Nah, some posters look at a premise as stated and some ignore much of what's been stated. I've represented my assertion that the Oilers are yet again going into a season with a crisis of lack of experience at key positions. In this sidebar we've been focusing on Center. So even if Roy or Gordon are not the answers (and I think they would be fine) it still leaves us with a need for vet presence at the position.
Take a look at Connor McDavid lately. Guy is sweating and nervous just in media scrimmage. Ever think we're putting a little too much pressure on these kids?
Its same old same old and we've been doing it for years. I get that he's Connor Mcdavid but he's a kid, only human, and Having ZERO vet D's that have been here to tell him what its like here on this team has got to be majorly disconcerting. Really the guys trying to give him direction so far haven't figured out their own NHL roles yet. Speaking of a crisis of inexperience.
This is another impending gongshow with a different look. Team is plenty talented and can embarrass some opponents that give them a lot of free ice and lay off the body but why would opponents do that very often.
Letestu is brand new here and not established. Pretty much as a rule, unless you're someone like Chris Pronger, when you come to a new team you're feeling out your own way. You don't have the leadership at that point, in that new dressing room to be providing leadership to a rookie kid. What Roy did here with Yak was very atypical, ballsy, even and he took on a key leadership role immediately. Most incoming players don't do that, especially right out of training camp.
.
I thought McDavid looked like McDavid always does, calm and quietly spoken.
Sweating and nervous is a little overblown.
I disagree with this part... leaders lead. Look at Hendricks. It took him very little time to establish his role and leadership position within the group. From what I've watched and experienced personally, leadership roles emerge much, much faster than what you are describing.
It was great that Roy was a vet. Latestu is a vet who is a much better fit for the vacant position.
Do agree that it would have been nice to have Gordon too, but reserving judgment on Korpikowski, who himself has been known to play hard and produce (despite a poor season).
You don't think Ference counts?
I get that we can't rely on the Smyths, Horcoffs, Ferences and Hendricks' of the world to eat huge minutes for us. They aren't the players they once were. But they do have NHL professional experience and YEARS of wisdom to impart to the young guys.
You can't suck and blow at the same time. The fact that Ference is no longer to be relied upon ON ICE does not diminish the fact that he's still very valuable to a kid like McDavid OFF THE ICE.
Or is this just exaggeration for the dramatics of it all?
No, very nervous, seemingly overwhelmed in the interview, a little down. So much so that his enunciation slowed, tone was very down, and even expressed seeming remorse about how quickly the summer went. Like any youth would do the day before school starts..
I think we easily forget that the kid is 18, by no means is the above a critique at all, just saying what I observed and that we are automatically expecting an 18yr old to resurrect a franchise, resurrect a downtown and entertainment district, get people humming and excited about paying more to get into the new arena. This is far and away several times the pressure Gretzky faced here and I think the enormity of that is dawning on McDavid. How couldn't it?
Its so strange as well that just after seeing how Yak has struggled with pressure of being a #1 pick that we forget that this can occur. As if we're shutting out that this could occur. Or that a top round high pick like Draisaitl could look shellshocked his whole stint here last year. This is a very tough team and situation to land in. Not at all a happy environment and only the positivity of Nelson, and before him Krueger, has stopped this situation from being far worse.
Finally, Edmonton is one of those rare places when it comes to hockey where absolutely everything is going to be within harsh glare of spotlights. Demands on McDavids time both within the City and country will be enormous. Free time will be harder to find, and it'll be a nonstop tour of madness each city he visits. This better not go sideways for the club because of this experience starts to occur within a negative milieu of a team again giving up (like this team has done for several seasons) than the gongshow is truly on and McDavid, 18, is feeling responsibility for that as well. Because this is kid is golden, and will try to take on everything and move mountains by himself. Which on a lot of nights will seem to be required.
Childsplay.
More like this...lol
McDavid was also granted exceptional status so he played one year extra in the OHL then most all 18 year Olds do before their draft. Its more comparable to a 19 year old coming out of the ohl cause that's what he is other then the nameI see things totally different. Every interview McDavid does his tone is way down.
Im not going to comment on the Yak at 18 comparision to McDavid, because really McDavid today is so far ahead of Yak today nevermind Yak at 18.
I see things totally different. Every interview McDavid does his tone is way down.
Im not going to comment on the Yak at 18 comparision to McDavid, because really McDavid today is so far ahead of Yak today nevermind Yak at 18.
Saw a much more effervescent McDavid in past interviews. Really if you're being honest if the latest interviews had occurred around draft time some people might be questioning, considering, whether the rumors McDavid was disappointed with landing here had any legs. Because as this day has arrived it looks more like he was headed to the dentist for a root canal than being happy about being here for the season.
Again no criticism. I wouldn't want to be landing in this nightmarish org.
I have about as much faith in Korpikoski as I do in Purcell. Do we know Letestu is a dressing room leader? Is he reknowned for that? Has he worked out well with a lot of youth. Not everybody is like that. As you even acknowledge Roy was particularly like that and perhaps a coach in the making. We oddly let that KNOWN mentorship go without a 2nd a thought, without even a discussion, a consideration.
Lets not just think about McDavid here (in a Yak thread) lets look back at Yak. One of the first things he's saying this fall is how much he liked having Roy here, how different it was for him having Roy here, how much better it was for him having Roy here, and how much he was learning from this veteran. The Oilers have regarded Yaks opinion on this to the sum extent that they got rid of Roy without even thinking about any impact on their first pick young player. Presumably because we have so many of them they aren't even worried about checking out the thoughts and takes of each player.
Did they even do proper exit interviews with players last season. Did they regard the input. Chances are with all the change and turmoil and hiring new GM's new Mega Gm's new Popes, and a coach that if any of this did occur its in the wash now anyway. yet here is Yak and the first thing he's saying, the first thing he's thinking is how good it was with Roy and of course now he's not here and its back to feeling alone here.
in Regards to Yak I will state a disclaimer that what I am saying here has been spoken by either by Yak and/or his agent and reflects the arduous times he has had here with this franchise. So as soon he meaningfully connects with a player and his game is resurrected that is deemed not important to the team.
More hard love? Does Yak last the season here?
No, very nervous, seemingly overwhelmed in the interview, a little down. So much so that his enunciation slowed, tone was very down, and even expressed seeming remorse about how quickly the summer went. Like any youth would do the day before school starts..
I think we easily forget that the kid is 18, by no means is the above a critique at all, just saying what I observed and that we are automatically expecting an 18yr old to resurrect a franchise, resurrect a downtown and entertainment district, get people humming and excited about paying more to get into the new arena. This is far and away several times the pressure Gretzky faced here and I think the enormity of that is dawning on McDavid. How couldn't it?
Its so strange as well that just after seeing how Yak has struggled with pressure of being a #1 pick that we forget that this can occur. As if we're shutting out that this could occur. Or that a top round high pick like Draisaitl could look shellshocked his whole stint here last year. This is a very tough team and situation to land in. Not at all a happy environment and only the positivity of Nelson, and before him Krueger, has stopped this situation from being far worse.
Finally, Edmonton is one of those rare places when it comes to hockey where absolutely everything is going to be within harsh glare of spotlights. Demands on McDavids time both within the City and country will be enormous. Free time will be harder to find, and it'll be a nonstop tour of madness each city he visits. This better not go sideways for the club because of this experience starts to occur within a negative milieu of a team again giving up (like this team has done for several seasons) than the gongshow is truly on and McDavid, 18, is feeling responsibility for that as well. Because this is kid is golden, and will try to take on everything and move mountains by himself. Which on a lot of nights will seem to be required.
Saw a much more effervescent McDavid in past interviews. Really if you're being honest if the latest interviews had occurred around draft time some people might be questioning, considering, whether the rumors McDavid was disappointed with landing here had any legs. Because as this day has arrived it looks more like he was headed to the dentist for a root canal than being happy about being here for the season.
Again no criticism. I wouldn't want to be landing in this nightmarish org.
Lots of speculation in this post. Do you honestly believe the bolded? You think Roy's name hasn't even come up in Chiarelli's assessment of what is needed?
Or did it come up, and Chiarelli had other ideas? That doing his job meant parting with Roy for something he felt, in his Stanley Cup team assembling wisdom, was a better fit?
And by the way... a google search of Latestu and leadership comes up with a number of good hits, including a classy exit interview from Columbus.
Nobody wants to see Yak thrown to the wolves again, but the presence or absence of Roy isn't the sole determinant in that.
Jesus christ.
New POHO
New GM
New Coach
All of whom had a role (presumably, since it is their job) in the personnel changes this summer.
And here you are, devoid of facts, conjecturing that there was zero consideration/diligence made in the decision making...
Because if fits your hard-luck-woe-is-us narrative?
I really just don't get it.
But other than *winning* McDavid has anything really changed? Katz's close friends MacT, and Lowe are still employed by the org in active roles and have the most personal relationship, the strongest connections with the big guy. Is it conjecture to state they still have influence. I'd be far from alone in suggesting it.
That these two haven't been fired outright to me is suggestion that something else is at work. That somebody said no. Because both have been incompetent in their roles with MacT even stating in his own words that he "will live and die with the Eakins hire"
Short memories all round? MacT has amnesia about stating that?
I take all this stuff in. I don't disregard it. MacT is still here. Despite his own promise. This is the same org where Katz convinced Lowe not to step down. Maybe you don't attend to these things when they occur and denote them. With this org by now I have a tendency to file these bits of information for future reference.
Wel, this I can agree with, somewhat.
MacT, at the very least, should have been fired outright.
When I saw him at the draft table I sighed and rolled my eyes. My hope is that they filled the position with him because he was under contract and knows the organization. I don't think Chiarelli would have taken the job without autonomy.
It's hard to argue these suspicions, given the organization's history, but it's not fact and it is conjecture.
On the surface changes were made and many of us like to believe they were real. I, for one, am tired of being enveloped in negativity every time I think about the oilers. I want to cheer for my team again.
Time will tell if that's naive or if the alternative is pessimism.
i'll take a moment and apologize for my actions yesterday that were out of line. Going through some stuff right now and no excuses, but I was being an ahole.
sorry
Back to the topic this org conditions negativity. As fans we have that as an unfortunate common bond. Which makes for strange times and reactions all around.
My real take. Nelson was more of a free spirit and more averse to following company line than anybody we have hired in coaching or management since. Kreuger was as well. Is that meaningful? perhaps.
With Chia theres suspicion he wasn't his own man in Boston. With Mclellan its known he sided with management over players and was handstrung there as well.
I fear that neither are automatically their own men, in any org run by the quite powerful Daryl Katz. The same Katz who had Bettman on his speed dial getting an arena deal worked through here.
I really think its illusory to think that there really are "bosses" here other than Katz. Ultimately this org answers to Katz and exists for Katz. Its his plaything. A lot of other leadership is window dressing I fear, as its always been during Katz tenure. Nicholsons role to me was figurehead. Almost here for the point of a positivity campaign. Smile a lot, promise a new way of doing business, hire several more people on board, retain incompetents, and act like everything is flushed out and ready to go. Nicholson to me is a positivity yes man. Which concerns me somewhat.
just my take, perhaps deluded.
McLellan left San Jose because he didn't side with management but his hand was literally forced.i'll take a moment and apologize for my actions yesterday that were out of line. Going through some stuff right now and no excuses, but I was being an ahole.
sorry
Back to the topic this org conditions negativity. As fans we have that as an unfortunate common bond. Which makes for strange times and reactions all around.
My real take. Nelson was more of a free spirit and more averse to following company line than anybody we have hired in coaching or management since. Kreuger was as well. Is that meaningful? perhaps.
With Chia theres suspicion he wasn't his own man in Boston. With Mclellan its known he sided with management over players and was handstrung there as well.
I fear that neither are automatically their own men, in any org run by the quite powerful Daryl Katz. The same Katz who had Bettman on his speed dial getting an arena deal worked through here.
I really think its illusory to think that there really are "bosses" here other than Katz. Ultimately this org answers to Katz and exists for Katz. Its his plaything. A lot of other leadership is window dressing I fear, as its always been during Katz tenure. Nicholsons role to me was figurehead. Almost here for the point of a positivity campaign. Smile a lot, promise a new way of doing business, hire several more people on board, retain incompetents, and act like everything is flushed out and ready to go. Nicholson to me is a positivity yes man. Which concerns me somewhat.
just my take, perhaps deluded.
McLellan left San Jose because he didn't side with management but his hand was literally forced.
Chia was forced to move good players because Neely is insane as well.
On the Roy thing. Chia in an interview said that Roy was being considered for the team. He also had a multiple hour meeting with Nelson which I have no doubt of had player discussion in it. So if you think Chia came in blind then that's made to fit a narrative.
Nicholson was here for all of it and I guarantee he had notes on team dynamic, dame with MacT.
Chia saw what having a good center and good coaching with Yak did and Lander and McDavid or even RNH can provide that. He just doesn't see the aging Roy as that guy.