oilers for years. The same reaction happened when they won the draft lottery in 2012. Why didn't it matter then?

The NHL is a business above all else, and Bettman is a businessman above all else - and a ruthless one at that, if you'll remember the lockouts. Do you really think he'd let the Next Big Superstar, who's been hyped as such for going on three years, flounder on a moribund team while Lowe and MacTavish pick their noses and refresh the 2020 draft lottery simulator?