Jakey53
Registered User
- Aug 27, 2011
- 30,212
- 9,217
I agree. Something is off with OEL and maybe it is RT. Our luck is we trade OEL, keep RT. We miss the playoffs and OEL gets back to playing like his old self.It’s becoming more and more clear to me that at the start of next season, Tocchet and OEL cannot both be here...I think only one will, and it’s up to Chayka and Meruelo to decide which one. If they’re going to give Tocchet another year, then I think OEL will be gone. If they take away the C from him it will not sit well and he will want to be gone anyway...so a trade is inevitable. There will be a leadership change on this team one way or another. My gut feeling is that Tocchet will be here and OEL will be out of town in the offseason. Kessel is a question mark. I don’t know if Tocchet will give time the “look buddy, it just didn’t work out, sorry” talk, or if he’ll give him one more year to play with some new players. I think there’s a very strong chance that OEL, Demers, and Stepan are going to be shipped out.
Not sure if a NMC in OEL's contract means much as he is young, has no family, and could be ready for a change, but I agree about his play under RT. Not sure who will be gone next year as it will depend if we keep RT or get a new coach.OEL has an NMC, he will be here next year. I agree, OEL has never played well under Tocc and it took them a year to give him the C. I think it has affected OEL negatively. The roster has gotten better each year but the team has not, that means there is a coaching problem.
The player solution isn't to unload all the vets. Stepan/Goose/Demers/Richardson/Kessel aren't all leaving. Richardson might be done now, I can see him gone. Stepan is still solid, but he is over paid, it will take a sweetener to get rid of him. Goose/Demers have had solid years. They are both movable but we also need vet D men. Who would want Kessel, we are stuck with him.