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Edmonton Oilers Blogger •
There are distinct similarities and contrasts between packing up your gear after a deep run into the playoffs and failing to qualify at all.
Unless your hoisting the silver mug above your head or planning parades in June, the pain and disappointment experienced by an NHL player is distinct -– unmistakeable. By contrast, missing the dance all together is unforgivable for an athlete, whose worth and fulfillment is undoubtedly measured by the concept of “team success”.
The Edmonton Oilers and their loyal fans have had more than their fare share of the latter situation, which unfolded again like clock work earlier today at Rexall Place.
Players arrived, cleared out their lockers, posed for the obligatory team photo, signed countless paraphernalia for team fundraisers and faced the music with local media one last time, before heading for the hills with their tales between their legs.
Wishing he were jumping on a jet bound for, well, anywhere frankly, was embattled Head Coach Craig MacTavish. The Oilers’ bench boss is no stranger to this post-season funeral procession, having missed the playoffs five out of eight seasons under his tutelage.
Yet, oddly enough, there was little remorse, and even fewer apologies served up by Edmonton’s veteran strategist. In fact, MacT professed to having “few regrets with the way he handled the team this season.”
Read between the lines, and arguably, one could sense a coach looking for reasons, even excuses, for his team’s continued failure and lack of progress.
Team size, lack of physical fortitude and “team culture” were all offered up by a coach whose future remains in limbo – at least until the end of the week.
Without question, the Oil’s roster requires an injection of size and grit, as Edmonton was exposed by good and suspect squads alike this campaign, who preyed on a soft Oilers’ line-up.
The “team culture’ comment delivered by a greying head coach, however, is clearly the most damning. The Oilers are a hockey institution – not only to fans of the NHL’s most northern outpost but across the league.
Regardless of the outcome, facing off against the copper and blue over much of the last 30 years meant 20x3 hockey – 60 minutes of hard nosed, hard fought, end-to-end hockey.
Unparalleled work ethic, win or lose, typically reflective of a team’s coaching staff and the demands placed on their players.
Suddenly, this season, that “culture” was absent on more nights than not, a stark contrast from a legacy defined by such character – a trend that’s been gaining speed behind MacT’s direction.
MacTavish, however, is not alone in rebuke. Edmonton CEO of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe must also be judged by the on-ice product, having assembled the current cast.
The accords tabled are equally questionable to the players whose signatures adorn them. Horcoff, Penner, Pisani, and of course, a multi-year $4M deal thick in nepitism for a coach who’s leadership spells three trips to the post-season over an eight-year tenure.
The record speaks for itself!
As a player, MacT was well aware of the expected “culture” in this organization – he helped define it. Half-assed efforts are not well regarded. The patience of the fan base, however, is quite remarkable.
Throughout MacT’s tenure, the pendulum has begun to swing the other way – an organizational patience has been replaced by an acceptance of mediocrity.
The time for change in Oil Country is without question upon us – the fork in the road is distinct.
Whether Katz, KLowe and MacT will take the right path to breathe life into a team’s dying culture remains to be seen.
Unless your hoisting the silver mug above your head or planning parades in June, the pain and disappointment experienced by an NHL player is distinct -– unmistakeable. By contrast, missing the dance all together is unforgivable for an athlete, whose worth and fulfillment is undoubtedly measured by the concept of “team success”.
The Edmonton Oilers and their loyal fans have had more than their fare share of the latter situation, which unfolded again like clock work earlier today at Rexall Place.
Players arrived, cleared out their lockers, posed for the obligatory team photo, signed countless paraphernalia for team fundraisers and faced the music with local media one last time, before heading for the hills with their tales between their legs.
Wishing he were jumping on a jet bound for, well, anywhere frankly, was embattled Head Coach Craig MacTavish. The Oilers’ bench boss is no stranger to this post-season funeral procession, having missed the playoffs five out of eight seasons under his tutelage.
Yet, oddly enough, there was little remorse, and even fewer apologies served up by Edmonton’s veteran strategist. In fact, MacT professed to having “few regrets with the way he handled the team this season.”
Read between the lines, and arguably, one could sense a coach looking for reasons, even excuses, for his team’s continued failure and lack of progress.
Team size, lack of physical fortitude and “team culture” were all offered up by a coach whose future remains in limbo – at least until the end of the week.
Without question, the Oil’s roster requires an injection of size and grit, as Edmonton was exposed by good and suspect squads alike this campaign, who preyed on a soft Oilers’ line-up.
The “team culture’ comment delivered by a greying head coach, however, is clearly the most damning. The Oilers are a hockey institution – not only to fans of the NHL’s most northern outpost but across the league.
Regardless of the outcome, facing off against the copper and blue over much of the last 30 years meant 20x3 hockey – 60 minutes of hard nosed, hard fought, end-to-end hockey.
Unparalleled work ethic, win or lose, typically reflective of a team’s coaching staff and the demands placed on their players.
Suddenly, this season, that “culture” was absent on more nights than not, a stark contrast from a legacy defined by such character – a trend that’s been gaining speed behind MacT’s direction.
MacTavish, however, is not alone in rebuke. Edmonton CEO of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe must also be judged by the on-ice product, having assembled the current cast.
The accords tabled are equally questionable to the players whose signatures adorn them. Horcoff, Penner, Pisani, and of course, a multi-year $4M deal thick in nepitism for a coach who’s leadership spells three trips to the post-season over an eight-year tenure.
The record speaks for itself!
As a player, MacT was well aware of the expected “culture” in this organization – he helped define it. Half-assed efforts are not well regarded. The patience of the fan base, however, is quite remarkable.
Throughout MacT’s tenure, the pendulum has begun to swing the other way – an organizational patience has been replaced by an acceptance of mediocrity.
The time for change in Oil Country is without question upon us – the fork in the road is distinct.
Whether Katz, KLowe and MacT will take the right path to breathe life into a team’s dying culture remains to be seen.
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