Mactavish appreciation thread

[TheSpecialist]

How can you have any confidence in your goaltending when you have two backups who can't stop pucks and a "shootout specialist" ECHL goalie? He couldn't have given any of those goalies a vote of confidence when none could become the his starter for more than a few games? People forget how bad our goaltending was until we got Roloson.

I remember. Do you remember that one game Conklin actually played really well only to be yanked by MacT in favor of Morrison in a shoot out? Great coaching tactic be MacT eh?

 

[Mr Sakich]

That being said, it's amazing how much players 'suck' when they are with the Oilers, but become considered decent NHLers once they leave (cough cough Hemsky).
.

a quick look at hemsky's performance with ott

vs playoff teams - 10 games, 4 pts
vs non playoff teams - 11 games, 15 pts

returning to the tougher west is going to expose him again. he is the same player that left the oilers. People will be scratching their heads trying to figure out why he isn't producing against the big tough western teams.

hemsky should have signed in the east.

 

[McDeathbyCheerios*]

MacT s level of coaching has nothing to do with his level of gming.

He was a good coach at times and made some mistakes and has been a good GM so far.

It's like saying a bad player can't be a good coach, completely different skill sets.

 

[Wheathead]

MacT s level of coaching has nothing to do with his level of gming.

He was a good coach at times and made some mistakes and has been a good GM so far.

It's like saying a bad player can't be a good coach, completely different skill sets.

Some people would like to think that Gretzky was a great coach because he was a great player.

 

[The Nuge]

a quick look at hemsky's performance with ott

vs playoff teams - 10 games, 4 pts
vs non playoff teams - 11 games, 15 pts

returning to the tougher west is going to expose him again. he is the same player that left the oilers. People will be scratching their heads trying to figure out why he isn't producing against the big tough western teams.

hemsky should have signed in the east.

The East is a better fit, but I can still see him having success if he's on the right line

 

[Evil Ernie]

I remember. Do you remember that one game Conklin actually played really well only to be yanked by MacT in favor of Morrison in a shoot out? Great coaching tactic be MacT eh?

Yup. I was at that game. Conks was pissed.

 

[Gret99zky]

I don't agree with calling players, coaches, or GM's nasty names.

I agree that MacT was overrated as a coach. When he left Edmonton the phone wasn't exactly ringing off the hook.

Forced him to come back to the lifetime membership of the Old Boys Club.

If he goes into the season without bringing in an experienced center and talks himself into rushing Draisaitl and Nurse next year....well then he is not a very good GM.

 

[Replacement*]

Yup. I was at that game. Conks was pissed.

The only thing wrong with that decision is why the Oilers were using Conklin at all and why they didn't get a real goalie.

So whats he doing now? Pumping gas?

ps The identical tactic was used in the WC yesterday, by Netherlands, and worked to perfection and this occurring in the number 1 sport I the world in the quarterfinals at the highest rung of soccer on the planet.

So odd that you would specifically critique that ploy when every paper in the world is applauding the Dutch coach today for his genius doing EXACTLY the same thing.

 

[Juxta Position]

The 2005-06 team that MacT coached was supposed to be shoe ins to make the playoffs. If it wasn't for Kevin Lowe making some good moves by the trade deadline, the Oilers would have missed the playoffs for sure.

It's funny how some fans out there still have the audacity to consider MacT a great coach when it was the players that actually decided to come together and play over their heads with inspirational goaltending. By no means should MacT get any credit for the success the Oilers saw in the post season the last time they made it! If anything, MacT is the most overrated piece of **** in this entire organization.

did you watch any oilers hockey before '06. mact took some incredibly mediocre to bad lineups to the playoffs in his tenure as coach of the oilers. to say he was a garbage coach is purely hate based and not performance based. don't get me wrong he's no scotty bowman either but he was what he was, a competent NHL coach who's time had run its course with this organization as the head coach. IMO hes doing an admirable job trying to build an NHL lineup using the only true NHL players left over from the hot mess of a roster tambellini shat out onto this organization.

 

[Oi'll say!]

MacT brought us to the Stanley Cup finals to lose in game 7. We went down the drain from there because we were over achieving with a very medicore team and he took the fall for it.

He isn't responsible for the team tanking the management at the time was with the awful trades and deciding to tank. Since he became GM this team has the most nhl talent it has had in years.

Pronger and Lowe get more credit for bringing the Oilers to the cup finals than MacT. Put an average #1 d-man in that spot and the Oilers wouldn't have even had their 8th place finish in the west, let alone win any games in the first round.

The team has so much nhl talent because Lowe was not a good gm and MacT was terrible at developing players, and the welfare lottery came to the Oilers rescue. MacT had eight years to develop Hemsky and he ended up being the worst all-around 1st line player the Oilers have ever had.

It's way too early to call Fasth and Scrivens a solid goaltending duo, all MacT has done is add some pluggers to the lineup.

This great GM now has 3 1st overalls, a 7th and a 3rd and they are all going to be developed by a 2nd year coach whose main claim to fame is coaching the worst team in franchise history. How awesome is that?

 

[Hockey Nightmare]

I'll appreciate him when we're in the playoffs.

 

[TheSpecialist]

I'll appreciate him when we're in the playoffs.

In which case, may never happen as long as he's around and even if he doesn't, he'll still be praised by many Oiler faithful because they have become accustomed to accepting mediocrity.

 

[Mr Positive]

In which case, may never happen as long as he's around and even if he doesn't, he'll still be praised by many Oiler faithful because they have become accustomed to accepting mediocrity.

You act is if he's reading this board and will see people praising him and then will just sit back and be lazy.

I think 100% of fans do NOT think of praise as a final evaluation. I think 100% of fans still think the team needs work.

Personally I don't even see playoffs as the goal. Toronto and the Isles dipped their toes in those waters and it was virtually meaningless. It's the cup we should be after. I believe MacT could make an Oilers squad that makes the playoffs next season, with a full set of centers. All he would have to do is put RNH, Nurse, and our 1st rounders for the next three years up for sale. Just get a bunch of veterans and voila. Except... I would rather miss the playoffs and build on these young players. So no, I think the people praising MacT the most are the ones who do NOT except medocrity

 

[oilinblood]

I am amazed a team could be changed this much in 13 months...especially in one of the coldest trade climate periods in the age of modern hockey.

Im liking this team and we have flexibility to make more moves.

 

[Replacement*]

I am amazed a team could be changed this much in 13 months...especially in one of the coldest trade climate periods in the age of modern hockey.

Im liking this team and we have flexibility to make more moves.

Theres much more than changing personnel for the sake of it. Theres been two useful additions so far Perron, and Scrivens. That's about it at this point and remains to be seen how the new additions cope. I expect its a better club but it needs to be a whole lot better.

We've had a lot of additions but going the other way players like Horc, Gilbert, Gagner, Hemsky are gone. MPS as well but not much lost there imo.

Trouble is when last seen this club still had Eakins as headcoach and was a complete disorganized mess on the ice.

I tend to think the Oil will need the same thing as the Esks and replace the headcoach. The esks as well tried to do it the other way getting Reed help but in the end what was required was punting Reed out. Nothing else was going to suffice and the abject stupidity only ended by obtaining a competent headcoach.

tbh I was more pumped for the prospects for last season. Till we heard about the abrupt coaching change.

 

[oilinblood]

Theres much more than changing personnel for the sake of it. Theres been two useful additions so far Perron, and Scrivens. That's about it at this point and remains to be seen how the new additions cope. I expect its a better club but it needs to be a whole lot better.

We've had a lot of additions but going the other way players like Horc, Gilbert, Gagner, Hemsky are gone. MPS as well but not much lost there imo.

Trouble is when last seen this club still had Eakins as headcoach and was a complete disorganized mess on the ice.

I tend to think the Oil will need the same thing as the Esks and replace the headcoach. The esks as well tried to do it the other way getting Reed help but in the end what was required was punting Reed out. Nothing else was going to suffice and the abject stupidity only ended by obtaining a competent headcoach.

tbh I was more pumped for the prospects for last season. Till we heard about the abrupt coaching change.

Last year i was impressed with Fasth, Scrivens, Perron, Gordon, and Hendricks. Before we got goaltending Gordon and Perron were our most consistent players. Having played hockey and spending enough time watching it over the years i expected (with recovering centres Gagner and RNH) Gordon to eventually show the signs of heavy lifting. This is my one worry for this coming season. I am however happy Arco will get a shot at the NHL team because i feel he is a support piece with Gordon.
I am far happier with this defense on paper than any defense theoilers had on paper in the last six years.

Playoff team? No. Are we close enough that we can we make moves still to be there? Yes.

For Eakins bashers...last year the team was still such a junior team on paper that you couldnt fire the coach, especially with four coaches in five years. This year the team has competitions in camp and is right now at least good enough as an nhl team on paper that the coach has no excuses. I dont think MacT is even close to done but he will definitely be able to evaluate and fire if necessary a coach who drops the ball with this squad as is.


I say it alot in proposal threads, you cant take a guy from one team and put him on yours and expect the same performance. We will see if the changes gel. Gordon and Hendricks looked great together which ended up costing us Hendricks being used as another checking C. MacT has adjusted to that by wanting three different attacking offensive lines and then the Gordon checking line with Hendricks on wing.

I am intereested now in the camp battles and what other teams may be wanting to change. Offtopic but i am interested in Booth.

 

[Replacement*]

Last year i was impressed with Fasth, Scrivens, Perron, Gordon, and Hendricks. Before we got goaltending Gordon and Perron were our most consistent players. Having played hockey and spending enough time watching it over the years i expected (with recovering centres Gagner and RNH) Gordon to eventually show the signs of heavy lifting. This is my one worry for this coming season. I am however happy Arco will get a shot at the NHL team because i feel he is a support piece with Gordon.
I am far happier with this defense on paper than any defense theoilers had on paper in the last six years.

Playoff team? No. Are we close enough that we can we make moves still to be there? Yes.

No, that's fair. I like the same players. Didn't care as much for Fasth tbh.

My worry is similar to yours with the club being very weak at Center this year and I think its a potential mistake to have Draisaitl play the year.

Can't agree at all with Arco. Having him as 2nd unit Center is really going to put a lot of pressure on 1st line to take up the slack.

I think it could take 20games before people realized what a mistake it was trying to expect so much from Arco in a topsix role at this level.

ps last year if you recall we also had the team on paper and that Ference was going to not only make an impact but help out guys like N Schults, J Schultz, Petry add to their game. I don't think Belov is as bad as people now state either. 12mths ago a highly thought of addition. That he looked as he did had more to do with the chaos around him.

When considering Eakins consider how many players you can list that had career worst seasons. That's not a good sign.

 

[oilinblood]

I am NOT a big Arco fan. I find him a frustratingly inept offensive black hole at centre who simply gets points for moving the puck into good positions and using the talented wingers. But i wont deny that he is very sound defensively, knows his position, and uses his body. He is, to me, a more reliable centre than Gagner with far less finish and dangle. Is that acceptable? If you have great wingers and no one to push the guy out of his spot? Yes. To me it is acceptable at this time.
To me he would be good getting chemistry not just with eberle and perron but with an offensive dman like schultz. Arco to me has shown enough defensive acumen that having a strong o dman on with him might make everyone more dangerous. Paired with shut down dmen the wingers with arco will be targetted too easily.

Just my thougts. He isnt going to win scoring titles or scare defenses by any means.

Im hoping a solution is on the horizon.

 

[Replacement*]

MacT s level of coaching has nothing to do with his level of gming.

He was a good coach at times and made some mistakes and has been a good GM so far.

It's like saying a bad player can't be a good coach, completely different skill sets.

He made the worst coaching hire decision in the history of this org. Worse than George Burnett even as nothing at all was expected of that team and there was nothing to build for. The worse thing at all being the change wasn't at all required. The team was showing some signs of progress and development under Krueger(and during an injury plagued challenging year). Which completely disappeared with the Eakins hire.

This is no small thing. MacTavish completely threw away this season and pissed away one year of what could've been beneficial player development with this awful Eakins hire.

I'm not surprised he hasn't redressed his decision. He's not prepared to admit the dreadful mistake.

Eakins is a disaster as an NHL headcoach. A consistent clown show. Everyteam in the league would be pleased with the Oil going status quo on this guy.

 

[oilinblood]

He made the worst coaching hire decision in the history of this org. Worse than George Burnett even as nothing at all was expected of that team and there was nothing to build for. The worse thing at all being the change wasn't at all required. The team was showing some signs of progress and development under Krueger(and during an injury plagued challenging year). Which completely disappeared with the Eakins hire.

This is no small thing. MacTavish completely threw away this season and pissed away one year of what could've been beneficial player development with this awful Eakins hire.

I'm not surprised he hasn't redressed his decision. He's not prepared to admit the dreadful mistake.

Eakins is a disaster as an NHL headcoach. A consistent clown show. Everyteam in the league would be pleased with the Oil going status quo on this guy.

In my opinion kreuger was a terrible coach who couldnt make adjustements in the game. Im no eakins fan but kreuger was terrible. Great pp guy though.

We finish in last place f that season had been 82 games and we hadnt had three months with most of our key performers practicing in the ahl together ahead of other teams.

But a firing that didnt have to happen....renney. I still dont really get that one. He made decisions for the long term picture of our full plan and was fired, as far as i can tell, because he made decisions to coach in a way that supported our long term plan. Made no sense.

 

[rboomercat90]

I don't agree with calling players, coaches, or GM's nasty names.

I agree that MacT was overrated as a coach. When he left Edmonton the phone wasn't exactly ringing off the hook.

Forced him to come back to the lifetime membership of the Old Boys Club.

If he goes into the season without bringing in an experienced center and talks himself into rushing Draisaitl and Nurse next year....well then he is not a very good GM.

If you look at how he handled the goaltending situation last offseason then it's easy to believe he's not going to do anything else with the center position this offseason. Arcobello, Lander and Draisatl as #2 and #3 is going to give us a season just as ugly as last year. If he doesn't believe that then he may very well be a really lousy GM. Still a couple months left in the offseason so there is time to get a deal done. What we did learn last year is that players of significant talent aren't traded during the middle of a season anymore, only cast offs are. So once October rolls around you're stuck with the players you've got.

 

[rosemount289]

Off this .................???

He made the worst coaching hire decision in the history of this org. Worse than George Burnett even as nothing at all was expected of that team and there was nothing to build for. The worse thing at all being the change wasn't at all required. The team was showing some signs of progress and development under Krueger(and during an injury plagued challenging year). Which completely disappeared with the Eakins hire.

This is no small thing. MacTavish completely threw away this season and pissed away one year of what could've been beneficial player development with this awful Eakins hire.

I'm not surprised he hasn't redressed his decision. He's not prepared to admit the dreadful mistake.

Eakins is a disaster as an NHL headcoach. A consistent clown show. Everyteam in the league would be pleased with the Oil going status quo on this guy.

Off this one year I would have to agree with you..........but one year sample size is too small...........wait until half way thru next season and see if the team makes any giant leap forward..........before I get on your band wagon to fire Eakins!

 

[oilerbear]

In which case, may never happen as long as he's around and even if he doesn't, he'll still be praised by many Oiler faithful because they have become accustomed to accepting mediocrity.

Mact was appointed Hockey VP. 2012.
was involved in 2012 and 2013 draft selections
2012
Yak; top 30 pt and G Rookie season.
Moroz 6'3" 215lb 35g 150 pim
Khaira 6'4" 215lb
2013
Nurse#7 RD1
Yakimov #83 RD3
Slepyshev #89 RD3 two .21+GPG players at 18 in RSL/KHL
Semin .21; Ovechkin .24; Malkin .24; Kuznetsov .37; Tarasenko .21; Yakupov .41
Greg Chase RD7

Mact was appointed GM april 2013.
spent the last year evaluating and replacing players he felt needed to go.

He retained:
1 pre Katz era player.
Petry
3 Tambo Players
Hal #1 LW
RNH #31 center
Eberle #7 RW
2 of his players
Yakupov
J. schultz.

Mact is trying to copy the last 5 cup winners and 10 cup finalists.
-Forwards depth with strong: possession, Point; EVG production. CHI; BOS
-Strong Box protection Dmen LAK; BOS
-Strong chances area save% goalies TMP; NYR; BOS; LAK
-strong FO% forwards for a tough ZS line. CHI; LAK; NYR


Position (point rank) [EVG rank]
Dman (comp and EVGA rank)

XXX-XXX-XXX
Perron(20LW)[30] -ARCO(?) -Purcell (26RW)[32]
Pouliot(41LW)[37] -Draisatl(?) -XXX
Hendricks(54%) -Gordon (#3 DZ 59% C) -XXX
Gazdic (top5 enforcer) - Jeonsuu

Ference (1st top 30) - XXX
Nikitin (2nd #1) - Fayne (2nd #2)
Marincin (1st #3 box protect) - XXX
Aulie
1.89 EVGA/60 1st comp Phanuef/ Reimer
1.48 EVGA/60 1st comp Brewer/Bishop

Scrivens (#3 box SAVE%)
Fasth.

15 of 23 roster positions changed.
All with a defined agenda.

SOME people thought BOLD meant CHASING what the TOR media define as an elite player.
To me BOLD is smart enough to recognize what wins cups
and
trying to copy and get the best to fit the models.

1. point production and EVG depth
6 top 40 even wingers and
1 top 30 center.
Arco 2.45 EVG/60
youth getting a shot at center
Draisatl; Khaira; Yakimov

2. 4-5 top 30 box protection DMnen BOS; LAK; CHI
1st comp
Marincin top 5;
Ference top 30:
petry top 40 box protect
only dman 12-13 top 40 Blocks; Hits; EVGA; PKGA
13-14 top 40 Blocks; hits; goals;
evga rate returned to top 40 with switch to Scrivens.
2nd comp
Nikitin #1
fayne #2
3rd comp
Aulie top 10 1st with elite box save% goalie.

3. the goalie save% Box
1. Bishop
2. Lundquist
3. Reimer
3. Scrivens
5. Rask
6. Lehtonen
7. Quick
17. Bernier g
Got to love Toronto.

ARCO is interesting.
i like to know who he performed like.
Arco is: 2nd comp
- 51% FO% is 5% better than Gagner.
Backes; Weiss; Krejci; Turris; Legwand
- 1.9 hits/gm. top 20 for centres.
Shaw; Fisher; T. Lews; Boyle; Kesler.
- .43 to .46 takeaway/gm is top 50 for centres.
Dubinsky; Fisher; Backes; Grabo; J. Carter; Coyle
- 2.45 EVP/60 2nd/3rd comp
Spezza 2.51; Tavares 2.33; McKinnon 2.27

Arco and RNH between
Hall; Perron; Purcell; Eberle

youth draisatl; Yakimov; Khaira between
Pouliot; Yak

17 of 23 roster positions are MacT

He is still deciding on petry and Schultz!

Quit being TOR media Sheep!

Even Mark Spector wised up.

the cup winning flyers of the 70's used hits to change possession.
Hiting a guy
and
not getting the puck is just poor defence.
See Dion phanuef

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

Pronger and Lowe get more credit for bringing the Oilers to the cup finals than MacT. Put an average #1 d-man in that spot and the Oilers wouldn't have even had their 8th place finish in the west, let alone win any games in the first round.

The team has so much nhl talent because Lowe was not a good gm and MacT was terrible at developing players, and the welfare lottery came to the Oilers rescue. MacT had eight years to develop Hemsky and he ended up being the worst all-around 1st line player the Oilers have ever had.

It's way too early to call Fasth and Scrivens a solid goaltending duo, all MacT has done is add some pluggers to the lineup.

This great GM now has 3 1st overalls, a 7th and a 3rd and they are all going to be developed by a 2nd year coach whose main claim to fame is coaching the worst team in franchise history. How awesome is that?

The only reason we made it to the Finals was MacTavish, we obviously benefited from Pronger and Lowe stepped up big grabbing him in the first place, but MacT is the one who said this team is good enough to go deep make the push to get us the players we need. So Lowe went ahead and brought in Roloson, Spacek, Samsonov, and Tarnstrom; regardless of our summer additions of Pronger and Peca there is no way we would of made it that deep into the playoffs without those acquisitions, I honestly don't think we would of made it out of the 1st round without Roloson. As for his coaching Peca said MacT did a fantastic job coaching and was a big part of their success and he reiterated this years after he left, so it was not your typical lip service. I'll take the word of a player who actually played on the team over your opinion, and again we wouldn't of made the initial push without MacT saying so, also before we even traded for Pronger, both MacT and Huddy played with him and they told Lowe to go for it when we found out he was available.

MacT was highly successful at developing certain types of players namely checking centers such as Reasoner, Murray, Horcoff, Brodziak, Stoll and some good role players he factored into helping Pisani, and Cleary. Many skill players also had their best years with him, I've never heard many of the skill players crediting him for their success, but a lot of the checking line players have been open about how much he has helped them in their development.

I find it kind of tedious to re-hash old history the fact of the matter is MacT is our GM now, and we will need to evaluate the decisions that he has made in this position. Our eye should be making sure we are heading in the right direction and voicing our displeasure when it is called for. To date I have by and large been pleased with the decisions he has made, but having said that anyone following in the footsteps of a buffoon like Tambellini will look like a genius by comparison.

 

[Dorian2]

The only thing wrong with that decision is why the Oilers were using Conklin at all and why they didn't get a real goalie.

So whats he doing now? Pumping gas?

ps The identical tactic was used in the WC yesterday, by Netherlands, and worked to perfection and this occurring in the number 1 sport I the world in the quarterfinals at the highest rung of soccer on the planet.

So odd that you would specifically critique that ploy when every paper in the world is applauding the Dutch coach today for his genius doing EXACTLY the same thing.

According to wiki he's a goaltender developer for the St. Louis Blues....so don't try to look for him at your nearest Domo.