(Let me preface this by saying that the best thing for the Oilers would be Daryl Katz selling the team, but assuming that's not going to happen, I'll proceed):
A lot of nonsense here, as usual. Some facts to bear in mind:
- Craig MacTavish is the 2nd most successful coach in franchise history
- Kevin Lowe managed an underdog team to the 7th game of the Finals
- Two years ago, with essentially the same core players, they had a great season
They're not in a particularly bad situation looking forward (bar one disastrous contract... guess which!), and there's plenty of reason for optimism.
What's frustrating about this season is the "missed opportunity" aspect. All they had to go was assemble an average, standard supporting cast (such as they had in 2016-17) and the team would have easily made the playoffs. But with Chiarelli in charge, the coach being fired, and finally Chiarelli being fired, they couldn't even do that. Absolutely awful.
It's generally the sign of a mismanaged empire when nobody seems to be charge, and no one knows who to blame. Such is the case with Edmonton now. But, like defeated Germany and Japan in 1945, the Oilers could bounce back very quickly. They've done it recently -- look at the jump from 2016 to 2017.
I think Oilers fans are ready to forgive MacTavish (who didn't really do anything terrible, other than hire Eakins) and Lowe, now that time has passed and we've seen how much worse it could be (i.e., Chiarelli). Mass firing everyone associated with the franchise's past is a pointless way of delivering catharsis for 5 minutes, but it doesn't actually achieve anything or make the team start winning . If -- and it's a big "if" -- the franchise can explain to the fans exactly what MacT and Lowe are doing, and if that's something useful, then by all means keep them around in lesser roles. (Of course, if they're doing nothing important, then fire them both!)
Drafting and player management (GM) are the two bug-bears that have destroyed the team in the past few years. Needless to say, selection of the next GM is extremely important. The short-term issue to supply a couple of decent, NHL-ready, wingers who can play in the top-six, ideally.
Drafting has actually been an issue for Edmonton since 1982. But it's absolutely crucial in today's NHL. Evidently, that's why Keith Gretzky was brought in. Perhaps he will become the head of scouting once a new GM is found. That might be okay.
As far as coach goes, I assume Hitchcock is done? It's a big question as to what kind of coach they need.
But anyway, a GM coming into Edmonton isn't in such a bad situation. They already have two of the top-six forwards in the world (for many years to come), Nugent-Hopkins, Klefbom, and Nurse (needs a little work, but getting there). There are several prospects in their excellent farm-team that look great (notably Bouchard, who might be a regular from next year).
The Koskinen contract was odd, but at least Koskinen has generally played well, or at least competently. The real disaster contract is, obviously, the Lucic one. I can't imagine what message it sends to young players when that bum is getting paid 7 million dollars to score 5 goals per year.... and he never gets benched.
I really think they need to do something about Lucic urgently. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt after that last year - - maybe he'd bounce back? -- but it's now abundantly clear that he's done as an impact player. He needs to go, like, yesterday.
