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.
- SpoiledByOil

Lack of back checking and being retards behind the net yep. Exactly what Eakins system implements I imagine These guys should all know that there is always gonna be someone in front of the net. Maybe it's just lack of familiarity with line mates, I wouldn't expect the same amount of (frank) ups like that moving forward

I thought you were an old man?
- Lahey

29 in a few weeks.


Went back to school again cause I'm more interested in what I'm doing now.
Plus, not ready to face reality yet..

I think some of us see the big picture, while others want it so badly to be a simple, singular issue. And they've beat that drum so hard for so long that they can't go back now

I think some of us see the big picture, while others want it so badly to be a simple, singular issue. And they've beat that drum so hard for so long that they can't go back now
- hugefemale dog77

I have lots of ideas and thoughts.
1. Eakins so is not a good coach. He is about 50% to blame for Yak last season.
2. Yak was a terrible 2way player last year. He needed to take a look in the mirror and be accountable.
3. I think both Eakins and Yak deserve credit for his improved play.
4. I think Kruger was an odd fella. Good special teams coach but he didn't employ a tough , workmanlike style that I think the Oilers need , especially 5X5.
5. I think Krugers team would have finished bottom 3 if it were an 82 game season.
6. I think Eakins improved roster over Krugers is overstated. A bit better, but Devan Dubnyk's performance cancelled out most the upgrades. Also, how much more effective was Eakins Boyd Gordon over Krugers Shaun Horcoff?
7. The current team still has too many holes in key positions. Still need a stud D Man and cagey 2C, or out of this world elite goaltending if this team were to compete with the big boys.
8. Mac T has done a great job, but it's still incomplete (see point 7).
9. I feel this team and it's prospects will be solid in about 3 years with minimal personnel changes. 3 years is a long time to wait for Klefbom, Nurse and Draisaitl.
10. I could wait the 3 years, but I would move our 1st to fill a major hole if the opportunity presents itself. Same goes for depth defensemen, wingers and Mid tier prospects.

I have lots of ideas and thoughts.
1. Eakins so is not a good coach. He is about 50% to blame for Yak last season.
2. Yak was a terrible 2way player last year. He needed to take a look in the mirror and be accountable.
3. I think both Eakins and Yak deserve credit for his improved play.
4. I think Kruger was an odd fella. Good special teams coach but he didn't employ a tough , workmanlike style that I think the Oilers need , especially 5X5.
5. I think Krugers team would have finished bottom 3 if it were an 82 game season.
6. I think Eakins improved roster over Krugers is overstated. A bit better, but Devan Dubnyk's performance cancelled out most the upgrades. Also, how much more effective was Eakins Boyd Gordon over Krugers Shaun Horcoff?
7. The current team still has too many holes in key positions. Still need a stud D Man and cagey 2C, or out of this world elite goaltending if this team were to compete with the big boys.
8. Mac T has done a great job, but it's still incomplete (see point 7).
9. I feel this team and it's prospects will be solid in about 3 years with minimal personnel changes. 3 years is a long time to wait for Klefbom, Nurse and Draisaitl.
10. I could wait the 3 years, but I would move our 1st to fill a major hole if the opportunity presents itself. Same goes for depth defensemen, wingers and Mid tier prospects.
- Jeropotato

I think every one of these can be be considered extremely valid and more importantly, plausible, whether one agrees whole heartedly or not.

But I assume our friend 'spoiled' will ask u to reiterate the same thoughts when he takes the opposite stance. and them when u don't have the energy to write it all out again, he'll call it 'deflecting'

" I don't agree with you, so I'm gonna ask u to say it again!!!!"

I think every one of these can be be considered extremely valid and more importantly, plausible, whether one agrees whole heartedly or not.

But I assume our friend 'spoiled' will ask u to reiterate the same thoughts when he takes the opposite stance. and them when u don't have the energy to write it all out again, he'll call it 'deflecting'

" I don't agree with you, so I'm gonna ask u to say it again!!!!"
- hugefemale dog77

Well there's lots of issues and different ways to try to address them. Personally, I am a bit sour on waiting for the aforementioned prospects to develop, this it's probably the best course of action or rather the most likely.
I would like to think the collection of pieces ( for the future) is mostly done, and that we can start dealing picks for immideate help soon.

Well there's lots of issues and different ways to try to address them. Personally, I am a bit sour on waiting for the aforementioned prospects to develop, this it's probably the best course of action or rather the most likely.
I would like to think the collection of pieces ( for the future) is mostly done, and that we can start dealing picks for immideate help soon.
- Jeropotato

I'd trade our first without much hesitation.

Yaks/Ebs happily for the right package as well

I'd trade our first without much hesitation.

Yaks/Ebs happily for the right package as well
- hugefemale dog77

Yak or Ebs....not both. I think Purcell can slide into a supporting top 6 role just like Perron.

Edit: (frank) the 1st. What do we to draft? We have enough if just about everything either on the team or in the system. Would rather an impact player that can help us now.

Yak or Ebs....not both. I think Purcell can slide into a supporting top 6 role just like Perron.

Edit: (frank) the 1st. What do we to draft? We have enough if just about everything either on the team or in the system. Would rather an impact player that can help us now.
- Jeropotato

Of course OR. Was too lazy to type the extra character

Of course OR. Was too lazy to type the extra character
- hugefemale dog77

Lol... I just don't care about any 18 year old kids anymore. At this point we have most the key positions covered. Time to bring in some winners.

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.
- SpoiledByOil

While I don't think Nikitin is fast by any means I do wonder if he's still banged up from the pre-season ankle sprain.

do you agree that the oiler s were slowly but surely progressing with a worse team before Eakins came?

If yes, do you agree that we have been regressing since he came, and that our team on paper is better?

If yes, what do you honestly think is the reasoning for that?
- SpoiledByOil

this is the problem.
u say we don't answer, but I have on multiple occasions. and directly to this in the previous post before u wrote this.

but u clearly refused to accept that someone has a different opinion than you. this is why no one enjoys discussing hockey with you and mostly think u have no idea what you're talking about because you're unable to see past your own POV and see possible alternatives.

as I said; I think this improvement that the Eakins hater band continually ties to use as fact, just isn't one. very very marginal at best. I think we woulda been bottom 3rd if the season went to 82 games. we were nosediving and playing some ugly hockey.
so with that said, no I don't think we've regressed under Eakins. we weren't good before him, and we still aren't good.