He already has made a number of adjustments.

For some of these guys they have played their whole life positioning themselves between their man and the net. Now to adjust to placing themselves between their man and the puck is new.

I'm not saying Eakins is great because I have been questioning a lot of his moves all the way back into last year. But I see better things now than in a long time. 5on 5 is the best we've been in a decade.
- Iggysbff

I do agree, yesterday, i give credit to Eakins, the better play in the previous games this year? I give that credit to the added depth and quality of players.

I do agree, yesterday, i give credit to Eakins, the better play in the previous games this year? I give that credit to the added depth and quality of players.
- SpoiledByOil

Looking at the bad goals from this year even its on the players. They are the ones that panic and start getting out of position. Its not Eakins telling them to all dive at pucks when someone misses a check or bobbles a puck.

Looking at the bad goals from this year even its on the players. They are the ones that panic and start getting out of position. Its not Eakins telling them to all dive at pucks when someone misses a check or bobbles a puck.
- Iggysbff

but on how many goals, this year and last year, were the players collapsing on the puck carrier, completely ignoring the guy in the slot? If it happens here and there, or in a few games in a row it can be attributed to the players panicking and getting out of position, but when it happens in basically every. single. game for over a year and doesn't change? That to me is a system problem, or inability in explaining and implementing said system

but on how many goals, this year and last year, were the players collapsing on the puck carrier, completely ignoring the guy in the slot? If it happens here and there, or in a few games in a row it can be attributed to the players panicking and getting out of position, but when it happens in basically every. single. game for over a year and doesn't change? That to me is a system problem, or inability in explaining and implementing said system
- SpoiledByOil

Takes time to implement systems, no? Ramsay is also running the d so that's probably even more difficult as now the current guys are learning from another coach.

Takes time to implement systems, no? Ramsay is also running the d so that's probably even more difficult as now the current guys are learning from another coach.
- Lahey

how long do you run a system that isn't working? How long do you run a system that the players can't seem to grasp, or are unable to implement? It's on the coach to adjust and find something that works.

how long do you run a system that isn't working? How long do you run a system that the players can't seem to grasp, or are unable to implement? It's on the coach to adjust and find something that works.
- SpoiledByOil

So its on Ramsay? Since he's running the d?

So its on Ramsay? Since he's running the d?
- Iggysbff

Ramsays job first and foremost, is to run the special teams. The defense to me looks exactly the same as last year, which would leave me to believe that it's still Eakins systems while Ramsay works on the PP and PK.

Ramsays job first and foremost, is to run the special teams. The defense to me looks exactly the same as last year, which would leave me to believe that it's still Eakins systems while Ramsay works on the PP and PK.
- SpoiledByOil

Except the oilers said it would be the other way around. His first job is replacing Smith working with the d. Secondary are special teams.

Except the oilers said it would be the other way around. His first job is replacing Smith working with the d. Secondary are special teams.
- Iggysbff

Do you have a link for the soruce of this? everything i've read has suggested otherwise

Do you have a link for the soruce of this? everything i've read has suggested otherwise
- SpoiledByOil

https://twitter.com/CraigRamsayFit

https://twitter.com/CraigRamsayFit
- Lahey

while i do appreciate the link, i don't have twitter and it won't let me read it

but knowing who's providing it, I'm sure it's bullpoop anyways

while i do appreciate the link, i don't have twitter and it won't let me read it

but knowing who's providing it, I'm sure it's bullpoop anyways
- SpoiledByOil

I've been waiting to post that for awhile. Came accross is last week. Apparently there is a body builder or something with the same name.

I've been waiting to post that for awhile. Came accross is last week. Apparently there is a body builder or something with the same name.
- Lahey

, that's too perfect then with it saying "fit" in the url link, like "where does Ramsay fit"

Except the oilers said it would be the other way around. His first job is replacing Smith working with the d. Secondary are special teams.
- Iggysbff

As for this I'd suspect he works on both and a smart coaching group would work on which ever one you see is lacking the most. Personally I'd spend less time on special teams and more on the defense as special teams alone aren't going to be what makes or breaks this team.

You can never really work on both at the same time anyway. Unless of course you are going 5 forwards on the PP.

As for this I'd suspect he works on both and a smart coaching group would work on which ever one you see is lacking the most. Personally I'd spend less time on special teams and more on the defense as special teams alone aren't going to be what makes or breaks this team.

You can never really work on both at the same time anyway. Unless of course you are going 5 forwards on the PP.
- Lahey

as our season with Kruger and the previous year with Renney clearly show.

I agree that you can't work on both for sure. but to me the D looks exactly the same, and I feel like maybe the coaching staff felt comfrotable with the new D additions to focus on special teams first.

as our season with Kruger and the previous year with Renney clearly show.

I agree that you can't work on both for sure. but to me the D looks exactly the same, and I feel like maybe the coaching staff felt comfrotable with the new D additions to focus on special teams first.
- SpoiledByOil

I don't think any team that has new d-men is going to prioritize working on special teams. We have new pieces back there to go with a new coach, lets give it more than 6 games. Especially considering they've shown signs of being pretty solid at times.

I don't think any team that has new d-men is going to prioritize working on special teams. We have new pieces back there to go with a new coach, lets give it more than 6 games. Especially considering they've shown signs of being pretty solid at times.
- Lahey

fair enough.

fair enough.
- SpoiledByOil

I'd also suggest once we can figure out the d it will really help in the special teams. After last night do we finally see that Petry has that bomb from the point when given the chance?

Between him Nikitin and Schultz I hope Hunt never plays on this club again. Barring injuries to 2 of those 3 guys. At some point I'd like to see Marincin get a good look there too, but for now I'd let him stick in that defensive role with Fayne.

I'd also suggest once we can figure out the d it will really help in the special teams. After last night do we finally see that Petry has that bomb from the point when given the chance?

Between him Nikitin and Schultz I hope Hunt never plays on this club again. Barring injuries to 2 of those 3 guys. At some point I'd like to see Marincin get a good look there too, but for now I'd let him stick in that defensive role with Fayne.
- Lahey

Agree with the bolded. and yea Petry rang a bomb of a shot off the post in the TB game, he looked very good in that game.

Agree with the bolded. and yea Petry rang a bomb of a shot off the post in the TB game, he looked very good in that game.
- SpoiledByOil

The guy hasn't looked like himself quite yet, but they keep Hunt up for the PP which I can understand.

They then don't give Petry much PP time over the years because he is playing too much already. Which again, okay I can live with.

So now that he is playing limited minutes compared to other years why not give him some PP time for what he did for you in the past?

We just to always seem to look for that shot on the point, but for whatever reason Petry never gets the chance. Seems like giving your struggling #1 from last year some gravy time would be a good thing to try.

I'd also suggest once we can figure out the d it will really help in the special teams. After last night do we finally see that Petry has that bomb from the point when given the chance?

Between him Nikitin and Schultz I hope Hunt never plays on this club again. Barring injuries to 2 of those 3 guys. At some point I'd like to see Marincin get a good look there too, but for now I'd let him stick in that defensive role with Fayne.
- Lahey

Marincin and Fayne looked awesome last night. Great shutdown pair who should be seeing a lot more ice than Ference and Schultz... I still don't understand why Ference is getting the time he is; him and Nikitin are terrible.

The guy hasn't looked like himself quite yet, but they keep Hunt up for the PP which I can understand.

They then don't give Petry much PP time over the years because he is playing too much already. Which again, okay I can live with.

So now that he is playing limited minutes compared to other years why not give him some PP time for what he did for you in the past?

We just to always seem to look for that shot on the point, but for whatever reason Petry never gets the chance. Seems like giving your struggling #1 from last year some gravy time would be a good thing to try.
- Lahey

Agreed, he should have more even strength time than Schutlz, and I would rather Petry be on the 2nd line PP over Nikitin, Nikitin is so damn slow i can see us repeating our SHG against from last year with him anchoring a PP.

I don't agree with how we've been utilizing our prospects and young developing players at all though.

but on how many goals, this year and last year, were the players collapsing on the puck carrier, completely ignoring the guy in the slot? If it happens here and there, or in a few games in a row it can be attributed to the players panicking and getting out of position, but when it happens in basically every. single. game for over a year and doesn't change? That to me is a system problem, or inability in explaining and implementing said system
- SpoiledByOil

Oh please you learn to watch guys in front of the net when you are 12 years old. You really think Eakins goal is to have everyone collasping into the corners?

i've had eberle in my keeper pool for the past year. Everytime i see him play he seems to have lost his drive. Still supremely skilled but just missing something. Got an offer for drouin and a 2nd round pick. What do the EDM fans think? goals are more than assists and +/- counts...
- clark_griswold

TAKE THE DEAL AND RUN........ DROUIN IS THE REAL DEAL..... EBS HAS LOST IT WITH THE ATMOSPHERE IN EDMONTON

Oh please you learn to watch guys in front of the net when you are 12 years old. You really think Eakins goal is to have everyone collasping into the corners?
- OilerFan16

Yea, so why would professional hockey players in the best league in the world, the players who learned to cover the guys in front of the net when they were 12, not cover the guy in front of the net unless the system dictates they must be elsewhere?

Think about that and get back to me. Basically you're saying all of the Oilers play worse defence than 12 year olds because they're really just that bad.