Edmonton is No Good VI: Chia•den•freu•de

[TomLeeMC]

Came for the jersey toss.

Leaving satisfied.

[DazzlinDino]

Oh I think they're tanking, I think the tanking part is plan B.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I'd love to see record low renewal numbers in Edmonton. But I'm guessing that wont happen

That's the one big thing hat would get Katz's attention though.

As has been mentioned, business wise the Oilers are very successful. Money money money...always follow the money. So if the cash stops flowing, then there will be deep look as to why, and when its apparent it is because the product has become unsellable (?), changes will be made to all that produce that product.

Right now when he looks at his ledger, things are rosy so there really is a hesitation to change anything among those who have a seat at his table. Those same guys that are his buddies and hockey heroes from his youth.

Someone needs to get in his ear and slap him across the face to wake up, but those that can do so at this point are the same guys who would suffer the consequences of such a move.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

To be fair, the arena sells out every night. The merchandise flies off the shelves. The fans keep coming back. At the end of the day, he's a business owner and his Oiler business makes money. Why change anything? I'm sure he'd love to see the team do well on the ice. But he's a billionaire, and billionaires have the mindset that profits>customer satisfaction.

Now if the the fans stopped giving him their money, he might have incentive to change things up. But fans are dumb enough to keep coming back. I don't think any other big company is all that different. We've all worked somewhere where the talk is all about customer satisfaction, making it a great place to work, etc. But at the end of the day, the #1 most important objective, the reason the business exists in the first place, is to generate revenue. If the money keeps coming into Katz's pockets, he doesn't need to change a thing.

If fans actually stopped buying the product, I think we'd quickly see a change of the OBC to a new group in an effort to bring fans back. Thankfully I don't think that will ever happen.

I see what you're saying, and generally agree, but owning a sports team isn't your typical business, especially when it's your favourite team from growing up. I just don't get how this is acceptable to Katz, to see his precious Oilers suck so bad for so long. Seriously, is he a closet Flames fan or something? It's really the only explanation. But as a Flames fan, I like it. I daresay I am a Katz fan as well as a Flames fan. Keep on keepin on, Daryl. You da man.

[Resolute 14]

We can hope the sheep wake up - or perhaps that they don't so that we can enjoy this comedy for years to come. However, it is notable that the media was talking about how the Oilers first rounder was in play because Katz really wants the playoffs this year, and further, because the three year contracts for suites and the like in the new arena are coming due. If Katz is that desperate, he's likely hearing negative feedback from people who have given him a large amount of money.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by devo22

they are not tanking. They really are that bad.

If Koskinen hadn't had some outstanding games early on, they'd be closer to another top 5 pick than they already are.

I think they are taking and I agree I think they're that bad but they weren't always that bad. I think tanking for the last few years has been a big part of the plan but now they've really messed it up.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Oh I think they're tanking, I think the tanking part is plan B.

Tanking is always plan A in Mulletville.

[CedarMeter]

Originally Posted by drewtastic

the way talbot left when he was hooked, i wouldn’t be surprised if it was him...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1093008084484509696

[calumniate]

I like how Hitch explained he pulled Talbot for a free timeout. Yet he'd just challenged for goaltender interference which was its own timeout lasting over a minute.

Pulling your goalie after a review is kind of awkward!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

To be fair, the arena sells out every night. The merchandise flies off the shelves. The fans keep coming back. At the end of the day, he's a business owner and his Oiler business makes money. Why change anything? I'm sure he'd love to see the team do well on the ice. But he's a billionaire, and billionaires have the mindset that profits>customer satisfaction.

Now if the the fans stopped giving him their money, he might have incentive to change things up. But fans are dumb enough to keep coming back. I don't think any other big company is all that different. We've all worked somewhere where the talk is all about customer satisfaction, making it a great place to work, etc. But at the end of the day, the #1 most important objective, the reason the business exists in the first place, is to generate revenue. If the money keeps coming into Katz's pockets, he doesn't need to change a thing.

If fans actually stopped buying the product, I think we'd quickly see a change of the OBC to a new group in an effort to bring fans back. Thankfully I don't think that will ever happen.

What your saying is fair, but with some holes.


There are something like 50 luxury suites in Roger's each of which can contain 12 to 15 people. Each seat just looking it up averages between 12 and 15k per.


So that works out to lets say 9,100,000 dollars per year.


Now, we're in a shytty economic client and most of those booths are leased by businesses, if they don't see a value and they don't see clients wanting to go to games to watch bad hockey, that represents a major hit to the Oilers revenue.


Yes the other fans are important as is merchandise, but you can bet in tough times and a bad hockey team with no hope that their waiting list will go to zero as well.


Katz is going to panic. Remember during the bad old days there were a couple of years where attendance dropped to about 12,000 in the old Northlands.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

https://twitter.com/user/status/1093008084484509696

In the words of Bob Stauffer, someone needs to tell Devan Dubnyk Cam Talbot to make a save.

[Toonage]

"We had to make a decision between Mikko and Cam. We made that decision to go with Mikko and sign him to a three-year deal. Cam Talbot is still a big part of this team and he's been a great teammate. We hope that Cam will continue to play well for the team."

[troutman]

Passed 1,000,000 views

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Split98

I hope McDavid finishes his career there. It's great symbolism for how terrible this franchise is...

I didn't see anyone comment on this last night, but in McDavid's post-game interview Mark Spector actually asked him: "What does it feel like to be Connor McDavid right now?"

I have never felt sorry for this kid, but that moment was brutal.

The McDavid scrum begins at the 17:40 mark. The question and his response are at 18:30:
https://globalnews.ca/pages/audio-va.../?gref=630ched

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I didn't see anyone comment on this last night, but in McDavid's post-game interview Mark Spector actually asked him: "What does it feel like to be Connor McDavid right now?"

I have never felt sorry for this kid, but that moment was brutal.

The McDavid scrum begins at the 17:40 mark. The question and his response are at 18:30:
https://globalnews.ca/pages/audio-va.../?gref=630ched

Nor have I per se, but I really do now.

I sit here and think what I was like at 22 and what has been foisted upon this guy for simply being really really good at a game, and how i would have handled it. I probably would have been OD'd or something by 23.

The pressure he is under and the fact the ####show really has little to do with him and because he signed a deal that was offered to him...well its gotta be soul sucking at times.

[CaptainCrunch]

http://www.iheartradio.ca/tsn/tsn-ed...play=1.1748186


For those that want to listen to the panic in Edmonton today.


The shift has shifted now from Chia to Katz.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Split98

I hope McDavid finishes his career there. It's great symbolism for how terrible this franchise is. Keep telling us how he's the best player in the world, it's delicious.

I honestly think this is unlikely. It wouldn't surprise me if his agent is already coming up with exit strategies. No way McDavid wants to waste his prime hockey years as a generational player at a dumpster fire organization that has to undergo yet another rebuild. Despite the length of his contract, McDavid has all the leverage and could demand a trade at any point when he decides he's fed up. I suspect the new GM will have to bend over backwards to convince McDavid that they are finally going to get it right.

[Isbrant]

Flames have 16 short handed goals, Oilers have 15 regulation wins.

E=NG

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I honestly think this is unlikely. It wouldn't surprise me if his agent is already coming up with exit strategies. No way McDavid wants to waste his prime hockey years as a generational player at a dumpster fire organization that has to undergo yet another rebuild. Despite the length of his contract, McDavid has all the leverage and could demand a trade at any point when he decides he's fed up. I suspect the new GM will have to bend over backwards to convince McDavid that they are finally going to get it right.

McDavid, Orr and McDavid's dad are no dummies. They know this is not a short term fix, and they are going into another rebuild. They were promised everything would change etc when he got drafted. I say next summer he is on another team.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Nor have I per se, but I really do now.

I sit here and think what I was like at 22 and what has been foisted upon this guy for simply being really really good at a game, and how i would have handled it. I probably would have been OD'd or something by 23.

The pressure he is under and the fact the ####show really has little to do with him and because he signed a deal that was offered to him...well its gotta be soul sucking at times.

I think I would have got out ASAP. I wouldn't care if the whole hockey world thought I was a whiny, disloyal, entitled, little punk, I would do everything in my power to be out as soon as I saw that lottery ball. The Oilers were a disaster long before he got there. No one who matters would have blamed him for pulling a Lindros.