[Rumour] Chiarelli meeting with the Oilers. UPD: press conference Friday to announce hiring?

[Roof-Daddy]

I could handle the Oilers being terrible forever, but it's not the end of the world to me if they do improve on the ice. Is what it is.

However, what will be absolutely UNBEARABLE, is their fan base.

After basically 9 years of cheering for the laughing stock of the NHL, and following the worst and most embarrassingly ran sports franchise in North America.....if not the world, I'm pretty sure that if they get a little success going the majority of their fan base is going to massively overcompensate.

[GranteedEV]

I'm all for the Oil having a decade of success.

San Jose Sharks type "success", that is.

[Burke Salad]

Most teams fans scale back their on-line activity when sucking, so HF is going to become even more unbearable!

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I doubt this. Nicholson saw the same video footage we did of McDavid looking like his dog just got shot when he saw the Oilers get drawn. I'm sure he's going to make every effort possible to avoid a Lindros type of situation and the best way to add credibility is to finally put an end to the KLowne show.

Let's be honest here. Given Nicholson's new position of power if he doesn't make major changes he's simply not half as smart as we thought he was as it's pretty obvious that old boys club has been running the team into the ground.

That's how I see it too - IMO any changes the Oilers make will not be driven from Bettman/NHL/Owners - it will be driven by the McDavid camp.

It wouldn't surprise me if McDavid's agent already reached out to Katz and said "if you have the same org come draft day, you better draft someone else"

[442scotty]

Its going to take a lot more that McD to turn that ship around if he decides to go there willingly. Im looking forward to a meaningful rivalry again and the Flames are, and will always be, the better team. McD or no McD

[JohnnySkittles]

If McDavid wasn't going there I wouldn't look forward to this news at all, but if this happens McDavids career may just be saved.
And hell I would like to see the BOA alive again.

[Robbob]

anyone remember if it was Katz or Lowe that courted Nicholson?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Robbob

anyone remember if it was Katz or Lowe that courted Nicholson?

Katz. He was hired onto the business side. Lowe is on the Hockey Ops side.

[HotHotHeat]

Isn't MacT in Europe?

He'll be fired over Skype... That almost makes this worth it.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Isn't MacT in Europe?

He'll befired promoted over Skype... That almost makes this worth it.

Fixed that for you.

[Burke Salad]

I am hoping they are just dropping false positive reports while the Flames are in the playoff's, to appease their fans. Sadly the MacDavid thing is real though.

[Resolute 14]

The Flames did in two years of rebuilding what the Oilers couldn't in nine: Get into the playoffs. One has to wonder just how much that embarrassment is playing into the possibility of Katz finally dumping his 80's Oilers action figures.

[Number 39]

It wouldn't surprise me if McDavid's agent quietly and discreetly informed Katz that changes would need to be made to avoid a Lindros type situation. This seems like the only thing that could have spurred on these sorts of moves. Fan anger, team performance certainly didn't have an impact on forcing changes.

[polak]

Dang.

O'well I actually feel bad for Oilers fans so this is actually a bit of a relief. No sports fan deserves that much suffering. Also, we need the BOA back.

They have a lot of pieces that could be of value to improve their team. Probably a pretty attractive option to prospective GM's.

[keratosis]

Couldn't last forever I guess.

[Red Menace]

Well we can always take solace in the fact that Edmonton will always remain Edmonton.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I could handle the Oilers being terrible forever, but it's not the end of the world to me if they do improve on the ice. Is what it is.

However, what will be absolutely UNBEARABLE, is their fan base.

After basically 9 years of cheering for the laughing stock of the NHL, and following the worst and most embarrassingly ran sports franchise in North America.....if not the world, I'm pretty sure that if they get a little success going the majority of their fan base is going to massively overcompensate.

That's what the issue for me is too. I can handle the Oilers being competitive on the ice. It's better for the league that way. But I wouldn't be able to handle all the fan/media hype about how a cup is around the corner and ''here come the powerhouse oilers'' non-stop. 2 minutes after the oilers won the lottery, an oiler buddy of mine was already chirping about how much the Flames sucked and messed up this season since we didn't have a Mcdavid type player and for us to enjoy our 4-1 series loss upcoming to the Canucks. We should have tanked so we could be good for the next 20 years he said. A little humbleness amongst Oiler fans and media would go a long way to making me hate them less. Hell, fans in Calgary aren't even jumping ahead of our stellar season and we're already closing in on round 2. How quickly they forget the last 9 years and it hasn't even been a week.

Getting McDavid and Nicholson (theoretically) cleaning house isn't an immediate fix. A couple seasons to get rid of the stank will be needed. Sadly Oiler fans are already planning the parade.

[dustygoon]

When looking for a new GM/president of hockey ops before firing the existing one, you shouldn't bring potential candidates to town. Oilers man......can't even get this stuff right.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Number 39

It wouldn't surprise me if McDavid's agent quietly and discreetly informed Katz that changes would need to be made to avoid a Lindros type situation. This seems like the only thing that could have spurred on these sorts of moves. Fan anger, team performance certainly didn't have an impact on forcing changes.

The comparisons to Lindros are total wishful thinking. With the amount of money guys make now, and the amount of money they stand to make with early free agency, someone like McDavid is potentially leaving over $10 million on the table by refusing to sign for even one year. It simply is not going to happen. He'll suck it up and wear that crappy jersey.

[saillias]

They must be waiting for MacT and/or Lowe to complete a project before they want to end their employment. It happens. MacT is off in Europe so they probably want his scouting report and such first, laugh at it, then drop the hammer