Difference is other teams have good quality veterans for those 1st overalls. We didn't. So yeah they might in some way learn less in the juniors but I think the development could be better cause they aren't trying to learn things while also having tons of pressure to win at an nhl level.
What's our real problem?
- Thread starter oilphan
- Start date
Nah, they wouldn't have.
They were already dominant players at the junior level, and in situations where no one was going to demand accountability of players who could score at will. Without pushing them out of their comfort zones, they wouldn't have had the opportunity to grow as players at all.
Again though, it's a "what if" scenario that also ignores that 1st overall draft picks simply don't get held back in the junior levels.
The veteran player stuff is obvious, but not in the context that the players needed to be sent back to the juniors. The team needed to clean house and bring in hardworking transitional players to facilitate the development of the young players, but instead the kept around the entitled vets who helped create the mess in the first place, which led to locker room friction as players struggled or flat out refused to accept smaller roles. A situation that was compounded by ineffectual efforts by upper management to recruit quality players who could fill in the many gaping holes throughout the roster.
Change coach every year.
Get rid of our better older players/give the reigns to younger players.
Have a hard time drawing better older players.
Concentrate on scoring rather then keeping the puck out of their net.
Mix and match the above and you have the current Oilers.
Get rid of our better older players/give the reigns to younger players.
Have a hard time drawing better older players.
Concentrate on scoring rather then keeping the puck out of their net.
Mix and match the above and you have the current Oilers.
KCC
Registered User
- Aug 15, 2007
- 18,438
- 9,422
That the team literally didn't know how to play basic traditional defense when asked about it by the coach? If we had the other coaches still, they wouldn't be playing defense at all and we'd be outplayed and out shot every game. At least with Eakins, he's trying to change that.
KeithIsActuallyBad
You thrust your pelvis, huh!
2006.
Still, they need some time to come together. Hopefully they arnt out of it before they start playing better.
The Perron hole last game was very noticeable.
AlowlyMcOilersfan
Comrade
- Oct 30, 2011
- 7,526
- 3
I don't think any other team is interested in Eberle at his price. Like mentioned, our core group have been stroked because of their abilities to put the puck in the net, not keep it out. They have been thrust into the forefront without proper all around game. Obviously, they have problems with work ethic and guts when it comes to D, hence taking nights off when they want without really being consequence for this lackluster play. I would rather have a bunch of pluggers that will give you what they have then the primadonna deal we are experiencing now. The merry go round will continue for a bit until Mac T gets tired of the losing. JMO
Joey Moss
Registered User
- Aug 29, 2008
- 36,163
- 8,011
He was kind of put in a tough spot with that when Mac openly stated he hoped he would keep them around.
McOvechking
Registered User
That's working well in philly. Need more Stewart, backes, Steen, oshie, shattenkirk, Leopold, etc.
Eakins likes playing people out of position, let's go his for a line up
Gagner - RNH - Arcobello
Perron - Hall - Joensuu
Hemsky - Yakupov - Eberle
Larsen - Ferrence - Schultz
Gordon - Petry
Gazdic- Smyth
Dubnyk - Lolbarbera
Bachman
Smid
Gagner - RNH - Arcobello
Perron - Hall - Joensuu
Hemsky - Yakupov - Eberle
Larsen - Ferrence - Schultz
Gordon - Petry
Gazdic- Smyth
Dubnyk - Lolbarbera
Bachman
Smid
I think if we had more size in our topsix...our "high octane" style might not be quite as self-destructive...but...when ALL our existing scoring weapons are going out there with this gunslinger approach...it tends to bite them in the ass before they even have time to FIND their ass with two hands...largely because...NOT ONLY are they placing too much emphasis/too soon on scoring...they're really not nearly as good at scoring as they THINK they are.
As it is...players here tend to attempt difficult plays...without a conscience...while lacking the size & muscle required to clear a path, keep a broken play alive or bring a bad play back from disaster.
When a tried & true, pro level, 5 man unit takes possession of the puck...there always needs to be a quick "checklist" which should be the determining factor in whether or not an attacking play can occur.
I believe the checklist looks something like this for say a line like DET's top line:
1) Are we all STARTING from a defensive position? Yes, even an offensive play starts from players being properly positioned to DEFEND...and...if that's not the case...then the puck should be placed/passed/cleared somewhere in order for defensive angles to be reasonably covered.
2) Is the OTHER TEAM in proper position(s)? If the answer is "yes'...well...then you would adjust your attacking play accordingly & the de3cisions the offensive players make become far more conservative then IF opposing players are either NOT in position or NOT fully completed at line change or NEEDING a line change et al.
The Oilers do NOT "think" this way. They just don't. I can see it more obviously this year than times in the past...but...even in past years...this team has a historical tendency to race up the rink without first THINKING about the implications of an knee jerk run towards the opposing end of the rink.
I also go back to a 4 or 5 week run we had ( 2 years ago??) around this time when the team was eeking out ("boring") WINS under Tom Renney. There was, to my eye, some calculated hesitation/evaluation of the play for a brief time and it worked effectively towards CONTROLLING the game. We should have stuck with it, clearly. But...a bunch of injuries happened and the wheels came off that STRUCTURE & MINDSET.
Havent seen it since.
The wimps on our team would balance it all out. I like that when Philly loses, they beat the **** out of the other team, willing to go, or not. EDM just hangs their heads and goes home.
KeithIsActuallyBad
You thrust your pelvis, huh!
That's going to look good when a bigger team comes around and beats the tar out of them.
Losing is still losing.
This year's addition of the Oilers needs many things to stop being the mockery of the NHL. First lets talk about what they are getting right.
1) They seem to be drafting good players. The top end talent on the team is playing well despite the losing record.
Now lets talk about what they're getting wrong.
1) Even with coaching changes, they continue to employ the same tactics, year after year (i.e. skating puck into opposition's zone instead of dump and chase, instead of shooting on the PP they pass the puck around looking for perfect plays, putting very few shots on net). At some point you would think a new coach would say, lets shake things up and try something new.
2) The team simply isn't tough enough. They don't have enough guys who can screw up the game of the opposition by forechecking them to frustration or keep them from having puck possession.
3) This team isn't physical enough. You can tell because they aren't finishing checks like tough teams do. They concentrate too much on the puck and not enough on physical aspects of the game. This team needs bigger size.
4) Defence is still a big problem. I like Ference because of his intensity and consistency but Petry and Smid need to go. Both cannot get their respective jobs done. One is supposed to be offensively gifted but can't consistently show it and the second is supposed to be more physical but seems timid, maybe due to past injuries. N. Schultz is a superhero of the invisible kind and J.Schultz gives the puck away like he's donating for some cause.
5) Time to get rid of KLowe and MacT, they're doing nothing to improve this team. Ever notice how few times the Oilers have made the playoffs since KLowe became part of the management? Katz is a business man. If your business is failing, when does it become pertinent to change the business decision makers?
There are many more but Andrew Ference is on After Hours now and I don't want to bother with this list cause I'm sick of talking about losing.
Mr Forever
The Oilers :(
Maybe it's Katz.
Here's a chant we'd all love to hear next home game: "Move to Seattle, Move to Seattle"
Here's a chant we'd all love to hear next home game: "Move to Seattle, Move to Seattle"
The Human Torch
Registered User
Clearly this team's problem is that we don't have enough 3rd pairing defencemen and 2-minute-per-night 4th line facepunchers. If only MacT had signed a few of those this off-season.
Captain Catatomic
SuprstitionCondition
Oilers top 99 problems:
#1: RNH's side-part turn over hairdo glaringly shows on the ice
#2: Hall's broken C3P0 syndrome has no R2D2
#3: Eberle's evil squint has almost disappeared
#4: Petry daydreams of playing for the other team on game days and in game
#5: Smid watches too many Friendly Giant Episodes
#6: Eakins fruits and veggies aren't Organic and GMO free
#7: K.Acton's Mr.Clean has rubbed off on him in his pk/pp revamp
#8: Perron's frenglish accent's not mean enough to be an Alberta boy
#9: Gagner can but doesn't grow a beard
#10: Hemsky misses the Oilers 3rd Jerseys and sulks about it
#11: Jones's go with his flow has gone with the wind
#12: Yakupov knee slid into Eakin's Papaya & Coconut tray at practice
#13: Gordons hockey skills don't blend w/the Oil's shinny games
#14: Smyth's mullet now grows in reverse, causing his poor velocity
#15: W.Acton's dad quit payin him allowance hence sons new contract
#16: Jonesuu's bloodlust has caused him to self-destruct into despair
#17: Hamilton forgot his pillow at Acton's house at their sleepover
#18: Justin Schultz took Eakins diet too seriously and is now 125lbs
#19: Doobie smokes himself repeatedly, isn't high & already burntout
#20: Arco Portobello uses toad in mariokart 2much to grow his game
#21: Eager's still waiting to play on the 3rd line after all these years
#22: Gazdics shriveled up and out of gas, with no viagra in sight
#23: Pitlicker has 2 much aluminum in his deodorant causing gingivitis
#24: Belovs jet lag was so bad he shoots slappers @ overhead airplanes in game
#25: Ference doesn't get paid extra for babysitting & changing diapers
#26: N.Schultz can't score at home when he's scored on in game
#27: Larsen is still mad his trade value is equivalent to a Horcoff
#28: LaBarbera's total of 3 winning NHL seasons 60w/181gp have caused narcissism
#29: Old boys club health care psychiatric prescription benefits have expired
#30: Team toughness is measured in overcooked steaks at the Rack with pints
#31: Team Puck battles are between the players, the puck and own goalies
#32: Top pairing D in Oil Country stands for best couple on date night
#33: Dubnyk thinks he's a Goalvendor + sells the opposition goals for beef jerkey
#34: Team Structure is made of cardboard, gum, and Popsicle sticks
#35: Confused with +/- stats, the Oilers are letting in goals in hope of signing bonuses
#36: Kevin Lowe has the key to Katz's secret medication safe + indulges frequently
#37: Darryl Katz wants a bad team so his boy can join and be a hero in 10 years
#38: Steve Smith drinks moonshine with Petry + shows him “own-goal” secrets
#39: Mactavish wont sign a majority of players taller than himself and Lowe
#40: Oilers body checks are excuses to visit the infirmary with their paycheck in tact
#41: Oil shots on goal crack the pipes on ice, in the dressing room they hit ice in the crack-pipes
#42: Eakins took down Oil memorabilia + replaced w/nude pics of Moreau Souray+Cogs
#43: Eakins is bribing the media w/donuts after games not to call him out publicly
#44: Every time the players hear the word buchberger they salivate endlessly
#45: Mactavish is doing handstand meditation when addressing the team size issue
#46: Team work consists of writing lines + essays after skating practice and video class
#47: Oilers go into the trenches hiding, diving head first instead of fighting like soldiers
#48: Oilers have confused board play with bored plays
#49: For the Oilers the lack of a red line means that they will not go to war anymore
#50: The Oilers faith has fallen into the hands of team doctors instead of the on-ice players
to be continued...
#1: RNH's side-part turn over hairdo glaringly shows on the ice
#2: Hall's broken C3P0 syndrome has no R2D2
#3: Eberle's evil squint has almost disappeared
#4: Petry daydreams of playing for the other team on game days and in game
#5: Smid watches too many Friendly Giant Episodes
#6: Eakins fruits and veggies aren't Organic and GMO free
#7: K.Acton's Mr.Clean has rubbed off on him in his pk/pp revamp
#8: Perron's frenglish accent's not mean enough to be an Alberta boy
#9: Gagner can but doesn't grow a beard
#10: Hemsky misses the Oilers 3rd Jerseys and sulks about it
#11: Jones's go with his flow has gone with the wind
#12: Yakupov knee slid into Eakin's Papaya & Coconut tray at practice
#13: Gordons hockey skills don't blend w/the Oil's shinny games
#14: Smyth's mullet now grows in reverse, causing his poor velocity
#15: W.Acton's dad quit payin him allowance hence sons new contract
#16: Jonesuu's bloodlust has caused him to self-destruct into despair
#17: Hamilton forgot his pillow at Acton's house at their sleepover
#18: Justin Schultz took Eakins diet too seriously and is now 125lbs
#19: Doobie smokes himself repeatedly, isn't high & already burntout
#20: Arco Portobello uses toad in mariokart 2much to grow his game
#21: Eager's still waiting to play on the 3rd line after all these years
#22: Gazdics shriveled up and out of gas, with no viagra in sight
#23: Pitlicker has 2 much aluminum in his deodorant causing gingivitis
#24: Belovs jet lag was so bad he shoots slappers @ overhead airplanes in game
#25: Ference doesn't get paid extra for babysitting & changing diapers
#26: N.Schultz can't score at home when he's scored on in game
#27: Larsen is still mad his trade value is equivalent to a Horcoff
#28: LaBarbera's total of 3 winning NHL seasons 60w/181gp have caused narcissism
#29: Old boys club health care psychiatric prescription benefits have expired
#30: Team toughness is measured in overcooked steaks at the Rack with pints
#31: Team Puck battles are between the players, the puck and own goalies
#32: Top pairing D in Oil Country stands for best couple on date night
#33: Dubnyk thinks he's a Goalvendor + sells the opposition goals for beef jerkey
#34: Team Structure is made of cardboard, gum, and Popsicle sticks
#35: Confused with +/- stats, the Oilers are letting in goals in hope of signing bonuses
#36: Kevin Lowe has the key to Katz's secret medication safe + indulges frequently
#37: Darryl Katz wants a bad team so his boy can join and be a hero in 10 years
#38: Steve Smith drinks moonshine with Petry + shows him “own-goal” secrets
#39: Mactavish wont sign a majority of players taller than himself and Lowe
#40: Oilers body checks are excuses to visit the infirmary with their paycheck in tact
#41: Oil shots on goal crack the pipes on ice, in the dressing room they hit ice in the crack-pipes
#42: Eakins took down Oil memorabilia + replaced w/nude pics of Moreau Souray+Cogs
#43: Eakins is bribing the media w/donuts after games not to call him out publicly
#44: Every time the players hear the word buchberger they salivate endlessly
#45: Mactavish is doing handstand meditation when addressing the team size issue
#46: Team work consists of writing lines + essays after skating practice and video class
#47: Oilers go into the trenches hiding, diving head first instead of fighting like soldiers
#48: Oilers have confused board play with bored plays
#49: For the Oilers the lack of a red line means that they will not go to war anymore
#50: The Oilers faith has fallen into the hands of team doctors instead of the on-ice players
to be continued...
Last edited:
Mr Forever
The Oilers :(
You don't need to burn it down. You need to assess who the winners are, and stop falling in love with players, sack up, and move some of them to fill holes at other positions. Yeah I get it, Eberle is sick, but there's probably no other way to get a top pairing D man than moving him, or maybe even Hall.
Petes2424
Registered User
- Aug 4, 2005
- 8,057
- 2,334
There's another couple of things that I dont see mentioned very often on here. Not drafting well to begin with and the drafting of European players.
Now, before people rip on me for going Don Cherry, that's not what Im doing. I think it needs to be pointed out that the role type players they've drafted are leaving left and right to return to Europe due to not getting their chance or whatever reason. So now we're looking at one player drafts. That's not going to cut it these days. Then after getting burned, what do they do again this year in the draft? Draft more Europeans in the higher rounds. It's just not good policy anymore. Not with the other options Europeans are given nowadays. The Oilers draft Europeans in the second round, they get all butt hurt cause they're not playing in the NHL after a year and go home. Detroit drafts guys like Marchenko in the 7th round, he ends up working to get over here and he's well on his way to playing in the league. It's a mentality thing Im telling you. It's now led to zero organizational depth really, which is putting this team further behind the 8 ball.
