The problem with the Oilers is that the team is run by a bunch of fools. I don't understand how anyone can be so successful in business (Katz) but run a business (the Oilers) the way he has. Kevin Lowe should have been fired 5+ years ago. Craig MacTavish should never have been rehired. The results they've put up, it's shameful (MacT will tell you he wasn't around for many of those years, which is true, but the Lowe-led team has basically been an old boys club for the better part of 15 years).
Katz is running a team where he gets to hang around with guys that will tell him stories of the 80s. Kowe gets to be his right hand man, in charge of two things: Telling those stories, and hiring his buddies. Accountability like that makes for an awful organization.
I like the high picks they've made (Yak, Hall, Hopkins) and they've taken guys with other higher picks (Drisaitle, Nurse, Klefboom) that look like they'll turn into decent players... and (of course) Eberle is the other one I didn't mention, he was drafted in the late first round, but clearly he's a decent player.
Too many of the same player? I agree. Raise your hand if you think the Oilers would be better this year with Ryan Murray instead of Nail Yakupov? Keep it up if you think that'd be the case next year. Not a chance they'd be better, because it wouldn't do anything to address their core problems. Too many of the same player is fine..... draft the best player available, and then deal from a position of depth to fill your other holes.
The biggest mistakes, IMO, have happened since all those #1 picks were made. MacTavish - while he's made a couple of decent deals - has absolutely stunted whatever chance at growth this team had, and his decisions (IMO) have actually done the opposite: Regression in most of their players games.
In the summer of 2013, that's when the Oilers needed to trade away one of their pieces for help elsewhere. Of course I can't know what deals were on the table (or not on it) but I get the sense that they would not trade one of their young forwards, out of fear that they'd be taken to the cleaners (he turns into an allstar elsewhere). Summer of 2013 I was hoping to see Jordan Eberle moved for a top pairing defenceman (no, not a "true #1" Shea Weber type - that's not going to happen - but a guy that can play 26 minutes a night, and the rest of the league isn't laughing about it). I say Eberle because I firmly believe that he has (by far) the lowest ceiling of their big four.
I say 2013 because the Oilers still had some depth. With Gagner, Hemsky, and Horcoff - trading Eberle would not have created a giant hole like he would now. They were coming off a season where they were competitive for a playoff spot through 3/4s of the season (then tailed off at the end, and yes - it was a shortened season... but being in a playoff race 3/4s of the way through is still a small miracle for this team).
The Summer of 2013 is also when the decision was made that (IMO) has cost this group of a players any chance they'll have to compete for a cup. No.... I'm not writing off this group as potential superstar players (sure, it could still happen) but it's not going to happen together in Edmonton. UFA years for these guys start kicking in 4 years from now. Eberle is up first, then Hall, then Hopkins. Unless there is a massive turnaround in the next two seasons (which I don't believe will be the case) then why would Eberle resign? Why would Hall? Hopkins (6 years) is still a long way out, but if the others start leaving... and the wheels are still spinning.... why wouldn't he go too?
What was the decision? Dallas Eakins. In all of my years watching hockey, I don't believe I've ever seen a coach that I loathed more. Weather it was stupid PR stunts like removing donuts from the media room (and replacing them with vegetables) or idiot "I know how to run a hockey team better" calls like removing a ping pong table from the locker room (as if either of these things is going to have an effect on anything, other than annoying those affected) he showed over and over again that he was in over his head.
I big commitment to fitness (great idea) and brutal schemes on the ice. Those were his two big contributions to the team. Lookup "Dallas Eakins swarm defense" as an example of a system he put in place.... that nobody should be able to look at without starting to laugh.
Every single player on the Oilers got worse under Eakins. Since the coaching change the team has played better, but the development of these players has been setback so much.... I don't think this "core" will ever be able to recover.
Build up the middle. Defense, Goalies, Centers. Others have already pointed this out. It's so obvious, but the Oilers Management can't figure it out.
"They've had brutal goaltending." Craig MacTavish would agree with that, but I betcha the Minnesota Wild (and Devan Dubnyk) wouldn't. No... Dubnyk is probably not really as good as he's looked in Minny this year (or Arizona before) but he was never as bad he looked in Edmonton. Oilers couldn't wait to run him out of town though.... he made a great scapegoat for Eakins.
Scrivens? Fasth? I'm ready for them to both be run out of town (I had a bit of optimism for Dubnyk a few years back.... these two I do not) and while I don't think they'll ever turn into "top 20" goalies in the NHL, I also don't think with a real NHL defense in front of them they'd be this bad.
The defense, and the Oilers refusal to do anything about it, has been their biggest problem. Of course in true Oilers style.... they toss a bunch of money at Nikka Nikiten last summer, and then don't extend their best defenseman (Jeff Petry) so they move him out at the deadline for a bunch of magic beans..... because that's how you improve the group. Anyone think they're going to be bring in someone as talented as Dion Phaneuf this summer?? I sure don't.
If defense isn't the biggest problem, Centres are. With all due respect to RNH.... he should never have been gifted the #1 slot at the age of 19. When the #2 guy behind you is Sam Gagner (not exactly a big man either) there is no size anywhere. This team has been getting manhandled for years. A big, strong, veteran center... capable of a 50 point season.... is that so much to ask? For the life of me, I can't figure out why that kind of player has not been targeted by this team.
Anyway, I'll stop now. Already ranted enough. How about Pittsburgh misses the playoffs, and wins the lotto?? Oilers hold their pick, so that would give them two in the top 5. Inject those two into the lineup right away, and instant winner
(Truthfully, I think this is the one organization that might be able to screw up Connor MacDavid)
