The game is played 5x5 most of the time so this is a minor consolation for me.
The players you mentioned are the only thing that's keeping me from really hating this team. And I love the Hemsky signing despite my frustration with his injuries. I never really thought he looked disinterested.
I don't give a crap about stats. The only thing I care about is the fact that they are 29th and will remain there. And the worst thing is that Tambellini is the kind of GM that lacks the nut sack to do something creative and exciting at the draft and the Oilers will end up taking another forward despite the glaring weakness in goal and on defense. I hope Tambellini will be entertaining offers for this pick. If not, I'd like to hear his plan to shore up the defense/goalies.
You realize this and previous posts smack of impatience. Having better special teams isn't a minor consolation, it is the essence of getting better. There are lots of examples of rebuilds, this is no different...just add time and patience (and a goalie haha) and the Oil will start worrying about where they will be seeded and not if they will make it.
You realize this and previous posts smack of impatience.
Impatience? Wow. I can't believe I just read that. When was the last time the Oilers were a good team, apart for those few months in the spring of 2006?
Please...enough losing. I was driving home tonight listening to the Senators pre-game show. They were talking about how the Sens are "rebuilding". Funny how they were bad for one year and now there's actually a good chance they'll make the playoffs. I think I like the Senators method better.
I'm sorry but I cannot accept that rebuilding is 5 or 6 years of suck. 2 years of finishing 30th, fine. They have massive amounts of injuries which played a big part. But this year, finishing 29th is inexcusable and jobs need to be lost and contracts not renewed.
The game is played 5x5 most of the time so this is a minor consolation for me.
The players you mentioned are the only thing that's keeping me from really hating this team. And I love the Hemsky signing despite my frustration with his injuries. I never really thought he looked disinterested.
I don't give a crap about stats. The only thing I care about is the fact that they are 29th and will remain there. And the worst thing is that Tambellini is the kind of GM that lacks the nut sack to do something creative and exciting at the draft and the Oilers will end up taking another forward despite the glaring weakness in goal and on defense. I hope Tambellini will be entertaining offers for this pick. If not, I'd like to hear his plan to shore up the defense/goalies.
Impatience? Wow. I can't believe I just read that. When was the last time the Oilers were a good team, apart for those few months in the spring of 2006?
Please...enough losing. I was driving home tonight listening to the Senators pre-game show. They were talking about how the Sens are "rebuilding". Funny how they were bad for one year and now there's actually a good chance they'll make the playoffs. I think I like the Senators method better.
I'm sorry but I cannot accept that rebuilding is 5 or 6 years of suck. 2 years of finishing 30th, fine. They have massive amounts of injuries which played a big part. But this year, finishing 29th is inexcusable and jobs need to be lost and contracts not renewed.
Ottawa? really?
We have a late 20s Jason Spezza type player in this lineup? A hall of fame winger? A defensemen of the caliber Erik Karlsson or Gonchar anywhere in this organization at any level?
You're deluding yourself if you really think the Oilers finishing 30th 2 years in a row had anything to do with injuries. The Oilers have had probably had the worst mix of overrated vets for half a decade in the NHL now. They played above their head for a few years there and managed to finish out of the top 5, but they were always hovering over a trapdoor from 2008 onward.
The Oilers are right where they should be with this kind of lineup, anyone that expected the Oilers to make a run at the playoffs this year - or even next - has more issues with managing their own expectations than the Oilers do with managing the team.
All going according to plan, organization is improving at the NHL and AHL level and many of the drafted picks are looking promising in Junior as well.
slow and steady 4-6 year rebuild plan" implemented by Tambo/Lowe an A+ so far.
Sure some of the peasants are revolting in the villages... but they'll be appeased in time as further small improvements are made each season until everyone is basking annually in the sparkly gleam of multiple Stanley Cups... well that's the rainbows and sunshine dream anyway... TBD if it actually has that fairy tale ending... but so far, so good.
What happens if we're battling for 30th again next year?
I certainly didn't see us in danger of finishing last an unprecedented third year in a row this season. It's inexcusable regardless of the circumstances and contrary to popular belief it's a very, very difficult thing to accomplish. It takes a special kind of incompetence.
This year is an unmitigated failure outside of the special teams and if Tambellini is rewarded with an extension I hope that the fan response is appropriate.
IMO a full rebuild, like what the Oilers are going through, takes 3-5 years. The end of this year will be year 3 (fall for hall=year 1, hall's rookie year=year 2, Nuge's rookie year=year 3). Petry has been an awesome surprise and I hope he makes the same progress he made this year so we have a legitimate top pairing defenseman (he made huge strides but he still isn't a top pairing guy).
Next year I hope we contend for the playoffs, although I am not expecting us to make it. We need to solidify our defense, and goaltending and define roles for our veterans. finally, and maybe most importantly, we need our players to stay healthy. We do not have the depth to contend with injuries to our players. If gagner goes down for a few games I dont mind seeing horcoff on the 2nd line but any extended period of time, where horcoff is playing more than 16 minutes a night, the oilers are going to be in an all too familiar position once again
IMO they need to put together a team that can compete for the playoffs next season. The final pieces have to come together this offseason or this team will never be able to stay together long enough to win a cup. Not saying they need to be cup contenders, all i want is to go into the season and have the general consensus be that the Oilers will be contenders to make the playoffs.
I've been fine with the last 3 seasons of losing. We all knew what the rebuild would bring. The last 2 years have been about development and not about winning, if that doesn't change this off season then we have some serious problems.
We only have one more season of Hall and Eberle on their ELC's they will be getting 5.5 or 6 million each, maybe more. RNH needs to be resigned the year after, and then possibly the year after our 2012 draft pick needs a new contract too. this team is going to get very expensive very fast and we don't even have respectable defense or goaltending yet.
That's why winning needs to become a focus next season, or the window will close.
What happens if we're battling for 30th again next year?
I certainly didn't see us in danger of finishing last an unprecedented third year in a row this season. It's inexcusable regardless of the circumstances and contrary to popular belief it's a very, very difficult thing to accomplish. It takes a special kind of incompetence.
This year is an unmitigated failure outside of the special teams and if Tambellini is rewarded with an extension I hope that the fan response is appropriate.
Agreed, coouldn't have said it better myself. This incompetence has to end already. I'm sick and tired of it, I want progress and I want playoffs.
So, we all understand that this team was ripped to shreds, and we are re-buidling this team particuarly through the draft. Yes, re-building a team into a winning NHL team does not happen over night.
But how long can we keep forgiving our place in the standings, before we say, you know what, our problem isn't our youth or inexperience, it's other factors (such as coaching or certain veteran players)?
We have had two 1st overall picks, the 2 time MVP of the Canadian Juniors, the MVP of the Swedish Junior team, and pretty solid goaltender in Khabby.
Ken Hitchock quote before the most recent blues vs oilers game:
Reporter: "Are you telling your players to not look past this Oiler team, regardless of where they are in the standings?" Ken: "We all know that Edmonton is under a rebuilding phase, and they have oustanding offensive talent with an incredible future. But I don't know if rebuilding can be the recurring theme for this franchise. Our team is almost exactly the same in terms of average age. It comes to how well you manage the puck. If you can manage the puck responsibly, everything else will fall into place."
I would give my left pinky for Ken to come and coach our team
We simply cannot rely only on the draft to get competitive. Although we might have some bright defensive prospects, they are a few years away from being effective. Our defense is hurting and lagging behind our offensive lineup. I don't know if Dubnyk is a true starting goalie in this league, with any bright prospects not apparent in our system right now.
There are other teams in the league with elite players, (eg Tampa Bay, Colorado, LA and Philadelphia to name a few) that are better than our players right now, and they still are not true contenders! And there are teams with lesser elite talent than we have that are doing much better than we are! Better coaching?? I think so.
A lot of glaring holes-poor faceoff team; substandard defensive four; shaky goaltending, and the lack of a solid system play. We have to recruit a better supporting cast for our offensive prospects. But attracting good role players via the free agent market is difficult to do in Edmonton. Teams like Philly, Boston, Detroit, and the Rangers seem to have no trouble attracting talent. A few years ago, Boston was the lowest scoring team in the league, and they manged to astutely draft the players needed to become a top contender. If we do not become a solid well rounded team in the next few years we risk losing our top end talent as they conclude their entry level contracts.
Impatience? Wow. I can't believe I just read that. When was the last time the Oilers were a good team, apart for those few months in the spring of 2006?
Please...enough losing. I was driving home tonight listening to the Senators pre-game show. They were talking about how the Sens are "rebuilding". Funny how they were bad for one year and now there's actually a good chance they'll make the playoffs. I think I like the Senators method better.
I'm sorry but I cannot accept that rebuilding is 5 or 6 years of suck. 2 years of finishing 30th, fine. They have massive amounts of injuries which played a big part. But this year, finishing 29th is inexcusable and jobs need to be lost and contracts not renewed.
Core of veterans
OTT: Spezza, Alfredsson, Gonchar
EDM: ...
OTT is the school book example of why it is crucial to have a strong core of veterans on your team no matter how talented your kids are...
EDIT: Oops, that was already posted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarus
Ottawa? really?
We have a late 20s Jason Spezza type player in this lineup? A hall of fame winger? A defensemen of the caliber Erik Karlsson or Gonchar anywhere in this organization at any level?
You're deluding yourself if you really think the Oilers finishing 30th 2 years in a row had anything to do with injuries. The Oilers have had probably had the worst mix of overrated vets for half a decade in the NHL now. They played above their head for a few years there and managed to finish out of the top 5, but they were always hovering over a trapdoor from 2008 onward.
The Oilers are right where they should be with this kind of lineup, anyone that expected the Oilers to make a run at the playoffs this year - or even next - has more issues with managing their own expectations than the Oilers do with managing the team.
Impatience? Wow. I can't believe I just read that. When was the last time the Oilers were a good team, apart for those few months in the spring of 2006?
Please...enough losing. I was driving home tonight listening to the Senators pre-game show. They were talking about how the Sens are "rebuilding". Funny how they were bad for one year and now there's actually a good chance they'll make the playoffs. I think I like the Senators method better.
I'm sorry but I cannot accept that rebuilding is 5 or 6 years of suck. 2 years of finishing 30th, fine. They have massive amounts of injuries which played a big part. But this year, finishing 29th is inexcusable and jobs need to be lost and contracts not renewed.
For real. If waiting 6+ years just to make to playoffs without complaining until now, is impatience, then 'call me Susan'
Many of us wanted a full out rebuild after 2006 but were shouted down with anger by many of the same posters in this thread(you know who you are so I won't point it out).
People laugh at the Flames but what I can see so far is alot of you would be happy be an also ran year after year with a terrible prospect and developmental system just like we had for oh so long.
Ill take a few years of pain to get out of the mediocrity.
Many of us wanted a full out rebuild after 2006 but were shouted down with anger by many of the same posters in this thread(you know who you are so I won't point it out).
People laugh at the Flames but what I can see so far is alot of you would be happy be an also ran year after year with a terrible prospect and developmental system just like we had for oh so long.
Ill take a few years of pain to get out of the mediocrity.
I'd just like to point out that our developmental system would have been fixed with the new owner no matter who was GM of the team. The EIG couldnt afford an AHL team and thats why we'd be shipping prospects off to Pittsburgh's or Montreal's farm teams respectfully. And Calgary's prospect pool sucks because they've given up a ton of picks in the last 6 years.
What happens if we're battling for 30th again next year?
I certainly didn't see us in danger of finishing last an unprecedented third year in a row this season. It's inexcusable regardless of the circumstances and contrary to popular belief it's a very, very difficult thing to accomplish. It takes a special kind of incompetence.
This year is an unmitigated failure outside of the special teams and if Tambellini is rewarded with an extension I hope that the fan response is appropriate.
What made you think this team would be out of the bottom 3 this year compared to last? Really, was the addition of Belanger, Barker and Potter going to pull us out of the hole?
The kids are better, and compared to last year, we are more competitive looking at goals for and against. Please explain how this year's team was supposed to be far superior to last years team though?
I'd just like to point out that our developmental system would have been fixed with the new owner no matter who was GM of the team. The EIG couldnt afford an AHL team and thats why we'd be shipping prospects off to Pittsburgh's or Montreal's farm teams respectfully. And Calgary's prospect pool sucks because they've given up a ton of picks in the last 6 years.
No this current management the one with Tambs has done that. Not the one with Lowe in charge. He didn't do squat with it. Alot of teams view it as secondary and chase UFAs instead.
And Calgary hasn't had a lot of picks in the last 6 years because they are chasing rainbows and ignoring the flaws in their team. Just like so many people here want to do. I get the feeling most people would be happy just missing the playoffs year after year without the hope of ever being a dominate team.
"Oh well, we almost did it! Better luck next year!".
No this current management the one with Tambs has done that. Not the one with Lowe in charge. He didn't do squat with it. Alot of teams view it as secondary and chase UFAs instead.
And Calgary hasn't had a lot of picks in the last 6 years because they are chasing rainbows and ignoring the flaws in their team. Just like so many people here want to do. I get the feeling most people would be happy just missing the playoffs year after year without the hope of ever being a dominate team.
"Oh well, we almost did it! Better luck next year!".
That's the point, Lowe never had a chance to start an AHL team because the EIG couldn't afford it, and he was "promoted" once Katz took over. Not sure how you could blame him for that, especially after considering that we had a lot of players come through who have had decent NHL careers that Lowe drafted.
That's the point, Lowe never had a chance to start an AHL team because the EIG couldn't afford it, and he was "promoted" once Katz took over. Not sure how you could blame him for that, especially after considering that we had a lot of players come through who have had decent NHL careers that Lowe drafted.
I think alot of the fault lies with Lowe and his inept scouting staff but the point is the Oilers were doing what Calgary is doing right now which was hover year in and year out around 10 to 8. Not an elite team nor a bad one. We missed out on alot of top end talent after 2006 trying to be just good enough.
I think alot of the fault lies with Lowe and his inept scouting staff but the point is the Oilers were doing what Calgary is doing right now which was hover year in and year out around 10 to 8. Not an elite team nor a bad one. We missed out on alot of top end talent after 2006 trying to be just good enough.
The Oilers had a decent scouting staff through the 2000's despite what your saying. The point I'm making is that its remarkable any of our prospects turned out given that we couldn't afford a AHL team to develop them on. And what Edmonton used to do and what Calgary is doing are two very different things. Edmonton used to sell off its talented players at the deadline even if they were in a playoff position because they couldn't afford to keep them around, while Calgary is holding onto there vets and trading all there picks trying to acquire talent for a run. Edmonton did that twice in the last 10 years. Every other year they've been trading their best players for picks/prospects, and thats the major reason we've been last in the league for almost 3 years running.
The Oilers had a decent scouting staff through the 2000's despite what your saying. The point I'm making is that its remarkable any of our prospects turned out given that we couldn't afford a AHL team to develop them on. And what Edmonton used to do and what Calgary is doing are two very different things. Edmonton used to sell off its talented players at the deadline even if they were in a playoff position because they couldn't afford to keep them around, while Calgary is holding onto there vets and trading all there picks trying to acquire talent for a run. Edmonton did that twice in the last 10 years. Every other year they've been trading their best players for picks/prospects, and thats the major reason we've been last in the league for almost 3 years running.
Most top end talent never plays any significant amount of time in the AHL so having a good AHL team can help you develop some depth players or you can sign them as free agents since they are relatively cheap. Maybe it helps developing goaltenders and defencemen but even that's not a given top guys get maybe a cup of coffee in the A. Farm teams are overrated.
Wow there are a lot of suckers posting in this thread. Rebuilding does take longer than 2 years but there is a problem with the rebuild when the team could potentially pick #1 overall 3 years in a row.
Rebuild should also mean improvement and I just don't see it.
Have they not got one more win than they did ALL last season?
Most top end talent never plays any significant amount of time in the AHL so having a good AHL team can help you develop some depth players or you can sign them as free agents since they are relatively cheap. Maybe it helps developing goaltenders and defencemen but even that's not a given top guys get maybe a cup of coffee in the A. Farm teams are overrated.
This is about as wrong as wrong can be.
Just looking at the Bruins last season they have pretty much every player spend at least 1 year in the AHL or more. The only guys who didn't were Lucic,Seguin and Horton.
It is weird that people think an AHL team is NOT important when the genesis of the current Oiler team comes from no developmental system in place for a number of years
The team the Oilers should be emulating is Nashville not Detroit. A team that will have a hard time getting premier FAs but has a superb drafting and development record
They are also a cap-savvy team delivering the most bang for their buck. The Oilers are basically the opposite on that score; still are.
Quote:
It is weird that people think an AHL team is NOT important when the genesis of the current Oiler team comes from no developmental system in place for a number of years.
It's not not important. It's just not as important as some make it out to be. I mean, one poster earlier suggested that merely having an AHL team was sufficient grounds to consider Tambo a better GM than Lowe. That's just nuts IMO.
Having an AHL team is better than not having one, but I'd argue that's setting the bar for success mighty damn low.
haha) and the Oil will start worrying about where they will be seeded and not if they will make it.
