Confirmed with Link: Coyotes hire Charles Barkley (!) as "special advisor"

[Jakey53]

So we have Edmonton, and the NY Islanders, both teams with a bona fide star center, who never get anywhere despite the star players. We have Pittsburgh and Washington, both with star players, who are always in the playoffs. The difference? Washington and Pittsburgh acquired good goalies and a good blue line. We have an excellent blue line and what looks to be an excellent goalie. We build up our forwards over the next 2 years and we can go on a multi-year run.

BINGO!

 

[cobra427]

I agree. The Edmonton Oilers made a lot of progress last season. They were a very popular dark horse for contention this season. Look how easily it all fell apart. That on the heels of a Cinderella playoff birth, not simply a strong 2nd half that resulted in them no longer being the worst team league, but the proud owners of the 3rd or 4th worst record in the NHL. I would say our little resurgence pales in comparison to what the Oilers did last season. They still fell flat on their faces this season, and that club should continue to serve as a cautionary tale for all of us.

The Oilers fall off is pretty interesting. I always wonder if a team like the Oilers is really that good or did they catch lightening in a bottle for their run. Calgary and Colorado a few years ago fell apart too, look like flash in the pan teams.

Will our good play lately carry over to next year? Hard to say. If we keep the team in tact, and don't trade any key pieces, maybe we are moving up. Our top 5 D should put us top 10 in the NHL, add in Raanta if we sign him and that should provide the backbone. Young players improve some more and we are on our way. The big hole is at C, how do we trade for help? Maybe Strome comes through and that is the answer.

 

[SniperHF]

I'm not sold that the Oilers core is rotten. What you saw last season was a team that had everything go right. This year basically everything wrong. They have some issues but they are sortable.

Oh wait they are bringing in the friends of Gretzky? LOLOLOLOLOL.

 

[TheLegend]

I'm not sold that the Oilers core is rotten. What you saw last season was a team that had everything go right. This year basically everything wrong. They have some issues but they are sortable.

Oh wait they are bringing in the friends of Gretzky? LOLOLOLOLOL.