Eakins should of went to baseball. He did catch Selanne's glove that time in Winnipeg!!
- 67_ToLongAgo

At least you know he'd never get tossed from a game because he is incapable of showing any kind of emotion

The oil have some young guys with a high ceiling, but I wouldn't say the Leafs don't have as good of players. Kessel is worth more than any oiler. Rielly and Dion wouldn't be cheap. Bozak, JVR and Kadri would compand a massive return. Bernier >>> any goalie Edmonton has..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I think TO is 1-2 defensman and a #1 center away from being a solid team.

Flyfreaky is a faster Hal Gill.
- glove_was_stuck

same weight, couple feet shorter

love that guy.

At least you know he'd never get tossed from a game because he is incapable of showing any kind of emotion
- SpoiledByOil

i'm so happy right now *constant frown*

Eakins is the only guy on the Oilers website that isn't smiling in his profile photo.

I think TO is 1-2 defensman and a #1 center away from being a solid team.
- SpoiledByOil

Sorry I should of been clearer. I didnt mean right now. Yes they have a bunch of talent now thanks to some ballsie moves by Burke. But when they were horrible they had zero assets on the team. So Burke threw the pics out there and got return, also got lucky on some trades.
Burke took a lot of heat for those moves but it payed off. Now if only Nonis had a clue and went after the missing pieces.

No, it's because i was happy with Renney, and Happy with Kruger, i was ok giving Eakins a shot, confused as to why he was there. Then day 1 game 1 he played Yakupov for less than 5 minutes, after he lead our team in goals his rookie year, scoring 11 goals in the last 10 games, so i disliked him right after the first game. Then he benched him within 2 weeks, and then demoted him to the 3rd and 4th lines within 2 weeks as well. We regressed on every level, EVERY SINGLE LEVEL, except faceoffs because we brought in Gordon. Our PP went to poop, our PK went to poop, Yakupov went to poop, everything went to poop and nobody can connect the (frank)ing dots. He's absolutely (frank)ing garbage.
- SpoiledByOil

You're frustrated, I know.

The truth is tho, an NHL franchise is built like any other business. And no business that changes the way it does things often is ever successful. They have to stick to one guy for awhile if they want success, and (frank)in' MacT knows that. The way I see it, it been a gong show up until this season. Once the players know how the organization operates things will start to look up. The Devils, wings, hawks, and Kings have it figured out. The Leafs scare the poop out of me, they're (frank)ed. But I feel the Oilers have a legit chance if they play their cards right.

i'm so happy right now *constant frown*

Eakins is the only guy on the Oilers website that isn't smiling in his profile photo.
- ChetManly

why am i not surprised

Flyfreaky is a fatter Hal Gill.
- glove_was_stuck

fixed

why am i not surprised
- SpoiledByOil

maybe that frown is his smile!?

Sorry I should of been clearer. I didnt mean right now. Yes they have a bunch of talent now thanks to some ballsie moves by Burke. But when they were horrible they had zero assets on the team. So Burke threw the pics out there and got return, also got lucky on some trades.
Burke took a lot of heat for those moves but it payed off. Now if only Nonis had a clue and went after the missing pieces.
- 67_ToLongAgo

Nonis is your version of our Tambellini! That's not a good thing.

You're frustrated, I know.

The truth is tho, an NHL franchise is built like any other business. And no business that changes the way it does things often is ever successful. They have to stick to one guy for awhile if they want success, and (frank)in' MacT knows that. The way I see it, it been a gong show up until this season. Once the players know how the organization operates things will start to look up. The Devils, wings, hawks, and Kings have it figured out. The Leafs scare the poop out of me, they're (frank)ed. But I feel the Oilers have a legit chance if they play their cards right.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

That's where we disagree. it hasn't been a gong show until last season IMO. Hall was progressing nicely, Nuge looked awesome, Ebs looked awesome, things were slowly looking good, up until the beginning of last year.

That's where we disagree. it hasn't been a gong show until last season IMO. Hall was progressing nicely, Nuge looked awesome, Ebs looked awesome, things were slowly looking good, up until the beginning of last year.
- SpoiledByOil

Ebs and RNH both were battling with injuries. That does factor in.

Ebs and RNH both were battling with injuries. That does factor in.
- ChetManly

It does, but that's another issue with this team. Renney has publically stated that the reason he was fired was becuase he was sheltering the kids too much and not wanting rush them back from injuries. Just another example of what a cancer this organization is.

Nonis is your version of our Tambellini! That's not a good thing.
- ChetManly

Agree. There is few people lift that has the balls to make the bold moves any more. Burke was one of them. I bet if he was still with the Leafs he would get the players they need.
Also I would love for him to somehow get in charge of the Oilers. IMO he would blow that up and put a smile on Oilers fans for years.
Like someone mentioned before, Kratz got to get rid of his childhood hero's.

It does, but that's another issue with this team. Renney has publically stated that the reason he was fired was becuase he was sheltering the kids too much and not wanting rush them back from injuries. Just another example of what a cancer this organization is.
- SpoiledByOil

The top line should be being sheltered currently.

This team defies score effects in large part because guys like Hall and Ebs get double-shifted and feel like they need to do cowboy poop like 1-on-3s.

Put Perron-Draisaitl-Purcell or the lunch-pail line out and get a cycle going. After 4 straight shifts predominantly in the defensive zone, send the kids out to mop up the tired mistakes.

So I agree with you guys on Eakins is garbage, but who could replace him??
Don't say Bylsma, cause if you can't keep your job with Crosby and Malkin on your team than that don't say much for your coaching abilities.

Agree. There is few people lift that has the balls to make the bold moves any more. Burke was one of them. I bet if he was still with the Leafs he would get the players they need.
Also I would love for him to somehow get in charge of the Oilers. IMO he would blow that up and put a smile on Oilers fans for years.
Like someone mentioned before, Kratz got to get rid of his childhood hero's.
- 67_ToLongAgo

I hated Nonis is Vancouver. He was always preaching patience. Meanwhile while he is sitting there being patient the world was passing him by.

I've been told by a reliable person, within the organization, that Taylor Hall has requested a trade. Am I surprised ? No because once you look at it, all the young stars on our team, be it Hall, Eberle, Nuge, or even Yak, have won championships etc., throughout their hockey careers. Being stuck on a team, that they know is at least 3 years from sniffing a playoff spot is not going to do it for them...whether we like it or not...we might be rebuilding the rebuild.

Thank you Mr. Lowe...go frank yourself.
- Surrey-Oiler

I hope that is not true but it was going to happen sooner or later as winners like Hall can only take losing year after year for so long. It is unfortunate but if you are in one of the more undesirable markets in the NHL it is most important to ice a team that can compete at a high level or be faced with this problem.

Having a new coach every year with a younger, smaller core is a HUGE problem for the Oilers. It's hard enough to be a consistent player in the NHL at a young age, now you have to learn a new system every year. Compound that with a lack of depth and inconsistent goal tending and this is what you are left with. A group a very talented players that don't know how to win at this level.
- fiveandagame

This is a solid post.
We've added some size, but our core does not know how to win.
The games against the canucks in particular have been extremely telling to me for a bunch of reasons. We were in every game and different coaching would not have pulled those out. Absolutely on confidence and understanding how to win at this level

I hope that is not true but it was going to happen sooner or later as winners like Hall can only take losing year after year for so long. It is unfortunate but if you are in one of the more undesirable markets in the NHL it is most important to ice a team that can compete at a high level or be faced with this problem.
- HawkfaninBC

I don't think it's true.

If you had a friend in an NHL org. who was important enough to hear that info chances are you'd respect you could ruin his career by sharing the rumour and more than likely he'd never tell you.

It's not like they're holding staff meetings telling the skate sharpeners "Just so you know, Hallsy wants out."

I hated Nonis is Vancouver. He was always preaching patience. Meanwhile while he is sitting there being patient the world was passing him by.
- fiveandagame

Nonis looks the poor kid in high school that got pushed around and taking advantage of.

So I agree with you guys on Eakins is garbage, but who could replace him??
Don't say Bylsma, cause if you can't keep your job with Crosby and Malkin on your team than that don't say much for your coaching abilities.
- 67_ToLongAgo

MacT

MacT
- SpoiledByOil

MacT
- SpoiledByOil

Better GMs available than coaches. Might be the better move, frankly.

Better GMs available than coaches. Might be the better move, frankly.
- Morris

The type of game he often coached could be usefull.

Bylsma doesn't do much for me