Up the Irons
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I don't see a big problem with any Belanger said. nothing damning, and all true.
too much responsibility on kids.
too much responsibility on kids.
News Article: Belanger thoughts on the oilers.
- Thread starter McAsuno
- Start date
I kinda of see the argument with RNH. I definitely see it with Draisaitl, if he's forced into a big role early.
I do not with Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle. They're just good hockey players, they're not "kids" and they haven't been in a couple of years. We need to stop calling 22 year olds with four years of pro experience "kids".
And I'd say the Oilers did add a lot of prime-aged players (25-29) in significant roles. If it weren't for the likelihood that Draisaitl is going to play significant minutes, I'd say the team is less reliant on young players than ever.
Shame about that 2C hole.
I do not with Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle. They're just good hockey players, they're not "kids" and they haven't been in a couple of years. We need to stop calling 22 year olds with four years of pro experience "kids".
And I'd say the Oilers did add a lot of prime-aged players (25-29) in significant roles. If it weren't for the likelihood that Draisaitl is going to play significant minutes, I'd say the team is less reliant on young players than ever.
Shame about that 2C hole.
Beerfish
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- Apr 14, 2007
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Not really. He is a better player for sure and seems to have a lot more heart and is not playing out the string buy he is moderately better on the dot, is just moderately better offensively. So no I disagree that he is miles better than in every category. He also makes a million more than Belanger did.
Hey I like Gordon and he is an important cog on the team but he is a defensive specialist and face off winner and is similar to what Belanger provided. Belanger floated his last year and thus people hate him but purely from a what do they bring to the table aspect they are similar.
Moose Coleman
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- Apr 12, 2012
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Belanger 11-12
5×5 points per 60: 0.64 (13th among regular forwards)
5×4 points per 60: 4.32 (5th among regular forwards)
Qual Comp: 10th toughest faced among regular forwards
Qual Team: 7th best available teammates among regular forwards
Corsi Rel: -4.1 (10th best among regular forwards)
Zone Start: 43.2% (toughest among regular forwards)
Zone Finish: 48.9% (8th best among regular forwards)
Boxcars: 78, 4-12-16
Belanger 12-13
5×5 points per 60: 0.66 (13th among regular forwards)
5×4 points per 60: nil
Qual Comp: 10th toughest faced among regular forwards
Qual Team: 12th best available teammates among regular forwards
Corsi Rel: -19.9 (15th and last among regular forwards)
Zone Start: 33.3% (toughest among regular forwards)
Zone Finish: 45.5% (13th best among regular forwards)
Boxcars: 26, 0-3-3
Gordon 13-14
5×5 points per 60: 0.93 (10th among regular forwards)
5×4 points per 60: 6.85 (1st among regular forwards)
Qual Comp: 6th toughest among regular forwards (2nd-3rd line opp)
Qual Team: 8th best teammates among regular forwards (3rd line teammates)
Corsi Rel: -4.1 (11th best among regular forwards)
Zone Start: 20% (toughest among regular forwards, 2nd toughest in NHL)
Zone Finish: 39.5% (worst among regular forwards)
Boxcars: 74, 8-13-21
(All info from Lowetide)
Gordon does heavier lifting than Belanger but delivered better results in one year than Belanger did in either. Same role, but Gordon is the better player (which is to be expected, given the age difference).
Moose Coleman
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- Apr 12, 2012
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I don't think anyone was arguing about their role. The issue is with Belanger talking about the lack of veteran support when he was arguably part of the problem.
Stoneman89
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- Feb 8, 2008
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Well, he talks about lack of veteran leadership to help out the kids, and considering he was one of those so called vets that was supposed to make some larger contributions, I think he should shut his yap and move on. His poor play and 1 goal during the season did nothing to help out Taylor Hall, etc.
KCC
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- Aug 15, 2007
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Anyone who follows the NHL closely enough knows that what he said isn't anything new. He's right. The big reason why players like Kane and Toews are where they are is because of the supporting cast that they got surrounded with. You need that as a young player or you'll be forced to do it all on your own. Ala Edmonton. Poor Hall, Eberle and RNH.
Stupid Tambellini did squat when he was in charge. He knew nothing. He thought the young players could do it all themselves. That's why I wish MacT was in charge of this rebuild from day one. He wouldn't have let all the young kids have to do it themselves and defend for themselves. He would have give them a supporting cast.
Stupid Tambellini did squat when he was in charge. He knew nothing. He thought the young players could do it all themselves. That's why I wish MacT was in charge of this rebuild from day one. He wouldn't have let all the young kids have to do it themselves and defend for themselves. He would have give them a supporting cast.
bucks_oil
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- Aug 25, 2005
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Those are accurate challenges for the oilers mgmt, owners and fans. We all know it, even if we don't like to hear it. I thought he was pretty balanced in his comments and I don't think he framed it as criticism at all (except his "thrust into a leadership role... not the right thing"), but rather an accurate account of the challenges and that trying the normal solutions is difficult given the circumstances.
bucks_oil
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- Aug 25, 2005
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Sounded to me like he was taking ownership of it... reading between the lines he said they can't attract the best vet free agents (instead they attracted me)... and the rookies don't get the right support (they get my lousy one goal)
rboomercat90
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IV XIV XCI
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Oh, thanks for your insight Eric "The Bermuda Triangle" Belanger.
The only worse than this interview would be him coming back to play another year with us. I find it funny how he can say these things when his tenure here was as embarrassing as it was.
The only worse than this interview would be him coming back to play another year with us. I find it funny how he can say these things when his tenure here was as embarrassing as it was.
Moose Coleman
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- Apr 12, 2012
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rboomercat90
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maybe technically they don't but at face value these guys should be pulling their own weight (Gordon has been) and then some for the role theyre brought in for (what's spelled out in the article... the Oilers bring in guys like him to OVERACHIEVE to fill in roles they can't get done through orthodox means that other teams take for granted). Belanger was garbage for the price and an offensive black hole.
it's almost as if he isnt a good role player unless the team already has a great infrastructure in place to make his defined role as a "third liner" made easy.
he's talking about Taylor Hall putting pressure on himself to perform, etc... what the f was he doing that whole time when an 18 year old was destroying him? playing like an AHL'er for 3 million bucks.
Bring Back Bucky
Registered User
Belanger may be correct, but if I was him I'd find some other glass house to throw my stones at... He was a prime example of a player brought in to fill a specific role so kids could mature. And he blew it.
Horseradish
Registered User
What's all this nonsense about how he sounds like he holds a grudge.
It doesn't read to me like that at all. It sounds to me like he totally understands the situation intimately, like Tambellini didn't know what he was doing, and like MacT is starting to get it right despite lots of challenges due to Edmonton's location and losing history.
He's totally right.
His own poor performance aside, if an aging 3rd line centre was Tambellini's way of making Edmonton competitive (and at the time I thought it was a great signing, perhaps his only good move in his entire time here. Just didn't turn out that way), then I can hardly fault Belanger for failing at that. And he never said a bad thing about the organization nor pouted in his time here. His skills just eroded to the point of uselessness, and that's not something a guy should be criticized for. Especially when you consider that he was always in excellent shape.
It doesn't read to me like that at all. It sounds to me like he totally understands the situation intimately, like Tambellini didn't know what he was doing, and like MacT is starting to get it right despite lots of challenges due to Edmonton's location and losing history.
He's totally right.
His own poor performance aside, if an aging 3rd line centre was Tambellini's way of making Edmonton competitive (and at the time I thought it was a great signing, perhaps his only good move in his entire time here. Just didn't turn out that way), then I can hardly fault Belanger for failing at that. And he never said a bad thing about the organization nor pouted in his time here. His skills just eroded to the point of uselessness, and that's not something a guy should be criticized for. Especially when you consider that he was always in excellent shape.
