I think Kreuger is trying to turn some players into something the are not.
Also, 2 questions for everyone:
1. Who thinks Kreuger is better then Sutter now?
2. Would Lindy Ruff come to Edmonton?

I think Kreuger is trying to turn some players into something the are not.
Also, 2 questions for everyone:
1. Who thinks Kreuger is better then Sutter now?
2. Would Lindy Ruff come to Edmonton?
- robjs22

Who thinks it's a bit too early to throw Kreuger under the bus?

The fans

Not sure which game you were watching Clouts... but I will have to respectfully disagree with your assessment... Khabi was, for once, absolutely not responsible for this loss.
- OilDerek

Absolutely correct... Khabby played stellar... It was the continual turnovers and poor defensive zone play that killed us... We got lucky as it could have easily been a blow out had the bounces went the wrong way...

Watch the game and you'll understand why Yak was on line 4. The commentators made it quite clear.

Gave Yak ten games without much instruction. Eased him in, to play his game.

The problem is the bad habits he picked up playing in Junior and the KHL.

In Junior he was told to go after the puck and do his thing. In the KHL the game is to enter the zone and if you can't get by the d, circle out.

Yak understands this and has been working with the coaches on this.

Who thinks it's a bit too early to throw Kreuger under the bus?
- Al Hacker

May be early but his poor decisions are starting to add up to another mediocre year resulting in a top 10 pick or higher... WTF is Smyth doing on the top line??? Yaks on the 4th line... my head hurt watching the combos last night... I mean you dont just make up lines and have players play 1 practice together then expect them to click in a real (frank)ing game... unless the goal this year is to blow balls again???

Absolutely correct... Khabby played stellar... It was the continual turnovers and poor defensive zone play that killed us... We got lucky as it could have easily been a blow out had the bounces went the wrong way...
- saskoil21

I thought while our defensive zone play wasn't great that it was better at keeping the Hawks to the outside. Heard that they had something like a dozen missed shots and we blocked 20. Think that was in part to smarter in zone play. Granted the smart play would've not to be in our zone, but it was better than other games.

May be early but his poor decisions are starting to add up to another mediocre year resulting in a top 10 pick or higher... WTF is Smyth doing on the top line??? Yaks on the 4th line... my head hurt watching the combos last night... I mean you dont just make up lines and have players play 1 practice together then expect them to click in a real (frank)ing game... unless the goal this year is to blow balls again???
- saskoil21

Smyth didn't look out of place last night though.

Watch the game and you'll understand why Yak was on line 4. The commentators made it quite clear.

Gave Yak ten games without much instruction. Eased him in, to play his game.

The problem is the bad habits he picked up playing in Junior and the KHL.

In Junior he was told to go after the puck and do his thing. In the KHL the game is to enter the zone and if you can't get by the d, circle out.

Yak understands this and has been working with the coaches on this.
- Lahey

This all is true.. and people were slamming him for his defensive play last night... yet Hemsky pissed away the last pp in the 3rd by turning the puck over multiple times in the 2 mins... My question is why juggle everyline and mash new players that have not had time to develop any chemistry? Eberle and RNH should have shot the puck continually last night with tortoise in front of the net... instead they misfired all night... I did however like the game play of Eager and Petrell... we need those to- further Belanger played wel; again too.

Smyth didn't look out of place last night though.
- Lahey

Midway in the 3rd he was out of gas IMO...

Richard Cloutier: What's Worse: The Coaching, the Players or the Management?
- Maxbone

The blogger

Your 4 reasons for losing the game are laughable.. wrong players, wrong goalie?

Ha. OK. So Edmonton would be better... if they had Chicago's roster


too small?? look at Montreal

No Taylor hall? Look at Ottawa


These are the weakest excuses I have ever seen


Why not just blame the loss on the real problem.... terrible fans!

This all is true.. and people were slamming him for his defensive play last night... yet Hemsky pissed away the last pp in the 3rd by turning the puck over multiple times in the 2 mins... My question is why juggle everyline and mash new players that have not had time to develop any chemistry? Eberle and RNH should have shot the puck continually last night with tortoise in front of the net... instead they misfired all night... I did however like the game play of Eager and Petrell... we need those to- further Belanger played wel; again too.
- saskoil21

Probably because guys are in and out of the lineup because of injuries?

Kreuger wants pairs, as do a lot of coaches. He has 2 pairs and a good 3rd line as you pointed out. The rest is interchangeable.

It doesn't matter what Kreuger does, he either has guys playing together too long and he gets poop on, guys too short gets poop on. Yet somehow he has this team in every game. I'll stick with the coach on this. I could careless about individuals that clearly have issues. And while there might be others that have issues, that isn't excuse not to work on a raw rookie.

Why not just blame the loss on the real problem.... terrible fans!
- conor_smythe

It's an embarrassment that Chicago is louder during the National Anthem then Edmonton is after a goal.

The Oilers need to upgrade there defense, I'd be all over inquiring about Tyler Myers.

- pker2theend

I hate everything about the Sportsnet OIlers coverage... audio, interviews, write-ups after... seriously, there's like 8 more years of this?
- BigDre

I like it. They actually talk about our game.

Really starting to wonder whether the AHL head start people were so excited about was a good thing at all. I think it may have A)Let them get comfortable with dominating a lesser level of opposition, B)Gotten them used to a system different from Kruegers and C)Having them start to feel wear right when the rest of the NHL is starting to hit it's stride.
Just wondering..
- sanfordnson

The thing is they did have issues against tight checking teams in the AHL, you'd think they'd work harder as individuals seeing as this is still an issue.

The difference was in OKC the PP always was clicking, so they had no worries.

The Oilers need to upgrade there defense, I'd be all over inquiring about Tyler Myers.
- gunner2233

Why do they need to upgrade the D?


They need more scoring if anything.

The Oilers need to upgrade there defense, I'd be all over inquiring about Tyler Myers.
- gunner2233

I probably pass. Myers has gotten worse every year, at his salary we can't afford to take a chance. Especially because it probably doesn't come cheap.

I wonder if ROR for Myers happens though.

[quote=conor_smythe]The blogger

Your 4 reasons for losing the game are laughable.. wrong players, wrong goalie?

Ha. OK. So Edmonton would be better... if they had Chicago's roster


too small?? look at Montreal

No Taylor hall? Look at Ottawa


These are the weakest excuses I have ever seen

mtl ain that small anymore, but we do have 3 players at 5-9 that play exceptionally huge.


not sold on the coach

managment has to go, like previously said by a bunch of posters, get a breath of fresh air in the dressing room and the pressbox.

they (frank)ed up by drafting a rw over a center

Why do they need to upgrade the D?


They need more scoring if anything.
- robin_steele264

Jeff Petry's lack of poise led to the winning goal. Justin Schultz is great, but Whitney, Petry, Pekham should be upgraded. The Oilers are losing close games because there defense isnt that good. There forwards are playing good, helping out and back checking, just not getting bounces. Trust me, there personel on defense needs to be upgraded.

Why do they need to upgrade the D?


They need more scoring if anything.
- robin_steele264

If that third line continues to play well I suspect we see some more goals. Jones is really getting chances.

I probably pass. Myers has gotten worse every year, at his salary we can't afford to take a chance. Especially because it probably doesn't come cheap.

I wonder if ROR for Myers happens though.
- Lahey

could be a late bloomer, Chris Pronger. Better to get a guy when his values low.

Jeff Petry's lack of poise led to the winning goal. Justin Schultz is great, but Whitney, Petry, Pekham should be upgraded. The Oilers are losing close games because there defense isnt that good. There forwards are playing good, helping out and back checking, just not getting bounces. Trust me, there personel on defense needs to be upgraded.
- gunner2233

Petry I'd like to keep. He is kinda the only guy that is an all-around d-man. I do however wonder what happens with N.Schultz and Smid. Have to think Smid sticks around, but N.Schultz could very well be a guy that is upgraded on.

Peckham was upgraded, his name is Mark Fistric.

Whitney could be upgraded with this

If that third line continues to play well I suspect we see some more goals. Jones is really getting chances.
- Lahey

We need Horcoff back !!!