[News] Oilers to name Todd McLellan head coach

[kmart]

I wouldn't say that the Oilers have turned it around. They've done a good job adding sucessful management, but that doesn't prove anything.

Last time the Oilers brought winning experience it was Pat Quinn and Tom Renny running the bench. Last time the Sharks let a coach go was Ron Wilson and he took the Sharks to the playoffs in every year he was behind the bench except for the first year when he took over for Sutter. Of course Wilson struggled mightily in Toronto. Nothing is certain in this league and past results don't prove anything.

There are a lot more variables to consider, Oilers have a extremely short window. Within 3 years they better hope McDavid is Crosby, Draisaitl is at least a good option as a 3rd liner (I.e. Jordan Staal), and Nurse and Klefbom are top 4 defencemen before they have to pay each player on RFA deals.

They are facing salary cap hell with those three 6 million dollar deals and some bad UFA contracts, add in the fact they still need to add more defencemen and a goalie. If I were them I would consider trading Hall and/or Eberle for salary cap flexibility and build a contender for the long term. They are dangerously flirting with the Pittsburgh model, where they have a short window for a cup because of their lack of depth. The problem is, unlike Pittsburgh, Hall, Eberle, and RNH have yet to prove they can win at the NHL level (whereas Crosby can win without Malkin and Malkin can win without Crosby).

[Roof-Daddy]

Nicholson / Chiarelli / McClellan >>> Lowe / MacT / Eakins

Oil are waaaaaaay better off now than last off season, especially when you add in the fact that they are about to draft McDavid.

Pisses me off, but hopefully all the improvements do is bring them from 28th-30th up to just outside the playoffs.

[Prairiefire]

Originally Posted by roof-daddy

nicholson / chiarelli / mcclellan >>> lowe / mact / eakins

oil are waaaaaaay better off now than last off season, especially when you add in the fact that they are about to draft mcdavid.

Pisses me off, but hopefully all the improvements do is bring them from 28th-30th up to just outside the playoffs.

"yawn"

[sharkov]

if they can't make the playoffs next year then WTF

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Even the TM thing seems to follow the Oiler tradition, they didn't look at or interview anyone else, they just jumped at the sexy name.

Not true. They also interviewed Peter de Bor & Todd Nelson.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by sharkov

if they can't make the playoffs next year then WTF

I'd actually be more shocked of they DID make it. Winning the lottery could be a blessing in disguise for us Flames fans. They miss out on a franchise defenseman in Hanifin and put all their hope in an 18 year old and put all the pressure on him to get them in the playoffs.

McDavid is good but this isn't the NBA. One player will not magically turn their fortunes around in one season, nor will McLellan or Chiarelli. They're still years away from doing anything significant.

Now, if they fail to show any progress then WTF, but if they miss the playoffs no one should be surprised. That team is still a dumpster fire.

[Mr.Coffee]

I think you have your head in the sand if you don't acknowledge the positive direction Edmonton is unfortunately taking. One solid trade for a Dman or two, add Nurse, new coach... this team could become scary good very, very quickly. The known constant that has been their poison (KLowe) is now gone from the key decision making and running around being the irrelevant janitor or coffee guy or friend guy or something.

This is bad news all in all as a Flames fan.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I think you have your head in the sand if you don't acknowledge the positive direction Edmonton is unfortunately taking. One solid trade for a Dman or two, add Nurse, new coach... this team could become scary good very, very quickly. The known constant that has been their poison (KLowe) is now gone from the key decision making and running around being the irrelevant janitor or coffee guy or friend guy or something.

This is bad news all in all as a Flames fan.

I don't know how "quick" it will happen but yes they are on the right track now.

They still have a very unbalanced forward core, and are a looong way from seeing any sort of solid backend (trade or not)...and then there is the dumpster fire that has been and is goaltending.

They have a good start into the turnaround with the coach and management changes but there is much work t be done with the personnel.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I think you have your head in the sand if you don't acknowledge the positive direction Edmonton is unfortunately taking. One solid trade for a Dman or two, add Nurse, new coach... this team could become scary good very, very quickly. The known constant that has been their poison (KLowe) is now gone from the key decision making and running around being the irrelevant janitor or coffee guy or friend guy or something.

This is bad news all in all as a Flames fan.

So you're telling us... they have a chance. I'll admit it's a positive direction and they are slowly stepping away from their organizational groupthink ideology, but until they overhaul their scouting staff and have more renewal, they haven't. At this point I'm just waiting for more glorious failure.

There is potential with the changes they made. This is better that the nepotistic ineptitude they have been operating for the last few decades. However, there is a laundry list of things that need to fall in line apart from trading for a solid Dman or two (what does that mean?). Goaltending, depth, size, experience, defensive reliability, etc. etc. etc.

Maybe after the draft they initiate a full purge Until that happens I'm not worried at all about them being within the realm of dominant, or "scary good". Competitive... I can see, but the premature expectations of dominance will crush them once again.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

They still need to upgrade their blueline in the worst way and figure out their goaltending. Not sure they're going to be that great in the near future unless Chiarelli can make some fantastic trades/signings asap. All that while most likely being pressed up near the cap ceiling.

Not going to say it's impossible but I'm very curious to see how this would happen.

[trackercowe]

Didn't Chiarelli say that MacTavish is still going to be his second in command? I'm not saying that's necessarily the truth, but why would he make that up? Surely MacT will still have some say in hockey operations, especially with Chiarelli also splitting duties as President of hockey operations.

Also for those saying the Oilers may make the playoffs (or contend) next season, let's not forget this is a team that missed the playoffs by 35 points, and couldn't put up any inter-divisional points. Even in adding McDavid the only team they are better than are the Coyotes (who they couldn't beat last year), and debatably McLellan's former Sharks team (I doubt that forever). Will they be better, sure; but I still think they're a bottom 3-4 team in the conference. Even the Penguins finished near the bottom the first year with Crosby. Obviously they improved in a hurry, but they also had depth from top to bottom; which is something the Oilers don't have. We'll see what happens in the next few years, but they still need to do much more to make up that 35 point differential.

[calgarywinning]

And that. There is a significant amount of work and player re-formatting to go on. Also, there is a total cultural shift from the past.

They have pieces that have to be moved and traded for their real world value as well.

[the human torch]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I'd actually be more shocked of they DID make it... McDavid is good but this isn't the NBA. One player will not magically turn their fortunes around in one season, nor will McLellan or Chiarelli. They're still years away from doing anything significant.

Now, if they fail to show any progress then WTF, but if they miss the playoffs no one should be surprised. That team is still a dumpster fire.

Oilers fan coming here in peace. This is pretty much bang-on, I'm really happy with the changes so far but I'm still expecting 2015/16 to be a non-playoff year for the team (remember, the Pens missed the playoffs in Crosby's first year too). As you say there's still just waaaaaay too many holes on the roster to be fixed quickly. I'm expecting to see a marked improvement (hell, just being a relevant team beyond Remembrance Day would be an improvement!) but to still finish on the outside of the playoffs at the end of the season.

Beyond that, though? Magic.

What I'm really looking forward to is the Battle Of Alberta™ finally being between two good teams again. Would love to see the Flames keep on the upward trend they showed this year. Let's make Alberta the NHL's Death Valley for the other 28 teams like it was in the 80s. No teams considering Alberta to be the free spaces on their season's bingo card any longer.

[bubbsy]

Winning the lottery draft has changed the complete complexion of this franchise. Not just because it brings Connor McDavid with it, but the fact that it opened up the gates to other changes. These changes probably don't happen without McDavid, as it made the oilers a team that sought after resources (GM, Coach) would consider for employment.

the best part as a flames fan, wasn't just the flawed roster, but knowing the management group in Edmonton literally had no idea how to improve the team.

I'm not saying the oilers have turned the corner and will contend for the playoffs this coming year. that being said, I don't doubt that we see immediate improvement and a trend upwards with the minds that are coming into the organization.

I don't know if i'm sold on McLlellan as being a great coach, but he's definitely a good coach, and better than anything they've had in years. I do think almost everyone outside the oilers group knows that there are some major problems on that roster, and unlike lowe/mactavish, the new GM will be bold enough in their actions to solve the problems in time.

Am very curious to see what a competent GM does with this roster, and at what pace....

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Nicholson / Chiarelli / McClellan >>> Lowe / MacT / Eakins

Oil are waaaaaaay better off now than last off season, especially when you add in the fact that they are about to draft McDavid.

Pisses me off, but hopefully all the improvements do is bring them from 28th-30th up to just outside the playoffs.

I actually agree with you. I hate the Oilers so much but even I think they will be much better next season. Nicholson is actually doing a bang up job in pleasing the Oilers fans in making smart decisions getting KLowe and McT away from making hockey decisions. Having the chance to draft a special player like McDavid helps too. As a Flames fan I am hoping McDavid becomes the next Alexander Daigle, great junior player but a bust in the NHL. I don't think it will happen though. I've seen this kid play for Erie Otters, he is a dominated player.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I don't know if i'm sold on McLlellan as being a great coach, but he's definitely a good coach, and better than anything they've had in years.

Yeah, McLlellan was basically the 2nd best coach on the market.

I think it was pretty smart of them to lock him down now. Let everyone else put themselves on hold for the 1 in X chance of landing Babcock while you go out and get the next best guy before the market makes him the most sought after guy (after Babcock decides).

It's been a pretty amazing run of off-ice fortune for the Oilers this offseason... I'd like it to stop now please.

[The Coppernian One]

I think the Oilers will still be on the outside next year. They've got holes to fill and the west is tough. Marked improvement should occur though.

As an Oiler fan getting rid of Lowe and MacT (sort of) couldn't happen soon enough. In his first press conference Chiarelli talked more about culture, winning, and how to play than the others did in the entire time they were here. That's encouraging, though it still has to be translated from words to the ice. One big failing (of many) of the Lowe regime was not bringing in mentors for the young talent to learn from. Horcoff and Hemsky just don't cut it.

With actual coaching and a more competent GM, it should continue to be an interesting off-season and season. If some players like Eberle and and Schultz make it through the summer, how they are treated come the season will say a lot about what McLellan will do with the team.

[sureLoss]

Adrian Dater @adater
My sources tell me Todd McLellan's new deal with Edmonton: five years, $15 million

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Adrian Dater @adater
My sources tell me Todd McLellan's new deal with Edmonton: five years, $15 million

Two more years of paying Dallas. Are they done paying Krueger and Renney yet? If they're still paying those two then they might be paying as much for coaching as the Leafs!

[Reggie Dunlop]

He will be fired by the All-Star break.