We have to change the whole culture of this team:
1. Fire Kevin Lowe - long overdue; the fish starts to rot at the head and he has not managed to instill a winning culture onto this team, no other enterprise would keep somebody as incompetent at this level for so long
2. Keep the following players and make the rest trade bait:
-RNH (too much talent, if we traded him it would bite us big time)
-Hall
-Perron
-Gordon
-Ference
-J.Shultz (we should keep him for PP, but in a lesser role for EV)
I would hate to trade Eberle, but he simply is no superstar who will take the team on his back. Actually, I think he could bring us much needed return. Gagner, Smid, Petry, Hemsky and Yakupov all hold some value as well.
3. Mortgage part of our future: As it looks right now, our first round pick in 2014 could be a highly coveted asset. Everyone laughed about the Leafs when they gave away their first round picks for Kessel but in the long run they certainly got some value out of this trade (wouldn't say they won it clear cut).
I think we all have to get used to the idea that some of our beloved future superstars will have to leave the team to make it better in the long run. And better to start this process now, than waste another season (it will be difficult enough to salvage this season anyway).
I would disagree that RNH is a culprit of poor defensive play. There are times when he is outmatched in terms of size/strength but I don't have a problem with his effort.
I was at the Capitals game and although he didn't shine on the scoresheet Nuge was still making some smart stick checks and takeaways that made me think of a Pavel Datsyuk in the making. Clearly not there yet but I could see it happening (or at least a Datsyuk Lite)
Right...I'm sure if we were to swap rosters with the Blackhawks or the Bruins we'd be just as bad.
I agree with this completely. We shouldn't be looking to swap stars. We need to isolate and address each need like Columbus did. One can dream though
Right...I'm sure if we were to swap rosters with the Blackhawks or the Bruins we'd be just as bad.
I have 0 faith in MacT to get this right. He is horrible at assessing talent.
I'll never ever forget when he said reasoner was as good as Sakic
Hemsky has value at the TDL if he continues to play good. Smyth will not be traded as he is getting ready to ride off into the sunset, I sincerely doubt that he wants to be a rental player this late in his career.Lol that quote is being used out of context, lets forget that he called that cleary would have to make his career as a checker, that schremp and other lowe picks were not gonna hack it in the nhl, got the most out of penner with the least talent to surround him with, and by name selected tge players lowe should target in 06.
MacT is why i believe this team is on the right track. Only a fool would believe the AHL squad of 20012-13 would be instantly transformed unto a Nhl playoff team.
THIS ISNT NHL 14. You cant just change over your systems and players and trade for anyone you like while expecting it all to fall into place. MacT went for Schneider and was willing to give up the nurse pick but adding magnus would have meant st.louis had the asset to get perron with the sedins...AND we had no one interested in Dubnyk. Do you want perron playing with the sedins? He went hard for Bernier, he landed Perron, Gordon, and Ference. Two of those three players have been our best and most consistent skaters, while the third is seeing just how bad our team defense really is.
To me MacT is the only reason i have faith that this will turn around. It wont happen this year though. MacT needs a trade deadline and another off season. Hopefully Eakins can save Smyth and Hemmer for january and get them a hot four weeks to achieve best value for them at the deadline.
I am also a realist. I told everyone to shake their heads and their enthusiasm after the meaningless preseayson. This was going to be a hard road with top centres injured, new systems under a rookie coach, and still using ahl players to fill gaps in the roster, while the defense is made if alot of dmen which has not one as a true top pair. And we still have the shoddy goaltenders.
It can be turned around if GMs are prepared to play ball... But dont count on it. Alot of GMs dont feel the pressure to move players.
Mact will make moves, he is just waiting to get the most value. unfortunately, that means a placement in the bottom 1/5th of the league and and playoffs hopes down the drain before the 20 game mark.
all we can do is wait. in the meantime and in between time... watch wrestling.
Modern day wrestling is the only thing more painful than Oilers games though. I mean from an Oilers fan perspective I actually enjoy the games because they're wide open and entertaining... too wide open in most cases.
true, but the wrestling part was just an add on for the 'in the meantime and in between time'. posters over 40 will remember.
I'm not quite 40 but I got the reference!
Also, fire Lowe.
what's wrong with the Oilers?
Eakins was quoted in today's paper saying two things things that help sum it up.
"I assumed we knew what traditional defense zone coverage was. It was clear that we didn't."
"I see our team is excited to score goals. boy they like to score. But we need a group that is equally excited to stop goals. I'm not sure our group is wired like that"
so it seems a lot of the problem has been the coaching in the last 4 years and the players not bothering or not being forced to learn how to play a complete game.
another year another system
The merry-go-round has to stop sometime.
Mact will make moves, he is just waiting to get the most value. unfortunately, that means a placement in the bottom 1/5th of the league and and playoffs hopes down the drain before the 20 game mark.
all we can do is wait. in the meantime and in between time... watch wrestling.
A object set in motion will remain in motion until acted on by an equal and opposite force.