The problem as I saw it last season was less about personnel and more about what was going on between their ears.
Many ex Oilers (and current Oilers like Lucic) have said in interviews that after their 103 point season the team thought it was going to be easier than it was. There was evidence of that throughout the season. Players not bothering to back check (most specifically Draisaitl, Maroon, Lucic...et al)...players not picking up assignments in the D zone....players overthinking and over handling the puck. This was a team that wasnt in sync with what it takes to win.
When a team is mentally out of the game the rest follows....lack of execution....missed assignments...negative disposition...and and on it goes. Its a losing season folks and it was throughout the roster.
I love the people slagging Larsson....I am willing to bet that 90% of them still havent gotten past the deal that brought him here. So his one bad season with the Oil is now held up like its a beacon for things to come.
What utter nonsense.
The player evaluations in this thread (for the most part) are overtly negative. I say that because posters are using last season as their primary evaluation tool...they conveniently omit the prior season like its an outlier or something and then heavily weight last season like it has more relevance. Really odd but I get it...it supports their negativity.
I would be shocked if we dont see a more determined and committed group this season. Shocked.
That in and of itself will make a huge difference. The coaching changes are another positive IMO and if they can help to simplify the game and help to disconnect players from overthinking then that is another huge positive.
The unusual length of the upcoming Europe trip and subsequent road trip will be an opportunity for the team and coaches to get on the same page and unify. Another potential positive.
I get that some posters have this seemingly never ending need to be negative (and piss all over anything positive) but here is a novel concept...instead of trying to convince the board that you are smarter than everyone else (or at least inconsolably forlorn in your life) how about actually waiting to see how this is going to play out?
Its fine if there are skeptics...I get that. Its justified for sure.
That said at the very least maybe (like a true skeptic) be open to the possibility that these changes will make a difference and stop being a miserable cynic with incontinence issues.
/rant
Man...I feel much better now.
The bottom line and my reason for creating this thread....If the coaches can simplify their game and make it more instinctual then IMO its a major difference maker. I am willing to bet that it works out.
In any event I thought it was worth discussing.