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Hangin' with Mr. Cooper?

June 10, 2012, 6:27 PM ET [96 Comments]
Richard Cloutier
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Ever wonder why the Oilers haven't hired Brent Sutter yet to be the new Head Coach? It's because the team has been waiting to see if there's a better, less Suttery option. And yes, there's a great one: Head Coach of the Norfolk Admirals Jon Cooper.

Coop. Coop-a-Loop. Welcome to the Edmonton Oilers. Now do that magic thing you do that makes every team you touch a winner.

Yes, the Oilers have hinted that they want/need an experienced NHL coach to take over. What else are they suppose to say? It's like Tambellini's comments last season about the Oilers challenging for a playoff spot. He has to say things like that, because if he doesn't, he could be accused of being honest and straight-forward with the fan base. Nobody wants to hear it. Being honest? How boring. Tambi wants to be consider "mysterious". Get more dates that way.

The Oilers need to hire someone new to the NHL. Why? Because they're a bunch of kids. Can you imagine what a Sutter would do to the mood in the Oilers dressing room? The vets would play, and the kids would sit. The kids ARE the Edmonton Oilers. The vets? They aren't a factor. Time to bring in someone with a Midas touch who can grow up with the Oilers players. Hire a coach that's actually going to be part of the team, not part of the establishment. Cooper could be the new Glenn Sather. The cool Edmonton Slats; not the lunatic Slats he became once he moved to New York.

Cooper...regardless what league he's coached in, he's turned teams around in a huge way. So what if he's had no NHL experience? He's a winner. He's won with professional teams at various levels. Coaching isn't rocket surgery and genius is genius. Tambellini needs to get permission from the Lightning to talk to this guy, needs to bring him to Edmonton, and needs to beg him to take the job here. Squeeze out some tears if you have you, Steve.

I won't quote you a bunch of stats on Jon Cooper's career as a coach. You can look that up for yourselves. All I will say is, he has this habit of taking teams that were -100 goals one season, and turning them into teams that are +100 goals a year or two later.

Additional Oilers Notes for this Sunday:

- Darcy Hordichuk says he wants to stay with the Oilers. I like Hordi as a guy, but I can't think of a single reason to re-sign him.

- Taylor Fedun is resuming normal training this summer, and will be ready to play at training camp. He's still experiencing a lack of strength in the leg he broke, but strength will return as he rebuilds the muscle mass he lost while the leg was immobile.

- Still hearing Justin Schultz is considering Edmonton an option. Schultz can begin to negotiate with all NHL teams starting on June 24th, but can't sign a deal until July 1st.

- Starting to look like there is a fairly good chance Ryan Smyth won't be returning to Edmonton, as both sides are stuck on term. Oilers wouldn't mind a one-year deal, but the Smyth camp wants multiple years. He'll sign in Calgary if he can't get things done with the Oilers. Yikes, will he ever get boo'ed in Edmonton when he visits if that happens.

- Watch for the Oilers to try and acquire a 2nd - 1st round pick at the draft. The Oilers have a big interest in Henrik Sameulsson and realize they'll need to move up from #31 to get him.

- The Oilers might also try to draft another Oil Kings player, Mitchell Moroz. He's a 4th round talent, but the Oilers might use a 3rd round pick on him to make sure they don't miss out. It is hoped Moroz will develop into a Milan Lucic-type winger.
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