Edmonton is No Good Episode 4: New Rink, Same Stink

[jg13]

Was just at the new Popeyes and a guy in an Oilers hat wearing trackpants and an oversized hoodie budged everyone in line waiting to fill their drink cup at the fountain.

E=NG

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by the2bears

I'm curious about this part, as I don't see it. Not sure how to even describe this quality, but let's call it "an indomitable will to win". It's one of those intangible things, and maybe having a high level of it makes one elite? But, I don't see it as a guaranteed quality of those with elite talent levels in other parts of the game. McDavid is good, and you're better off with him than a less talented center, but does that somehow mean he's going to will the team to win? I don' think so. You still need to round out a roster with other talent and role players. Your argument stinks of the "just a matter of time", or "not when, but how many" comments the media made.

Case in point: Iginla. Arguably the best player in the game just before the Crosby era (Linden said he was anyway) with just that kind of "will to win" rep. He did carry a mediocre team to the finals once, with more than a huge assist from Kipper. But despite his talent and his compete level, he never repeated that success, even with better teams on paper.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

...After all of your hypothetical moves and trades, which exactly are their bad contracts besides possibly Lucic? There's not a team in the league that doesn't want McDavid and his big contract in their lineup. It's certainly a risk but elite players generally find ways of winning.

Originally Posted by the2bears

I'm curious about this part, as I don't see it. Not sure how to even describe this quality, but let's call it "an indomitable will to win". It's one of those intangible things, and maybe having a high level of it makes one elite? But, I don't see it as a guaranteed quality of those with elite talent levels in other parts of the game. McDavid is good, and you're better off with him than a less talented center, but does that somehow mean he's going to will the team to win? I don' think so. You still need to round out a roster with other talent and role players. Your argument stinks of the "just a matter of time", or "not when, but how many" comments the media made.

Strange Brew's post with regards to McDavid is actually somewhat to the contrary: Granted, McDavid won a gold medal in one of his two IIHF U20 Championships in 2015, but he never won the Memorial Cup, nor could he even "will" the Eerie Otters to an OHL championship. Lots of exceptional players never win Stanley Cups, and a huge number of significantly less skilled players win more than one. Whether or not McDavid ever experiences any team success at the NHL level is definitely very much an open question. Given the makeup of the Oilers roster looking forward, I would suggest that a championship is still a long shot.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Eberle has been demoted to the third line and rumours are the Oilers are looking to trade him.

Eberle hasn’t scored in 11 games. He has just one in the last 18 and has scored in only three of Edmonton’s last 35 games.

That’s a wicked slump for somebody who’s usually good for 25, but it’s not just the lack of finish that prompted the demotion (Patrick Maroon and Leon Draisaitl will flank McDavid in Boston).

http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/ho...hird-line-duty

Could it be a case of some players fed up and wanting out. I am sure some of those draft picks start feeling like they need to get out before it's too late. Young draft picks coming in and being told to expect great things only to have to endure season after season of losing. This should be a lesson for teams that plan on a scorched earth rebuild.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Strange Brew's post with regards to McDavid is actually somewhat to the contrary: Granted, McDavid won a gold medal in one of his two IIHF U20 Championships in 2015, but he never won the Memorial Cup, nor could he even "will" the Eerie Otters to an OHL championship. Lots of exceptional players never win Stanley Cups, and a huge number of significantly less skilled players win more than one. Whether or not McDavid ever experiences any team success at the NHL level is definitely very much an open question. Given the makeup of the Oilers roster looking forward, I would suggest that a championship is still a long shot.

I get that you hate the Oilers but come on, McDavid only played junior for 3 years, and in one year he was probably the only reason his team made the OHL finals.

How many college football championships did Tom Brady lead Michigan to when he was the starter? How many championships did Tennessee win with Peyton Manning?

My point was that every team would take McDavid because elite players often win championships. If I look at the greatest players to play the game, the significant majority have championships. Of course McDavid is not an all time great, but he has a better chance to become one than any other young player so of course you'd want to hitch your wagon to him.

I don't subscribe to the theory that because he is so good, he will break the payroll of whatever team has him.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Case in point: Iginla. Arguably the best player in the game just before the Crosby era (Linden said he was anyway) with just that kind of "will to win" rep. He did carry a mediocre team to the finals once, with more than a huge assist from Kipper. But despite his talent and his compete level, he never repeated that success, even with better teams on paper.

Iggy was the best player of the "dead puck era". When obstruction was reduced faster players came to dominate.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Iggy was the best player of the "dead puck era". When obstruction was reduced faster players came to dominate.

He is in the conversation at the very least, which is a huge accomplishment and is evidence as to his quality as a hockey player. There were some great players who played during the 1995-2004 decade, Iginla among them. It feels like just yesterday that Iginla was a young leader who was at the top of his game, Oilers fans should enjoy it when they have the chance.

[Sutter_in_law]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I don't subscribe to the theory that because he is so good, he will break the payroll of whatever team has him.

Well then, it's settled. 7x2M - get'er done Chia!!

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The Oilers are going to have to disassemble thier roster to fit in McDavids 12 million, Draisaitl's 7 million and Nurse's probably 4 million over the next two years.

...shortened due to incredible length...

So now they're team looks like this

_______ McDavid Draisaitl
Lucic _________ Kassian
______ Caggiula _______
______ Letestu Pulwatever

Sekeras Larsson
Nurse Davidson
Klefbom and Benning (Who will need a raise as well)

Talbot
__________
For draft picks and prospects( They won't get good ones)

So chances are the Las Vegas Knights will make the playoffs before the Oilers.

Breaking news - an NHL team will suck in 3-4 years if all RFAs are given massive raises, all UFAs leave when given the chance, no replacement free agents are signed, and none of your prospects or draft picks make it to the NHL over the next few years!!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Iggy was the best player of the "dead puck era". When obstruction was reduced faster players came to dominate.

Well, that plus kids like Crosby and Ovechkin came along. Somehow after the reduction in obstruction after the lockout, Iginla still seemed to manage. 50 and 45 goal seasons and at least 30 every year.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Could it be a case of some players fed up and wanting out. I am sure some of those draft picks start feeling like they need to get out before it's too late. Young draft picks coming in and being told to expect great things only to have to endure season after season of losing. This should be a lesson for teams that plan on a scorched earth rebuild.

Well, they arent winning, but they are getting paid rather handsomely for pretty mediocre performances.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think the Oilers will fit Draisaitl and McDavid in just fine. Probably make a few moves, and that will be that.

That is to say, that McDavid's 12 million isn't going to be a hindrance. The Oilers' futility at drafting, trading and signing free agents is what guarantees that McDavid doesn't lead the Oilers to the promised land.

[drewtastic]

Oilers' "decade of futility" finally gets big-time recognition it deserves!

(Spoiler for size)

Spoiler!

[Robbob]

Was just looking at the Oilers rosters and i didn't see Puljujarvi on the roster. Just puzzling that in the 40 game that kicked in his contract to count towards the 7 year UFA that he would play 3:27. Then a scratch for the NJ and Ottawa games. I don't see any news regarding injury and now him not being on the roster just makes his usage not make any sense at all.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Was just looking at the Oilers rosters and i didn't see Puljujarvi on the roster. Just puzzling that in the 40 game that kicked in his contract to count towards the 7 year UFA that he would play 3:27. Then a scratch for the NJ and Ottawa games. I don't see any news regarding injury and now him not being on the roster just makes his usage not make any sense at all.

Asked and answered.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Was just looking at the Oilers rosters and i didn't see Puljujarvi on the roster. Just puzzling that in the 40 game that kicked in his contract to count towards the 7 year UFA that he would play 3:27. Then a scratch for the NJ and Ottawa games. I don't see any news regarding injury and now him not being on the roster just makes his usage not make any sense at all.

the funniest thing is Draisatl's emergence this season has likely confirmed to them that doing this type of prospect handling is repeatable.

So let's keep the kid up at the NHL, regardless if he's ready. Let's have him play half the season, with his minutes reduced, while not letting him go to the WJCs, and heck, let's just send him down immediately after for the rest of the season.

he'll be better for it by next year afterall, just look at draisatl.

[Ashasx]

Edmonton Oilers ‏@EdmontonOilers3m3 minutes ago The #Oilers have assigned Jesse Puljujärvi to the @Condors, recalled Anton Slepyshev & placed Jonas Gustavsson on waivers.


Wasn't he on the roster at the 40 game mark?

Did the Oilers blow it?

[sureLoss]

Yes he was on the roster for the 40 game mark, so this season will count towards UFA.

[Ashasx]

So for some unknown reason they kept him those additional 2 games because Oilers?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Could have just been a part of signing him and getting him over to North America. Guarantee him the 40 games so he can get a year off UFA, while the Oilers (ironically) have better control over his development.