"The Edmonton Oilers are a useless franchise"

[RITFW]

What, no pearls of wisdom on the Oilers' lack of a starting goalie and lousy defense? Are you guys stooping to (still) reading the injury reports on your hated rival and cracking wise on just how you'd run an NHL franchise sooo much better? Some people would be worried about having an AHL goalie starting for the next week or two (hey, he beat Columbus!!) and how to unload a gaggle of overpriced aging veterans with NTC/NMC clauses that were handed out like free bingo cards for the past 5 years. But do go on if it takes your mind off your own mess. Juvenile and pathetic really.

[Young One]

Originally Posted by RITFW

What, no pearls of wisdom on the Oilers' lack of a starting goalie and lousy defense? Are you guys stooping to (still) reading the injury reports on your hated rival and cracking wise on just how you'd run an NHL franchise sooo much better? Some people would be worried about having an AHL goalie starting for the next week or two (hey, he beat Columbus!!) and how to unload a gaggle of overpriced aging veterans with NTC/NMC clauses that were handed out like free bingo cards for the past 5 years. But do go on if it takes your mind off your own mess. Juvenile and pathetic really.

Wait- Are you saying the oilers have a better defence then the flames?

By The way, calling people "Juvenile and pathetic" is quite immature, actually.

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Figured there would be some laughs about this:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/...es_rebuilding/

Imagine an islander fan telling the rangers 'you ought to be more like us'. I almost feel bad for the guy.

I found the comments section far more interesting than the article. Some good posts (I have a feeling some of the stronger posts were from Cp'ers).

At the end of the day, I'm going to go with Jay Feaster (he of the Stanley Cup winning Lightening and executive of the year) over Steve Tambellini and Mark Spector's opinions. I'm not even Feaster's biggest fan, but what he's done with bringing Weisbrod on board and the switch in drafting philosophy, gives me far more confidence that the ship can be turned around without an Edmonton Oilers like tanking philosophy.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Figured there would be some laughs about this:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/...es_rebuilding/

Imagine an islander fan telling the rangers 'you ought to be more like us'. I almost feel bad for the guy.

It's a little known fact outside of Edmonton, but the great Oilers rebuild was not something that organization mapped out.

Great Oilers rebuild? Don't they have to I don't know....make the playoffs, win some rounds, and become an elite team to affix the term 'great'? Spector should be embarrassed.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by RITFW

What, no pearls of wisdom on the Oilers' lack of a starting goalie and lousy defense? Are you guys stooping to (still) reading the injury reports on your hated rival and cracking wise on just how you'd run an NHL franchise sooo much better? Some people would be worried about having an AHL goalie starting for the next week or two (hey, he beat Columbus!!) and how to unload a gaggle of overpriced aging veterans with NTC/NMC clauses that were handed out like free bingo cards for the past 5 years. But do go on if it takes your mind off your own mess. Juvenile and pathetic really.

I think somebody is a little grumpy because he realizes that despite his garbage franchise racking up first overall picks like free bingo cards over the last 3 years, (while compiling an absolutely mind blowingly despicable and unwatchable .350 win percentage) and despite somehow managing to luck out and snag a highly touted college free agent defensman, and despite also spending another long and exciting off-season of guzzling coiler kool-aid, he now realizes after watching the "super exiting, high octane, building something special, young and super star filled" coiler team for a handful of games, that they are still complete garbage and it's only a matter of time before team after team once again pass by them in the standings.

I know it's tough my little kool-aid guzzling coiler friend, when you once again realize that the light at the end of the tunnel wasn't a Cup contender, but was really just a freight train barreling straight for you, and you've got nowhere to go, but to Flames message board to lash out in frustration that you've been duped for another year.

[boggledepot]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Figured there would be some laughs about this:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/...es_rebuilding/

Imagine an islander fan telling the rangers 'you ought to be more like us'. I almost feel bad for the guy.

I think part of the reason I'm pulling so hard for the Flames this season is because stuff like this. I found the article disrespectful to the organization and its players. The Flames management has played the game by playing the ball where it lies. Management could have blew up the team at any point and reset, but instead addressed what got them in woods into the first place. I respect that.

As a fan of the team I don't enjoy reading "not one person in Flames nation wouldn't trade roster." I wouldn't trade rosters with the Canucks, and they won the presidents trophy the last two years. Why would I want to swap rosters with the Oilers?

As one poster stated, the media has lost its objectivity. They don't even bother and say: "lets wait and see how these experiments work out, and time will be the judge." Rather, just say the Flames should have followed the Oilers example. But the only example the Oilers have given is how to be the worst team in hockey for the last three seasons. Something is wrong when a person believes intentionally throwing a season is a shining example of excellence.

[Azure]

Yakupov looks okay to me. RNH on the other hand is obviously having serious enough injury problems that he has to sit out 4 games at a time to 'rest' his shoulder. Well, if the shoulder is sore from an awkward hit, like Brad Marchand in Boston, fine.....but after what happened with Hall last year, one has to wonder if there isn't something seriously wrong with it, and the Oilers aren't doing the right thing by allowing him to have surgery to repair it.

The other thing is that RNH himself he has to do work to 'strengthen it'....which really makes you question his physical strength coming into the season. Sounds like he wasn't ready at all.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by RITFW

What, no pearls of wisdom on the Oilers' lack of a starting goalie and lousy defense? Are you guys stooping to (still) reading the injury reports on your hated rival and cracking wise on just how you'd run an NHL franchise sooo much better? Some people would be worried about having an AHL goalie starting for the next week or two (hey, he beat Columbus!!) and how to unload a gaggle of overpriced aging veterans with NTC/NMC clauses that were handed out like free bingo cards for the past 5 years. But do go on if it takes your mind off your own mess. Juvenile and pathetic really.

Are you stooping to read said rivals forum and ranting? Worried your team will continue to suck so you come here for some schadenfreude? That my good friend is sad and pathetic .

[monkeyman]

I never understood why people praise the "oiler model". Lets be honest, the only asset they really traded of any note (at the time), was Smyth and only because it was clear he wasn't going to sign a sweetheart deal to stay in Edmonton. Penner was run out of town, they were lucky to get what they did and obviously not the player they hoped he'd be when they signed him to that huge contract. the rest of the players traded out were marginal players.
If they really wanted to tank, they would've traded Hemsky and Horcoff, they wouldn't have brought in Khabibulin, Ryan Whitney, Jim Vandermeer and Kurtis Foster.
They finished at the bottom or second to the bottom 3 years straight, because they were a poorly managed team who had some poor luck with injures. how does anyone follow a model of ineptitude? who would want to?
I much prefer the model Feaster is moulding. It's a longer, slower rebuild, but it's a much more sustainable model for the long haul.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by RITFW

What, no pearls of wisdom on the Oilers' lack of a starting goalie and lousy defense? Are you guys stooping to (still) reading the injury reports on your hated rival and cracking wise on just how you'd run an NHL franchise sooo much better? Some people would be worried about having an AHL goalie starting for the next week or two (hey, he beat Columbus!!) and how to unload a gaggle of overpriced aging veterans with NTC/NMC clauses that were handed out like free bingo cards for the past 5 years. But do go on if it takes your mind off your own mess. Juvenile and pathetic really.

Yawn what's utterly pathetic is that the Oilers are equivalent to a very slow child or wounded pet and its never going to get better.

At least if your going to come here and have a hissy fit have the common sense not to do it when your team is in the midst of a long losing streak and with all of its so called talent one of the worst offensive teams in the NHL.

For god sakes have some dignity and explain to us how knowing that year after year your team is the equivalent of a busted down VW rabbit with three tires and yet you still come here and rant about a Flames team that actually puts an issue into trying to win instead of being like the Oilers who year after year lay down, surrender and spread her legs like a hooker on fleet day.

Its really quite sad, maybe go out and have a big mac tomorrow.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Figured there would be some laughs about this:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/...es_rebuilding/

Imagine an islander fan telling the rangers 'you ought to be more like us'. I almost feel bad for the guy.

What an embarassing article. I can't stand the permanent Oiler slant SN has.

Shouldn't the Oilers actually not suck anymore before people act like its been a successful rebuild? This current regime hasn't accomplished anything other than give the Canadian media boners the first month of every season, before the annual collapse.

[nik-]

It's going to be pretty hilarious to see these networks when their Oilers narrative continues to break down on the ice like it has started to. I mean, they're going to get another lottery pick and we'll have to go through this all over again next year ... but at least we'll have a few quiet months.

[Dienasty]

I agree with a lot of that article. Nuge should have played in the whl last season, the old young guns do suck, and the oilers are completely over hyped. However eberle isn't just lucky, almost a ppg player, I would consider him the MOST talented of the main three not the least... I do think he did have some valid points(the team has been pathetic for far to long to not fire the gm) but I think this guy was just being a troll for a portion of the article (eberle, Paulina, mullet analogy etc.)

[flamesrule14]

I find it absolutely hilarious how people can seriously praise this great Oilers rebuild. Considering where they have picked and the amount of draft picks they have had the last few years really the depth they have is pretty bad. Seriously right now the best player on the farm team is Jonathan freaking Cheechoo. For an organization that has shown absolutely nothing I really just don't get all the praise they seem to get.

Sure the flames are a far cry from a powerhouse, but I'll trust and take the guys leading this organization before I'd take the guys up North.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

What an embarassing article. I can't stand the permanent Oiler slant SN has.

Shouldn't the Oilers actually not suck anymore before people act like its been a successful rebuild? This current regime hasn't accomplished anything other than give the Canadian media boners the first month of every season, before the annual collapse.

After about 11 1st round picks since their last trip to the playoffs the fact that the Oilers continue to be a below average team is embarrassing.

[Trojan97]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

After about 11 1st round picks since their last trip to the playoffs the fact that the Oilers continue to be a below average team is embarrassing.

2006: None
2007: Gagner, Plante, Nash
2008: Eberle
2009: Paajarvi
2010: Hall
2011: Nuge, Klefbom
2012: Yakupov

It's not so much their first round picks as the rest of their drafts...

2006: Petry (2nd), Peckham (3rd), Pitton (5th), Wild (5th), Bumagin (6th) 274 games played by two guys (Petry/Peckham)

2007: Omark (4th), Kytnar (5th), Quist (6th) Combined 66 NHL games. 65 GP by Omark.

2008: Motin (4th), Cornet (5th), Hartikainen (6th), Bendfeld (7th). 41 NHL games played. 38 by Hartikainen.

2009: Lander (2nd), Hesketh (3rd), Abney (3rd), Bigos (4th), Rajala (4th), Roy (5th). 60 games played, all by Lander.

2010: Pitlick (2nd), Marincin (2nd), Hamilton (2nd), Martindale (3rd), Blain (4th), Bunz (5th), Davidson (6th), Czerwonka (6th), Pells (7th), Jones (7th). 0 games played.

2011: Musil (2nd), Perhonen (3rd), Ewanyk (3rd), Simpson (4th), Rieder (4th), Martin Gernat (5th), Tuohimaa (7th). 0 games played.

2012: Moroz (2nd), Khaira (3rd), Zharkov (3rd), Gustafsson (4th), Laleggia (5th), McCarron (6th). 0 GP.

From the past seven drafts Edmonton has...
-41 drafted players post first round.
-8 have played a game in the NHL.
-4 have played 60 or more NHL games at this point. The rest are guys who have played 1 or 2 games.

The Oilers drafts have been nothing short of disastrous outside of the first round. Drafting average bottom six forwards and third pairing Dmen is not the type of depth that will get you to the playoffs, let alone win a Cup. They would be smart to overhaul their scouting staff ASAP if they want to take advantage of their window. They are beyond awful outside of the obvious picks.

[Trojan97]

For a point of reference, I'll include the Flames during that same time..

List doesn't include 1st round picks...
2006: 7 prospects drafted. 0 GP in NHL
2007: 4 prospects drafted. 89 GP in NHL
2008: 6 prospects drafted. 107 GP in NHL
2009: 5 prospects drafted. 0 GP in NHL
2010: 6 prospects drafted. 0 GP in NHL
2011: 4 prospects drafted. 9 GP in NHL
2012: 6 prospects drafted. 0 GP in NHL

Aulie, Negrin, Bouma, Brodie, Sven have seen NHL action at this point.

-38 Players drafted beyond the first.
-5 have played NHL games
-2 have played 60+ NHL games (Aulie, Brodie)

[spetch]

Originally Posted by Trojan97

2006: None
2007: Gagner, Plante, Nash
2008: Eberle
2009: Paajarvi
2010: Hall
2011: Nuge, Klefbom
2012: Yakupov

It's not so much their first round picks as the rest of their drafts...

2006: Petry (2nd), Peckham (3rd), Pitton (5th), Wild (5th), Bumagin (6th) 274 games played by two guys (Petry/Peckham)

2007: Omark (4th), Kytnar (5th), Quist (6th) Combined 66 NHL games. 65 GP by Omark.

2008: Motin (4th), Cornet (5th), Hartikainen (6th), Bendfeld (7th). 41 NHL games played. 38 by Hartikainen.

2009: Lander (2nd), Hesketh (3rd), Abney (3rd), Bigos (4th), Rajala (4th), Roy (5th). 60 games played, all by Lander.

2010: Pitlick (2nd), Marincin (2nd), Hamilton (2nd), Martindale (3rd), Blain (4th), Bunz (5th), Davidson (6th), Czerwonka (6th), Pells (7th), Jones (7th). 0 games played.

2011: Musil (2nd), Perhonen (3rd), Ewanyk (3rd), Simpson (4th), Rieder (4th), Martin Gernat (5th), Tuohimaa (7th). 0 games played.

2012: Moroz (2nd), Khaira (3rd), Zharkov (3rd), Gustafsson (4th), Laleggia (5th), McCarron (6th). 0 GP.

From the past seven drafts Edmonton has...
-41 drafted players post first round.
-8 have played a game in the NHL.
-4 have played 60 or more NHL games at this point. The rest are guys who have played 1 or 2 games.

The Oilers drafts have been nothing short of disastrous outside of the first round. Drafting average bottom six forwards and third pairing Dmen is not the type of depth that will get you to the playoffs, let alone win a Cup. They would be smart to overhaul their scouting staff ASAP if they want to take advantage of their window. They are beyond awful outside of the obvious picks.

just because a draftee has games in the NHL does not make them quality NHL'rs. To me this shows that the Oilers haven't been able to acquire quality NHL'rs and have to rush any drafted players to the big club in order to fill a roster.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

There is also a possible step between not being on the roster and playing 20+ minutes a night. You can look at how a team like the Bruins eased Seguin into the lineup.

You can also look at Tampa, the Islanders, Avalanche the Blackhawks and how they handled Stamkos, Tavares, Landeskog and Kane. All three got 1st line ice time right off the bat. I don't see how any of them are 'ruined'.

And from the sounds of it the oilers have no plans to take precautions with a player that could become a franchise player. They figure a four day break is enough to heal a shoulder injury. Probably sent him to a faith healer or bought him a crystal or something.

Yeah, this has been a reoccurring problem with the medical staff. See Souray.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by craig.caulks

I don't think it would have hurt to have Yakupov in Russia for this shortened year. RNH is a different story, but a year of junior wouldn't have killed him. But the more the Oil do to damage their children the better. In 3 years their supercore will be expensive and they still have zero depth. That's not how the Hawks or Pens won.

Why would you leave Yakupov in Russia? It just doesn't make sense when he is already the team's most dynamic scoring threat and clearly NHL caliber. This would be as dumb as the Lightning leaving down Stamkos to preserve a ELC year.

You're right, a year down in the WHL wouldn't have hurt him. However, spending a season with the parent NHL club and finishing 2nd in Calder voting is much better for player experience.

If you want to look at a team that might've rushed their prospect, look at Winnipeg with Burmistrov.