Haven't watched the last few games... likely won't watch the next few either. Enough of this crap.
The wife and I went to play cards on Thursday so only saw bits and pieces of the Phoenix game and last night we went out for dinner with another couple and saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie. Can't remember the last time I passed up HNIC with the Oilers to actually enjoy an evening. Monday with my season's tickets, I might just go to friend's birthday party and let the 18-year go watch the Wings.
Say what you will about Kevin Lowe, but at least his teams made it to the postseason a few times, and made it deep in one. And this was before the salary cap.
Say what you will about Kevin Lowe, but at least his teams made it to the postseason a few times, and made it deep in one. And this was before the salary cap.
To be fair, his team made it deep in the year following the salary cap implementation.
But, that is one thing about Lowe I always appreciated-- his willingness to do whatever it took to make the team more competitive. I just don't see it in Tambellini. Some of Lowe's moves were quite bad, but you could tell he HATED losing. I wish we could infuse some of that never-die attitude in Tambo.
Never read the entire thread so apologies if it been talked about already.
I'm far from being a NHL scout but a couple of things I have noticed thus far this season.
Jeff Petry is not nearly as good as I expected him to be. The guy is a turn over machine and soft(see most of team). I think he has some decent tools but he seems to be over rated in my books.
Eric Belanger needs to have his minutes reduced. He just isn't effective playing as much IMO. He's playing out of his role.
Eventually we need to move some bodies. I'm a believer that we need more size that can play. It seems obvious to me that we have some good pieces that are of similar ilk. Why not start shaping the team today into what you want it to look like when its winning. I just don't see this line up winning consistently.
My rant. Probably due to the fact of our awful record lately and I'm frustrated. I was hoping to see more progress from management building a team that can move the puck out of our end(not one that turns the puck over endlessly at our blue line) and more of a physical presence that can impose its will on a team cycling down low. All Tambo has done is watch us lose and draft high.
The Most frustrating thing, at least for me, is that by saying the team was rebuilding over a five year period without and specific goals or milestones, both management and kool-aid drinking fans can just shrug and say "well we said it would take 5 years, guys." the five years isn't my concern though. It's the feeling that this team doesn't need to start becoming more competitive now if they want to be contenders in 3.5 years. Cuz you don't usually just arrive at the top of the standings, go deep into the playoffs and win cups within one or even two years of becoming a solid team...
But...
"C'mon guys, we still have 3.5 years left in the rebuild!"
They should send lander to the minors. 6 min/game doesn#t help him.
He probably won't be more than a 3rd/4th line playe rin his career, but to better and round up his game he needs more minutes.
But probably no place in okc for him too, because we signed all those 27 year old career AHLers to have a successful team there...
Love the way Hall has comeback. If he isn't a 100% right now like he said I can't wait till he is. He has been our best player and has created a lot of scoring chances. He reminds me a lot of Bure in his rookie season, just like him not putting up points but everytime he rushes up the ice you think he's gonna score. When he learns from his near misses he is gonna be just as explosive as Bure was.
I guess I'm cut out different but some of these new arenas look just awful to me. Please don't build something awful like this in downtown Edmonton.
Is this supposed to look like a giant microchip made out of corrugated steel? What a clapboard house of awful. Looks like a giant warehouse. The Christmas village nearby with palm trees, shorts, sunglasses, artificial snow looked weird as well.
SJ sure doesn't look like any California dream. Especially this time of year. The whole time I'm thinking I'd miss it here if I was there.
One last comment. For years I've wondered what it would look like seeing Gagner get a chance to play with Ryan Smyth saddened that Gagner arrived on the club after Smyth left.
Since Smyths been back I've been waiting and waiting and outside of some PP, and random shuffling very little action together.
I've always thought Gagner would service Smyths game as Gagner likes a downlow cycle. imo they need a physical winger. Jones, Harti, whoever.
Anyway some comments on the pairing. Gagner predictably held huge respect for smyth and serviced him continually with passes(too much) and was giving Smyth the puck a lot. I thought Gagner needed to work the give and go better and pass and then get into a position. Gagner instead was playing puck support(not a bad thing) but instead of getting into positions for close in shots. I suspect this being due to Gagners lack of goal scoring confidence. I also wanted to see Gagner showing more confidence with the puck and hanging onto it a bit more. I thought he was overly reliant on Smyth in the game.
Overall the pair played well enough together. Unfortunately they had lost in space Hemsky circling around aimlessly firing *passes* in any random direction which wasn't helping maintain puck control..
The wife and I went to play cards on Thursday so only saw bits and pieces of the Phoenix game and last night we went out for dinner with another couple and saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie. Can't remember the last time I passed up HNIC with the Oilers to actually enjoy an evening. Monday with my season's tickets, I might just go to friend's birthday party and let the 18-year go watch the Wings.
My life has been far less stressful thus far....
You're not even going to grace us with a Sherlock Holmes review? Come on man!
One last comment. For years I've wondered what it would look like seeing Gagner get a chance to play with Ryan Smyth saddened that Gagner arrived on the club after Smyth left.
Since Smyths been back I've been waiting and waiting and outside of some PP, and random shuffling very little action together.
I've always thought Gagner would service Smyths game as Gagner likes a downlow cycle. imo they need a physical winger. Jones, Harti, whoever.
Anyway some comments on the pairing. Gagner predictably held huge respect for smyth and serviced him continually with passes(too much) and was giving Smyth the puck a lot. I thought Gagner needed to work the give and go better and pass and then get into a position. Gagner instead was playing puck support(not a bad thing) but instead of getting into positions for close in shots. I suspect this being due to Gagners lack of goal scoring confidence. I also wanted to see Gagner showing more confidence with the puck and hanging onto it a bit more. I thought he was overly reliant on Smyth in the game.
Overall the pair played well enough together. Unfortunately they had lost in space Hemsky circling around aimlessly firing *passes* in any random direction which wasn't helping maintain puck control..
I want Smyth Gagner Jones. Make it happen Renney.
That is a great second line. Demote Horc/Hemmer to third.
Smyth needs to set up his office in front of the net again, and get someone to feed him. He hasn't scored in...forever.
Wow it's incredible how bad we are now that bulin and our D are back to earth.
Bulin is still playing great. It's the defense that is the problem. Did Khabi have a chance on any of the goals scored on him last night? I don't think so.
Last night, with the exception of the fourth line, the minutes were distributed much more evenly, with Smyth getting the most of all the forwards..
I like Smitty. But here is my issue at some point he needs to come out for at least 2 games every so often. I think I already see a bit of the tiredness of being an everyday player. He has a heart of a lion but but to be an effective player he needs to have a rest once in a while. The biggest question. Who in the Oil is going to take those games. The oil still need to build more depth cause I don't see a ready replacement.
