As someone's who's followed the team closely i just don't see it, since Lowe stepped down as GM (and a successful run at that) the teams GM's have had VERY distinct styles. Tambellini was not proactive at all and basically sat on his hands, then MacT came in and was pretty aggressive for better and for worse but other than Petry (smh) really didn't move on from core players instead trying aggressively to find high upside and often unconventional bargains (Scrivens, Fasth, Belov, Grebeshkov, ect...), and then Chiarelli (the worst of them all) went full ****** and traded highly valuable core pieces for players he deemed needed. All 3 i truly believe from looking on the outside in were clearly distinct enough for me to clearly think they all were in charge of their own fates and the direction of the team.
In saying that i don't doubt there's been some influence from the "OBC" at times, even if unintentional as Brian Burke alluded to on Oilers Now the other day. I do think Lowe had considerable power during the Tambo era but i also think those days are gone and now he's simply the Bobby Clarke of the Oilers now. I don't think MacT is the guy in charge of the team right now, i do think it's Gretzky. From all reports MacT is invloved more heavily in the overseeing of the procurement and development of players from the Minors, while Howson is doing his work with prospects abroad. I think it's pretty clear that Chiarelli was a moron and his mistakes were his own, i also think it's pretty clear that the one guy who's thus far seemed reasonably competent has been Gretzky (at least in terms of the amateur side) and thus it would only make sense given his previous role and body of work that he would be the guy.
I just think some of you let your frustrations get in the way of the reality of the situation. They probably should clean house of the OBC in terms of roles within hockey ops and they certainly shouldn't be beyond criticism for this, they've had influence, but i think we need to be honest about where the buck's been stopping. Tambo was a do-nothing GM and Chiarelli was an idiot who made some disastrous moves completely of his own volition. If the OBC was really in charge i have a hard time thinking MacT would have been cool buying out Pouliot or moving Gordon for Korpikoski (Another 2 idiot moves). It sucks whats happened here but i also think its pretty clear that there isn't likely some outrageous conspiracy taking place, it's simply been 2 really incompetent GM's sandwiching a guy who tried to be bold but failed in his attempts to make meaningful moves without giving up the farm sort-a-speak.