[News] Oilers hire Chiarelli as Hockey Ops President and GM. MacTavish and Lowe stay in org

[FlamesAddiction]

While I never want the Oilers to one-up us, my first priority is how the Flames do, not worrying about what they do. I have always been very proud of this club. It has always had to fight for everything it's achieved. It's the main reason why I became a Flames fan all those years ago even though I had no regional ties to Alberta at the time.

The Flames were never gift wrapped a Gretzky (or a McDavid, results pending obviously). When the Flames have been successful, it was always through hard work, grit and innovation. I respect the one Cup we won back in the day more than the 5 that the Oilers won because of the way it was earned.

If the Oilers start an era of success rooted in 8 years of futility and winning the McDavid lottery, it won't bother me knowing that the Flames took the more noble path.

[Gaudfather]

[northcrunk]

McDavid changes nothing. When they are actually competitive for a full year then Edmonton fans can talk. Until then the Oilers are still a joke franchise just like their sweatpants with dress shoe wearing fans.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The Flames were never gift wrapped a Gretzky (or a McDavid, results pending obviously). When the Flames have been successful, it was always through hard work, grit and innovation. I respect the one Cup we won back in the day more than the 5 that the Oilers won because of the way it was earned.

As much as I'm a Flames fan this is quite the pile of crap.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Oilers would have been screwed no matter what they did in that draft.

Ryan Murray who the scouts were supposedly leaning towards has missed 120 games in the last three seasons.

Galchenyuk missed all but 2 games in his draft year, and while looking better than Yakupov is also playing wing.

Rielly wasn't a realistic pick at number 1.

Not sure why Rielly wasn't a realistic pick at number 1. If they felt he was the guy that would best fit them long-term he would have been a great pick.
It wasn't a great draft at the top end - but that doesn't excuse the fact that the Oilers made a bad choice.

[Gaudfather]

KLowe says I may have just been demoted....but at least Katz gave me one of those new Apple watches...

Spoiler!

[Robbob]

I think he at the very least McDavid needs to play an NHL game before throwing Art Ross, Calder, Hart, and Stanley Cups at the kid. Yes the Oilers are on the right track, but how many months/years will it take to prop up what they have right now so they can move forward.

[Meers]

I assume Chiarelli was hired because McDavid will need to be moved (Lindros Saga: The Sequel) and the Bruins got such a good return on Seguin.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

McDavid changes nothing. When they are actually competitive for a full year then Edmonton fans can talk. .

Disagree, McDavid changes everything... As soon as they won the lottery everything changed.

Edmonton will be able to attack higher end Coaches, GMs etc

UFAs will be interested Edmonton....

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by flambers

UFAs will be interested Edmonton....

UFAs will be interested in money, as always. The Oilers are still a thoroughly bad team up against the cap. Before they can sign any meaningful UFAs, they'll have to do a regular Houdini act to get out of some of those awful contracts.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by flambers

Disagree, McDavid changes everything... As soon as they won the lottery everything changed.

Edmonton will be able to attack higher end Coaches, GMs etc

UFAs will be interested Edmonton....

I still think UFA and high end coaches will take a wait and see. There is just too much history and the fact the city isn't appealing working against it.

Who wants to lock up for 5 years in a city you hate, and McDavid doesn't work out, and you're still losing.

If in a year they are in a playoff spot, then yes, I can see good players giving it a shot.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

UFAs will be interested in money, as always. The Oilers are still a thoroughly bad team up against the cap. Before they can sign any meaningful UFAs, they'll have to do a regular Houdini act to get out of some of those awful contracts.

yep, but there will be interest..... if the kid is an elite talent.

Interest will be there...

Leafs provided last season, anyone can be traded (i.e. Trade that the Leafs made with the Jackets).

[FudsMcDuff]

I see more Les Grossman than David Cross,..which isn't good for the Flames.

Les is a bad mf'er!

(I don't know how to post pictures...)

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by flambers

Disagree, McDavid changes everything... As soon as they won the lottery everything changed.

Edmonton will be able to attack higher end Coaches, GMs etc

UFAs will be interested Edmonton....

When's the last time any Canadian team snagged an elite UFA? I really don't think it changes the free agency landscape much. Players still in general prefer playing in the US and when the Canucks were Cup contenders they always had to settle for guys like Demitra and BC born players in the free agency market as the majority of the top free agents sign south of the border. McDavid won't change that as he can't offer what ultimately is the US lifestyle and climate.

McDavid at the end of the day is only one player and one player has never carried a team to the cup on his own or the Capitals would have won a few Cups while Ovechkin has been scoring at a HOF pace. He's going to be very good but there are lots of factors and variables such as injuries, adjustment to the pro game, etc.

Besides I wouldn't think that he's going to be a career Oiler as if he ends up to be as good a player as many think there will be plenty of suitors in more attractive cities and lets face it the league would have been better served for him going to an American market much like when Gretzky went to LA.

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by flambers

Disagree, McDavid changes everything... As soon as they won the lottery everything changed.

Edmonton will be able to attack higher end Coaches, GMs etc

UFAs will be interested Edmonton....

I don't know about that.
I think coaches, GM's and players are far more savy than to expect one player to turn that dumpster fire around.
A reputable coach or GM, isn't gonna look at the situation now and say "oh hey. They'll get McDavid, I'm gonna be guaranteed a cup" and the same goes for players.
They need to first, make it know that the OBC era is over, and that they want to be competitive, and will allow a GM the ability to do what he wants. Then you might get a reputable guy, ala Chiarelli. But I still believe it takes a few seasons of proving from the management level, to players that they are on the right track, before you see big name UFA's signing.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

I still think UFA and high end coaches will take a wait and see. There is just too much history and the fact the city isn't appealing working against it.

Who wants to lock up for 5 years in a city you hate, and McDavid doesn't work out, and you're still losing.

If in a year they are in a playoff spot, then yes, I can see good players giving it a shot.

Will need to wait and see.....

Personally believe today's hire is going to totally change the organization (i.e. clean house).

Playoffs is a totally different question... Oilers still need a goalie and defense.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by flambers

Leafs provided last season, anyone can be traded (i.e. Trade that the Leafs made with the Jackets).

The Leafs traded one useless player for another, increasing their total payroll but moving a portion of that payroll off the cap. The opportunity to do that doesn't come along very often.

Are you seriously suggesting that the Oilers could solve their cap problems by trading some combination of Eberle, Hall, and Nugent-Hopkins for players on LTIR?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by speede5

As much as I'm a Flames fan this is quite the pile of crap.

Why do you think it's a pile of crap? I never said that I would rather have 1 Cup than 5, but only I respect the accomplishment more based on how it was achieved.

For an analogy, would you respect Miley Cyrus's quadruple platinum album more than say someone with a single platinum album who had to earn their way to the top?

It might be overly idealist, and I admit that I am an idealist in this sense, but it is not crap. It's honestly how I feel. I have always relished being the underdog.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I really don't think it changes the free agency landscape much. Players still in general prefer playing in the US and when the Canucks were Cup contenders they always had to settle for guys like Demitra and BC born players in the free agency market over AAA free agents.

McDavid at the end of the day is only one player and one player has never carried a team to the cup on his own or the Capitals would have won a few Cups while Ovechkin has been scoring at a HOF pace. He's going to be very good but there are lots of factors and variables such as injuries, adjustment to the pro game, etc.

Besides I wouldn't think that he's going to be a career Oiler as if he ends up to be as good a player as many think there will be plenty of suitors in more attractive cities and lets face it the league would have been better served for him going to an American market much like when Gretzky went to LA.

Wishful thinking, Oilers have control for 7 years.

When is the last time an Canadian City had an elite player.... ?

Personally I'm shocked an Canadian team won the lottery.

Figured this player would be a Coyote.

[dammage79]

He's going to be Prez AND GM. Just tuned into OIlers TV for the presser.