Speculation: What are the Oilers biggest needs right now?

[PaPaDee]

Rebuild. Start with the top and then address the on ice rebuild this off-season.

 

[redgrant]

Oilers biggest need is a competent individual for the president and gm role.

Nothing gets fixed if you just hire a couple of good ole boys with a bunch of privledge as their only checkmarks the last decade.

 

[T-Funk]

1
2
3

?

1 Fire Tippett
2.Fire Holland
3. Fire Burgers
Fire #4

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Team: brain, heart, character

Organization:
Strategic Overhaul for hockey operations

• R&D: significant personnel upgrade in amateur and professional scouting; goaltending and skills specialists.
• Process: substantive investment in building out a league leading hockey strategy department incorporating analytics personnel to inform decision making across all critical hockey operations areas (R&D - amateur and pro scouting); coaching strategy for systems play and tactical support of game preparation and in-game decision making.
• Outcomes: deliver top 10 in league results for annual NHL draft (# of NHL players, games played, production, value for conversion of mid to late picks into NHL players); pro scouting results that deliver top ten in league results for free agency signings and trades (define measures). Establish and utilize output & outcome measures to evaluate personnel across all areas of hockey operations; coaching; and on-ice personnel.

 

[fuswald]

Goalie
Goalie
Goalie

 

[Magnum23]

1) GM
2) coach
3) goalie

 

[belair]

A reliable third line, a shutdown LD, a new coach and a 50 game starting goaltender.

 

[Kerberos]

Purging every privileged person in a decision making position from the organization and putting qualified people in their place that aren't beholden to special interests and a culture of nepotism.

 

[McVirginOil]

1. Management that cares about analytics
2. Forward thinking coach
3. Goalie
4. A lot of good dmen
5. 3-4 good bottom 6’ers

 

[Spawn]

Chris Pronger
Dwayne Roloson
Mike Peca

circa 2005-2006

 

[Soundwave]

Goaltending is the biggest need, always has been, I will go so far as to say even with Tippett as coach and even with Chiarelli as GM, they would make the playoffs every year with the level of goaltending Mike Smith gave them last year.

For people who say "it doesn't really matter who's in net! Defence is shaky!" the actual stats don't actually bear this out.

Combined last year and this year I believe Carolina is the no.1 D in the league with approx 2.35 GAA per game. The Oilers with Smith last year allowed 2.31 GAA ... so basically they go from a bottom 7 GA team (lottery range team) with Koskinen in net the last two years, to allowing slightly less GA as the best defence in the NHL with last year's version of Smith in net.

Please tell me again there is no difference.

For people who say "well Larsson was the difference! This year's D is worse" ... this also does not bear out in equivalent situations. With Koskinen + Skinner in net last year the Oilers allowed 3.2 GA per game, this year they are actually a bit better with Koskinen + Skinner in net. So Larsson didn't make much difference when it came to the Oilers fortunes with Koski + Skinner in net.

This why I have said many times, you are better off overspending on this position and making it the number 1 priority, I gauruntee Holland would have a lot less sleepless nights and stress right now if he had prioritized better goaltending as the no.1 need in the summer.

 

[McClelland]

This season was over when Holland didnt brought in a no 1 goalie, been missed for years. Hollands piss poor signings/trades didnt help either.

The D is worse then ever, so unbalanced, soft and cant defend, that doesnt help our mediocre goalies either.

Stuck with Keith a couple of years more, we havent much to wiggle with except our future.

Cant see any light in the tunnel for coming 3 years or so, Holland crapped the bed when he had the chance to do something after Chias disaster.

 

[Hemsky4pm2]

Holland has had 3 seasons and 3 summers to acquire a goalie. He should be the one being dismissed, along with Nicholson. Nicholson brought in Chiarelli and Holland on hunches, it seems. Bring in someone hungry to make their mark. Holland and Chiarellj both seem like they came to Edmknton for $.

 

[Chet Manley]

How have Oilers' fan not thrown their hands in the air to this question after 15 years of it? I suspect it's always been the defence and fancy players only playing fancy, but mostly have just given up thinking I know the answers to a situation we only see from one dimension.

I'll go counter intuitive for giggles.

The top 6 forwards aren't good enough. I like Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Hyman, and RNH but they aren't getting the job done as the top 6 wingers for 2 future HHOF centres. The future HHOF centres still have some work to do on things unrelated to points... like almost every young star ever.

The top 3 defence aren't good enough. And again I don't dislike any of them, but none of them make the top pairing on a good team.

No idea if any of this is correct. Just that the elephant in the room is that when the players that you love aren't getting it done it's way easier to blame the support. When the top 8 to 12 players are out playing the other team then the rest of the guys can be Todd Harvey and still win.

 

[Rpenny]

WE NEED A GOALIE!!!! We all knew going into this season, if the guys in the net failed us, we were screwed and guess what

 

[SwedishFire]

1
2
3

?

1 Trade for a Goalie
2 Evaluate the team, the needs.
3 If they dont follow my instructions. Fire everyone.

 

[Kaptah2]

Goaltending is the biggest need, always has been, I will go so far as to say even with Tippett as coach and even with Chiarelli as GM, they would make the playoffs every year with the level of goaltending Mike Smith gave them last year.

For people who say "it doesn't really matter who's in net! Defence is shaky!" the actual stats don't actually bear this out.

Combined last year and this year I believe Carolina is the no.1 D in the league with approx 2.35 GAA per game. The Oilers with Smith last year allowed 2.31 GAA ... so basically they go from a bottom 7 GA team (lottery range team) with Koskinen in net the last two years, to allowing slightly less GA as the best defence in the NHL with last year's version of Smith in net.

Please tell me again there is no difference.

For people who say "well Larsson was the difference! This year's D is worse" ... this also does not bear out in equivalent situations. With Koskinen + Skinner in net last year the Oilers allowed 3.2 GA per game, this year they are actually a bit better with Koskinen + Skinner in net. So Larsson didn't make much difference when it came to the Oilers fortunes with Koski + Skinner in net.

This why I have said many times, you are better off overspending on this position and making it the number 1 priority, I gauruntee Holland would have a lot less sleepless nights and stress right now if he had prioritized better goaltending as the no.1 need in the summer.

You constantly overestimate the influence of goaltending, guess it's a low hanging fruit.

We have 217 high danger scoring changes for and 219 against. League average is 237/237, Panthers are at 330/288, Senators 178/229, Flames 222/195, Toronto 274/230.

That's what we are, a 0.5 team all around, and there's no easy-fix-panic-trade to suddenly make us contenders.

 

[SwedishFire]

This season was over when Holland didnt brought in a no 1 goalie, been missed for years. Hollands piss poor signings/trades didnt help either.

The D is worse then ever, so unbalanced, soft and cant defend, that doesnt help our mediocre goalies either.

Stuck with Keith a couple of years more, we havent much to wiggle with except our future.

Cant see any light in the tunnel for coming 3 years or so, Holland crapped the bed when he had the chance to do something after Chias disaster.

Why is everybody crapping on everything??

The D is as opposite, better than ever. If you doubt me, check the roosters pre years.
Its the worst if you rates K Russel, J Schultz, A Ference high quality Dmens of course.

"boohoooo", we are stuck with Kieth for yeeaaaarrsss". I checked that up. His contact expires after next season. And Kieth is still a very good player, some say Oilers best D right now. And I dont think he will collapse next season.
The Barrie signing though..... that is THREE years for unbelivable 4,5m$. I dont think that he will play in Oilers 23/24 at least. Panic move...

 

[Broberg Speed]

100% management overhaul
scouting (professional and amateur)
New Head Coach
#1 Goaltender
#3 Center
lots of roster upgrades from top to bottom

 

[Darkwinter]

This has to be the worse case of Mandela effect I think I ever had.

 

[McClelland]

Why is everybody crapping on everything??

The D is as opposite, better than ever. If you doubt me, check the roosters pre years.
Its the worst if you ratesf K Russel, J Schultz, A Ference high quality Dmens of course.

"boohoooo", we are stuck with Kieth for yeeaaaarrsss". I checked that up. His contact expires after next season. And Kieth is still a very good player, some say Oilers best D right now. And I dont think he will collapse next season.
The Barrie signing though..... that is THREE years for unbelivable 4,5m$. I dont think that he will play in Oilers 23/24 at least. Panic move...

Worse then ever in the Mcd/Drai window when we started to be a nhl team and not icing Ahl rosters.

I wrote stuck with kieth a "couple" of years, that mean 2 seasons of his high/bad cap. That keep us away from making big moves/signings.

Barrie is an offensive luxury when we have Bouchard, hes a 6/7 in defensive tasks. But he could be dealt at deadline.

Holland failed big time, when he got some capspace to do some upgrades on the roster.

You dont do damage in a playoff with our goalies(including Smith) in a playoff, now it seems that we dont even get there.

Its a rollercoaster in hell to be a Oiler fan, the misery goes on for eternity!

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

A new CEO, a new General Manager, a new Coach. Would also say new owner if it didn't mean the team gets moved to Houston too. The team is playing like crap and the players are terrible but the donkeys on top are the ones that brought said players in and implemented said shit team system.

 

[SwedishFire]

Worse then ever in the Mcd/Drai window when we started to be a nhl team and not icing Ahl rosters.

I wrote stuck with kieth a "couple" of years, that mean 2 seasons of his high/bad cap. That keep us away from making big moves/signings.

Barrie is an offensive luxury when we have Bouchard, hes a 6/7 in defensive tasks. But he could be dealt at deadline.

Holland failed big time, when he got some capspace to do some upgrades on the roster.

You dont do damage in a playoff with our goalies(including Smith) in a playoff, now it seems that we dont even get there.

Its a rollercoaster in hell to be a Oiler fan, the misery goes on for eternity!

If Barrie is an 6/7 Dman, offensive luxury, should he first cost 4,5 m$??!!! Haallloooo uncle Kenny??!!!

And shouldnt he even as the 2nd offensive Dman (getting generous minutes ) help the offense, creating offensive chances? Assist to goals, create and make plays?

If he has vLue, trade him for that goalie. NOOOOWW.
The D otherwise is OK. Nurse Kieth, Ceci, Bouchard I like. Barrie should be an elite NHLer, but isnt this year.
Oilers need that 6LD. Eight now its K russell..... Lagesson hasnt taked that step that we wished for.
Niemilainen couldnt heal faster.

 

[SwedishFire]

A new CEO, a new General Manager, a new Coach. Would also say new owner if it didn't mean the team gets moved to Houston too. The team is playing like crap and the players are terrible but the donkeys on top are the ones that brought said players in and implemented said shit team system.

This team is not all over crap, but for winning, it takes good players at every position. Bad drafting and developement has made few own products in the lineup.

And that makes Oilers VERY fragile fof GM misstakes. Chia made a good two first years, then he lost his head, and destroyed Oilers.
Holland fighted good, but fall for ageing playets experience a bit to heavy.
And foremost, that awful AA trade that cost him two seconds showed wich GM schooled another GM.
A 2nd pick often then most if you have proper scouting, results in a future NHL player, so throwing away TWO 2nd rounders is throwing away two future NHLers.
Could be said be even worse than giving away a 1st rounder.
This has cost Holland more than he can afford! Two freaking valuable 2nd rounders - for a RENTAL! Its a misstake a rookie GM does. Not a experied GM!!

His second misstake was ignoring getting a second good goalie.

Two misstakes is enough in a fraglie market as Edmonton.

Holland can/(should?) loose hos job because of this.

 

[Broberg Speed]

A new CEO, a new General Manager, a new Coach. Would also say new owner if it didn't mean the team gets moved to Houston too. The team is playing like crap and the players are terrible but the donkeys on top are the ones that brought said players in and implemented said shit team system.

You still buying into that scam? You can count the markets on one hand that are more viable for professional hockey in North America than Edmonton.