Current State of the Flames/Oilers Rivalry

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Locke

I dont know about rivalry though. I consider the Oilers like a jealous, mentally challenged little brother coveting their older brother's success.

Rivalries arent rivalries if they're completely one-sided.

There's still a rivalry. It's not like it's non existent.

Remember Colborne's quote? He personally loves beating them.

[Huntingwhale]

The Oilers are more hilarious then they are a rivalry. When the Flames play them I'm never really worried about the outcome. And if the team does lose, you can usually chalk it up to a poor effort moreso then the Oilers being the better team. The Oilers are great to laugh at, to make fun of and to kick when their down. But Vancouver is actually a good team. They have the power to screw us over in the standings when it matters. They have great players and for some reason we just don't match up well against them. Usually our goalie has to steal the game for us. For that reason I think they are a bigger rival. Their actually a competitive team that causes us stress when we play them. You can't say the same thing about the Oilers.

[northcrunk]

Give it another 8 years and maybe the Oilers will be good........or starting rebuild 8.0

[trublmaker]

after going thru the 80's oilers and eskimos constantly killing us and the fans being over the top arrogant they will ALWAYS be hated by me. Hoping they never improve and continue to be the league wide joke they have become

[Igster]

I hate the Canucks so much more than the Oilers. Plus, the Oilers pretty much suck so they really aren't a threat or even a rivalry right now. It's like the bully beating up on the little kid currently.

[jaikorven]

I tend to agree with most people in the respect that:

The Oilers are just not good enough to worry about and seem like they never will be.
The Canucks have the players that I dislike the most and with the dive/whine style they play it just gets under the skin

But I was 18 when we won the cup, so ya I still hate them both.

[SofaProfessor]

It's not much of a rivalry if the other team can hardly compete in the same league. I'm not saying that in a "hurr durr Oilers suck" kind of way. It's just hard to care about a game when it feels like an exhibition game and the other team sat all their stars to see who's gonna crack the 4th line.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by SofaProfessor

It's not much of a rivalry if the other team can hardly compete in the same league. I'm not saying that in a "hurr durr Oilers suck" kind of way. It's just hard to care about a game when it feels like an exhibition game and the other team sat all their stars to see who's gonna crack the 4th line.

ermygeeerd the Oilers suck. I have a hard time getting worked up for them. It's been great beating them like the junior team they are but there won't be much of a rivalry until they are at least AHL quality.

[Hanna Sniper]

The hate is still strong in this one

[Reggie Dunlop]

The Oilers will never ever ever be good.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

The hate is still strong in this one

Hating the Oilers is a given. I hate them, I just dont consider them rivals.

Rivals are two people/teams competing for the same thing, the Flames are competing for the playoffs and eventually a cup, the Oilers are trying to set some sort of record number of first overall draft picks on the same team at the same time.

The two organizations have entirely different goals and as such are only competing, in the strictest sense, because they play the same sport in the same league, and even then, when in regards to the Oilers thats debatable.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

I want to hate them, but the mercy rule is in full effect.
Ima belligerent piece of #### when it comes to beaking rival fans, and pointing out flaws. For as long as I can remember now, there is no push back, passion, or even the faintest sign of self defence. Those fans are a dejected bunch, and part of me hopes that team pulls it together somewhat so that we can knock em down a peg or two again.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

It's easy to dismiss the rivalry now, when the Oilers and their fans have both completely given up on life.

But wait until September, when we all hear about how this is their year, and their big off-season acquisitions have turned things around.

They deserve to be kicked while they're down. Because every time you stop kicking, they immediately start talking **** to your back as you walk away.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by codynw

Sure there's one between the fans, but as long as the Oilers remain in the basement, it's not a real rivalry. If they ever meet in the playoffs again, then we've got something.

Yep. I know it's sacrilege to say around here, but I hope the Oilers get good again, and the two teams meet in the playoffs as Stanley Cup contenders, like the Kings and Hawks. Rivalries are about wars on the ice on the playoffs, not fans beaking off to teach other. I want the Battle of Alberta to be meaningful again, a rivalry renowned around the league as two powerhouse teams going at each other hammer and tongs.

[JohnnyTitan]

"Fan who lives and dies Oilers....dies!"

There just isn't enough passion up north right now to have a heated rivalry. Most of them are so beaten down, even if they win the last game of the season against us they have no leg to stand on with regards to a "Beak-Off".

It was when most of them finally agreed that their team was pathetic that beating them became less fun. We have scored the ultimate win -> Oiler fans have no more heart. But now there is no rivalry.

[albertGQ]

Younger Flames fans will probably hate the Canucks more than the Oilers. The older Flames fans will probably be the opposite.

[Buff]

The Flames look poised to make the playoffs this year or the next. It's coming soon. Until the Oilers are that close there won't be a very heated rivalry. So, maybe never.

The longer it takes the more the 80s look like ancient folklore.

[Igottago]

That organization (the Oilers) has been so bad, for so long, I think their biggest rival is their own fans.

I still hate them but its not the kind of hate I had for the Canucks during the Iginla era of the Flames. I HATED that Canucks team. I HATED the Canucks team that went to the finals. That hatred has dissipated a tad with the changes the Canucks they've seen the last year or two, but its still there. But this was a hatred bred from competition, playoff battles, regular season battles, division battles.

The Oilers are just more pathetic than anything. They are that kid you just hold one arm out and keep him at a distance while he tries throwing punches at you. They aren't even on life support anymore, they are a dead organization, there is almost nothing worthy of NHL news going on in that city. Just a pile of garbage up north you wish someone would one day clean up.

[Locke]

Its Soviet Edmonton, they wont tolerate competition of any kind!

They must gather more losses for the Motherland!

[Hackey]

My hate towards both teams has definitely faded considerably since both teams started to suck. This year with the Flames and Canucks both being in the playoff hunt that has changed a bit but I think a good playoff series would definitely help reignite that rivalry again. The fact that I don't see either teams as threats though is ultimately what kills the rivalry for me. Haven't truly hated the Canucks since they were making deep playoff runs. Would be nice of the Oil could get it together though and the rivalry could heat up again. That will definitely be a great playoff series whenever it happens. Knowing the Oilers are just pitiful and the Canucks are barely hanging on makes it tough to really have a passion for the rivalry.