[News] Eakins fired. MacTavish interim head coach. Presser 11:45am

[Ashasx]

Craig MacTavish‏ @FakeOilersGM
In hindsight, I shouldn't have hired an AHL coach with little NHL coaching experience. I won't make that mistake again.

[PeteMoss]

Craig MacTavish ‏@FakeOilersGM
In hindsight, I shouldn't have hired an AHL coach with little NHL coaching experience. I won't make that mistake again.

[JiriHrdina]

Brilliant. So having a new coach each season wasn't good enough - they are now going to have 3 in one season? Because young players thrive on inconsistency right?
Idiots.
I actually think MacTavish is a good coach who will get some immediate impact and pull them up the standings a touch.
But again - what an asinine plan. And interim coach followed by another interim coach? Only the Oil.

[Nme-Territory]

As funny as it might sound on the surface, Mike Keenan could actually be the ideal coach for the Greasers.

From a Flames perspective, I'd like them to start playing well enough to negate their chances of drafting top 2. As I type that I feel like it's still too much to ask of them.

[Rejean31]

Whhoo boy has the media turned on the Oilers. Jim Matheson on 630 CHED right now, "we've been sold a bill of goods, we've been told this is a talented team, they're not talented at all."

[Poe969]

as long as he pulls them out of the McDavid territory I'll be happy. I want them to succeed a little so they get mid level prospects in the first round because every other pick will be garbage.

I hate the oilers and no more young players deserve to go to that dump.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Locke

Anyone want to know why no one will take the Edmonton Oilers Head Coaching gig?

Craig MacTavish - Fired. Never coached another NHL team ever again until the Edmonton Oilers. Again.

Tom Renney - Fired. Never coached another NHL team ever again.

Pat Quinn (RIP) - Fired. Never coached another NHL team ever again.

Ralph Krueger - Fired. Never coached another NHL team ever again. Had to leave the continent to get work.

Dallas Eakins - Fired. The jury is still out, obviously, but whats the likelihood that he ever gets another NHL job?

Edmonton is no good, but 3 of those ended up in more prominent roles with their next job (MacTavish, Renney and Krueger) in their next jobs, and Pat Quinn probably shouldn't have gotten the job in the first place and was never going to get another due to his age.

All Eakins has to do is do well as an AHL coach or an assistant somewhere for a few years, and he'll get another chance. He's supposed to interview very well, and realistically he should be able to cleanse himself of this experience by merely pointing out just how derisory Edmonton is as an employer.

They won't get a big name coach right now, but it's one of only 30 positions available to coach at the top in the best league in the world. Obviously it's clear now that Nelson will get the job, but aside from your Babcock's and elite guys not many have the clout to say no to the position.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

How ridiculous is it that the Oilers are essentially letting Nelson coach on a tryout basis?

Like, this isn't even pre-season. These are real games that fans pay big money to attend. And the Oilers are just having tryouts? Midseason?

The Oilers may not be directly trying to tank, but their actions certainly aren't conducive to winning.

And to think they are actually going to get McDavid or Eichel. Just ridiculous. Angering and frustrating.

this Nelson thing is just so stupid. Why even go out and publicly state that we're going to try this guy out and let's see (if/) when he's comfortable to take it on??

Would have been easier to simply state that he's letting go eakins, as they assess the best possible replacement, he will be taking the role on in the interim with the assistance of Nelson (as mact still has to manage the day to day gm duties) .

publicly stating their having head coach tryouts is just laughable.

as a flames fan, we are so lucky for having the oilers for rivals. Most flames fans would be disappointed, angry, upset, thinking up big trades after the 5 game losing streak, but instead we get to point and laugh at what's going on in loserville.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Locke

I understand all that, my point was why no established coaches would take the Oilers job, its because that job is the Last Chance Saloon.

No one recovers in the NHL after working for the Oilers.

Too be fair, Renny went into an asst role with Detroit, which is pretty good. And then parlayed that into the top HC job. Not too shabby.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Dave Lumley ‏@lummer20
Quinn gone, NOW it's on the players. Renney? NOW! it's on the players. Kruger? NOW!! it's on the players. Eakins? NOW what!!!?#BrokenRecord

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Sportsnet Stats ‏@SNstats
Once Todd Nelson takes over, no team in North American pro sports will have more head coaching changes than the #Oilers since May 2009.

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by nik-

lol MacT trying to pretend like they're not tanking.

When you're "not good" tanking seems redundant.

[Poe969]

Tanking means that it's a one time thing or there is a specific reason you're doing it like the Avs did with McKinnon. I don't think the oilers aren't tanking because this is them actually trying. They're just idiots.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Rejean31

Whhoo boy has the media turned on the Oilers. Jim Matheson on 630 CHED right now, "we've been sold a bill of goods, we've been told this is a talented team, they're not talented at all."

The Oilers top brass just thinks that talent stops at scoring and skating. Backchecking and defensive awareness aren't talents. Those are for the untalented...

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Backchecking and defensive awareness aren't talents. Those are for the untalented...

…and since all the Oilers are so very very talented, we won’t be having any of that stuff on their team, no sir!

[chummer]

Originally Posted by bob-loblaw

I think in the press conference he mentioned about talking to Bob regarding the changes. What happened to talking with Kevin? Is he even around anymore? Why didn't the media jump all over that?

Gene Principe was on Tim and Sid this morning and said Kevin
Lowe just had hip replacement surgery.

I wonder what kind of fan his doctor is?

[GioforPM]

"Old kick-ass Keenan" maybe. "Last NHL gig Keenan" tended to favour the core - let them play how they wanted, with no defensive system. Sorta like how the oilers play now.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Sportsnet Stats ‏@SNstats
Once Todd Nelson takes over, no team in North American pro sports will have more head coaching changes than the #Oilers since May 2009.

The frightening thing about that statement is that it implies another team has currently had more.

[DomeFoam]

I wonder if the oilers made their decision based on the fact that Calgary has lost 5 straight but deemed it unacceptable after 3. No good

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Muta

CONFIRMED: Oilers be firin' at Christmas time; will receive lump of coal from Santa for atrocious timing of event.

There never is a good time to fire someone. It feels bad on both sides. There will always be a birthday, holiday, event, etc. that it will ruin. That said, I'm guessing Eakins is enjoying this. He doesn't have to deal with the train wreck of that team, and gets paid his full salary for 2.5 more years. He gets to spend Christmas at home with his family and can move them out of that trailer park of a city. It's an ideal Christmas gift, not atrocious timing.