Allow me to be Captain Obvious for a moment: The Oilers finished last in 2009/2010. It wasn't even close. They sucked. We've discussed the reasons why it happened a 1,000 times already. Too many injuries; too many bad attitudes belonging to players; Coaches Quinn and Renney didn't play well together, and Quinn lost the room half-way through the season because of it. The Oilers roster in itself was the biggest issue with the team. Even without the injuries, had too many holes. Too many small defenseman and small forwards, no one who could win a faceoff, too many lazy players who wouldn't try or seem concerned about losing...the list of what stunk in Edmonton in 2009/2010 was long.

But all of this being said, I can't be the only one in the hockey world that noticed the Oilers season could have finished differently: Before Hemsky and Khabby went down; before as many as 11 starters in one game were gone with injuries and illness; before the conflict between the coaches and the never-ending moaning and complaining started, the Oilers for the first 20 games of the season looked to be a reasonable hockey team. Out of the playoffs still? Sure. But definitely not the worst team in the league.

I will get to the point of the blog: TSN is pissing me off, and I need to vent.

They started running the other day on their website the "Power Rankings Pre-Season," 30 teams in 30 days thing. Edmonton was ranked 30th, and considering how they finished last season, 30th is a fair place to start on the list. But there is a flaw in this. A team that sucks one season won't necessarily suck the next. Anyone who spent time objectively observing the Oilers this off-season realizes this is not a 30th place team.

There are a number of bad teams right now in the NHL. The Oilers are not alone in respect to being bad. In my estimation, teams on the "bad" list currently include the Panthers, Thrashers, Islanders, Rangers, Leafs, and Hurricanes in the East, and the Oilers, Stars, Blue Jackets and Wild in the West. If you want to get more specific about it:

Really Bad Teams (in no specific order)

1. Florida Panthers - No one to score goals. Perhaps the worst forwards group in the league. Defense has a few good youngsters and but there are no star players. Goaltender Vokoun is a $3mil goalie with a $5.7mil cap hit.

2. Carolina Hurricanes - A team with only three good players, even if they are Eric Staal, Tuumo Ruuto and Cam Ward, is doomed. The rest of the team is a trainwreck, lacking depth at all positions. If Staal or Ward gets hurt, the 'Canes will be drafting first in June 2011.

3. New York Islanders - Another team with depth problems at all positions. The good news about the Islanders is that they have significant young talent developing, so they won't suck forever.


Bad Teams (in no specific order)

1. Edmonton Oilers - Lots of NHL-ready players on roster, but no clarity on how many of them are ready to play in the top six this season. Lots of young players means inconsistancy and steaky play. The goaltending situation is shakey; the defensive group still contains malcontent Souray. But why are the Oilers better than being REALLY BAD? Too much depth to lose every game. Rookies or no rookies, the Oilers offense is decent. The team is a frak of alot bigger than last season, as they added size and grit in the off-season. The negativity amongst the players is gone, and the coaching group might be the best ever assembled in Edmonton. Ralph Krueger is going to make a ton of difference to how this team prepares and plays.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs - They are the anti-Oilers. Edmonton has depth on offense, but the Leafs on defense and in goal. And just like the Oilers, it could be feast or famine this season. If the Leafs can squeeze enough offense out Phil Kessel and their 11 other 3rd liners, it will be a good season. If Kessel goes down and if the offense struggles, it could be 30th place in TO. It is most likely that the Leafs will improve four to six positions in the standings, just like the Oilers will by the end of the season.

I will stop with team analysis now, because as the blog title suggests, this is not really an attempt to explain why the Oilers are better than a 30th ranking. This blog is about why TROC (The Rest of Canada) hates the Maple Leafs.

It's a bit unfair, this hating. It isn't the team or the players fault that the fans of Leaf Nation and the media of the city has no objectivity when it comes to their team. I've said a kajillion times I like many of the Leafs players, and even though I think Brian Burke is a jerk on a personal level, he's done amazing things to turn the ship around. The Leafs will be a very good team in a few seasons.

What am I reading today? Dion Phaneuf promising the Leafs will be in the playoffs? I expect that of Phanuef, as he is cocky. I also expect the media to cover that sort of comment, but the coverage I expect should be more mocking in nature. Sorta like, "Oh crap, Dion gave us the kiss of death. A player is promising playoffs. That's always death."

Instead of media sarcasm over such a pointless, useless statement by Phanuef, the comments from Toronto media I am reading treat this like great words from a great leader. Like The Babe pointing to the left wall before hitting a home run, or Messier scoring a hat-trick in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Can the Leafs make the playoffs in 2011? Sure. They have about as much chance as the Oilers to do, and considering last season, me saying this is not an insult. Phaneuf has talent, but he is no Ruth or Messier. It's great that he wants to be a leader in Toronto, but considering his experience in Calgary, he has a long way to go to establish a positive reputation before he could be taken seriously as a great leader.

The Oilers starting 30th on the Pre-Season Power Rankings makes sense if Toronto is 29th, and if the rankings are based on how teams finished last season. If the ratings are based on what the teams did in the off-season, and how the rosters are comparing as they sit now, Edmonton isn't 30th, and Toronto would be listed (they still aren't, and we're past team #25 already).

If the Toronto-based sports "media" are going to be so biased, they need to take up blogging, where that type of behaviour is not only tolerated, but is encouraged. If you think I don't get a charge writing stuff I know is going to make Leafs fans go mental, you haven't hung out with me much.

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