|
Edmonton Oilers - An Outsider's Perspective |
|
|
|
|
|
As a fan of the NHL and someone who gets paid to write about it, I obviously try to follow the news as much as possible, keep up on all the latest events, signings trades etc. This leads to me reading and watching a ton of hockey - I mean there are so many options available to the NHL fan, that as a blogger it quite literally pays to stay informed.
One thing that taking in so much information does, however, is it limits your scope. I write mainly about the Coyotes so I spend a lot of the time I have available to read about the NHL trying to find out things about them. I live in Toronto, so I have to pay attention to the Leafs as well. After that, there is "big news" which I obviously follow, and hockey pool related news, but then it starts to thin out in the sense that if you devote so much of your time following two teams, you might slack a little in your knowledge about others. What I mean is that if you certainly can't know everything about every team (at least not if you're only a part time writer; I have an other job and several children, so there's a whole chicken/egg thing going on about if you spend the time necessary to become an expert, you might find yourself with a full-time gig, but if you have a part-time gig, where do you find the time to become an expert etc. )
Feel Free To Skip Rambling Introduction and Start Reading Here!
So my point here is that I was legitimately surprised to find out from talking to an Oilers writer the other day the level of frustration their fans are feeling. I just assumed they were happy with the fact that had stacked their team with young potential superstars and were just sitting back waiting for the cask to age properly.
I remember when Craig MacTavish was hired and "Bold Moves" were promised. Have they occurred? I think so, but it seems many do not. It seems many people think Oilers have terrible management and a loser coach.
I was, in fact, blown away by the overwhelming level of negativity I perceived when my original conversation prompted me to look into this further.
Anyways, here's an outsider's perspective on the Oilers.
On the Team in General
Looking at the Oilers, I don't see why there is such malaise around the team. Fans of Florida, the Leafs, The Islanders, the Coyotes, Flames and the Blue Jackets have all suffered similarly in recent years and at least the Oilers tasted some success as recently as 2006, which none of the other dud teams can really say. No one else can brag about having three first-overall picks on their team either.
Also, of those teams, with the possible exception of the Islanders, no one comes close to the roster and it's potential of the Oilers. So, sure it's been a rough ride, and I think people expected the playoffs by now, but things are about to get amazing in Edmonton.
Think: They expected their team to already be competitive and they are yet to get meaningful contributions from Yakupov, Shultz, Nurse and (one assumes) Ekblad.
This team is going to dominate the NHL for years to come. That's my prediction. The level of talent on a single team has not been seen in the salary cap era. Even the Blackhawks who can boast Towes-Kane-Hossa-Sharpe will be jealous of RNH-Eberle-Hall-Yakupov. Think about it: Gagner and Perron as your fifth and sixth best forwards? That is insane.
While people are rightfully frustrated, I think the last year was a blessing. The Oilers weren't supposed to draft 3rd overall this year. This was the year nearly everyone picked them to challenge in the West. More than one publication predicted them to win their division. So, third in the west to third last in the NHL is a bit of a drop, I get that.
No one expected Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to be whatever it was he was this year. Of the Oilers' players, he is supposed to be the best. He had that shoulder issue and I doubt if he was ever 100% all year. Maybe it was the softmore slump. He played 80 games and got 56 points. Just by doing nothing, the Oilers can reasonably expect to improve next year just by the fact that their best player is a good bet to literally double his point production.
Then there is Sam Gagner: This guy was nearly a point-per-game guy two years ago. Yes he is everyone's favorite trade chip, but why would they sell low on him? He was absolutely destroyed in the pre-season and was ineffective when he came back. He also happens to be just 24. Gagner is a player and the Oilers should keep him. You just don't get #2 centres of his calibre all that often.
Too much is made about size. Gagner and Perron are both over 200 lbs. Hall plays like a maniac. RNH's has so much skill that his size is irrelevant. To me, the Oilers should worry about some 3rd and 4th line size and just realize that they have a top six that can be dominate for the next ten years.
Hall- RNH - Eberle - This will be the BEST line in hockey within 2 years.
Perron - Gagner - Yakupov This could be the best second line in hockey.
The only thing stopping pure domination from the Oilers is time, patience and some injuries, which, since they resulted in another top draft pick, were almost fortunate.
MacTavish
From where I am sitting, MacTavish has done a great job. His "bold moves" are, to me, more about what he has not done. He could simply have looked at his roster and decided that enough was enough, and made some big plays in order to make the playoffs, or at least be more competitive.
Jordan Eberle, Sam Gagner and Nail Yakupov have been constantly in trade rumours for at least the last year- year and a half. It would be so easy for MacTavish to trade one of them to shore up his defense, goaltending or veteran leadership (something that is probably B.S but it's an accepted "fact" that you need it - enter Andrew Ference etc.)
To his credit, the GM has kept all of his young studs and mostly worked on acquiring complimentary players. I was surprised to learn that since taking over, he has turned over almost half the roster.
One thing you have to give him credit for is the David Perron trade. It was an absolute steal and there is really no question about it.
Also, I really like that he acquired Matt Hendricks and Boyd Gordon. These guys make the Oilers tough to play against and you have to figure with an absolutely stacked group of young forwards, the Oilers will have more than enough offense.
Also, getting a free pick for the Bryzgalov moves and coming out with a decent tandem of Fasth and Scrivens also looks very good on him. The nature of goaltending being what it is, I think these moves are genius, since the Hawks and Wings - and in the negative - the Blues, have pretty much shown that spending big (assets or money) on a goalie isn't the best thing a franchise can do.
So, my take on Mac- T is that his "Bold Moves" have come in the form of doing nothing major. And that his less bold, more minor moves have all been to the good. From where I am sitting, I can't see anything terrible he has done. Sure Hendricks has a bit of a silly contract, but I don't see that killing them. And I am not sure, but I don't think Ference really brought what they thought he would, and the Smid trade was weird (but probably he knows more about hockey than me, so I can guess there was more to that than I know).
Overall, from this outsider's perspective, I give MacTavish an A+ in his first year on the job for not bailing on any of his stars and for the Perron trade and the goalie moves.
Coaching
I don't care about coaching. Dallas Eakins will prove to be a decent NHL coach, and I feel the hate towards him is just lightening rod style frustration at an easy target. I could Cito Gaston this team to the Cup when it's ready, so who cares?
Defense
If the Oilers do in fact get Ekblad - and honestly, if they promise to pick him, it couldn't really cost that much to flip picks with whoever ends up 1-2 - then what is perceived as a weakness is suddenly a strength.
How many teams would be jealous of a young defense built around Ekblad, Nurse, Klefbom and J.Shultz? I am guessing 27 - only the Islanders and Coyotes would feel their youth on the back-end was superior.
Best Move Going Forward
The NHL is dominated by same-as-it-ever-was thinking. That means that because the Oilers finished 3rd last this year, then people will expect them to be terrible next year. If the Oilers want to add a top pairing defenseman that they desperately need,then they have a trading chip that has a ton of value and will cost them nothing:
Their 2015 first round draft pick.
The Oilers can gamble that they will make the playoffs next year and trade their pick in what is said to be the best draft in years. Teams will look at that pick and think it has the value of a potential lottery pick. The Oilers should think outside the box and move that pick in this off-season to a team like the Jets or Flames for a player like Byfuglien or Giordano, just for example.
Overall
The only thing stopping this team will be if management starts taking advice from fans. It might take another year before the pieces on the back-end are as NHL ready as they need to be, but if next year means the playoffs (which I guarantee) then, barring any panic moves, and granting a little luck, this team should win a Cup withing 3-5 years and should almost immediately challenge LA, Chicago and St. Louis for top of the West.
So, to that loser who through his jersey on the ice, and to everyone else who's a little freaked out about another near last place finish, I say relax. You have the best young players in hockey by a mile and will soon take your rightful place as one of the best teams in the NHL. The only question is will this be a dynasty?
Thanks for reading.
Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»