In terms of management. Did I poop on your fanbase? No. But the Penguins turn around happened quite quickly after we got our high draft picks. Your rebuild after your fleury of high draft picks has not gone as smoothly.

EDIT: Let me put it this way: four years after Crosby was drafted, we went to the finals. Five years after Crosby was drafted, we won the Cup.

Six years after Hall was drafted, you guys are finally having a good year.

The Oilers rebuild has objectively taken much longer.
- Victoro311

Whoa did you really just compare Crosby to Hall?

Whoa did you really just compare Crosby to Hall?

- Brzlnut

Obviously you're missing the point dummy.

So our team failed by not putting a competitive team on the ice but you guys succeeded when you picked top 5- 5 years straight? A feat that not even the lowly Oilers managed to do?
- Ihatebrianburke

Someone's a little butt hurt arencha bud?

In terms of management. Did I poop on your fanbase? No. But the Penguins turn around happened quite quickly after we got our high draft picks. Your rebuild after your fleury of high draft picks has not gone as smoothly.

EDIT: Let me put it this way: four years after Crosby was drafted, we went to the finals. Five years after Crosby was drafted, we won the Cup.

Six years after Hall was drafted, you guys are finally having a good year.

The Oilers rebuild has objectively taken much longer.
- Victoro311

wasn't it 3 seasons after sid got drafted they came to the final and 4 season after he was drafted they won?

Obviously you're missing the point dummy.
- j.boyd919

The point that you have no clue what you're talking about? That point? I think I hit it pretty bang on. But keep going, you are quite entertaining

Whoa did you really just compare Crosby to Hall?

- Brzlnut

Hall is a franchise level player. If we're setting the mark at every team needs a generational talent to have a successful rebuild, I'm thinking a lot of teams are in serious trouble.

What I can do is compare Hall to Stamkos. How long did it take Tampa to swing back into competitiveness after drafting Stammer in '08 and subsequently drafting their core of Kucherov, Johnson, Palat and Killorn the year prior? Not long.

Why is it such a mortal sin to call a spade a spade and say that the Oilers and Avs have not had good direction during their rebuild and its prolonged their rise to competitiveness given the talent level of their core?

A lot of panties in bunches around here. I kind of thought there would be from the title of the blog. That's another team's young talented captain being discussed. Not only will this enrage Avs fans but also jealous Penguins haters will come flocking at the prospect of the Pens landing him too.

Seeing some really ridiculous comments from fellow Canadians.

Lets forget the Pens and look at the Blackhawks and Kings, two teams equally or more successful in the last ten years as the Pens, and their high draft pics. How can Oilers fans say anything about those teams who didnt have as good/high picks as the Oilers? They can't.

Seriously, the Oilers are the laughing stock for a good few years now and its all because of the plethora of #1's and the continued bottom feeding. They are on the right track now though it seems.

Hall is a franchise level player. If we're setting the mark at every team needs a generational talent to have a successful rebuild, I'm thinking a lot of teams are in serious trouble.

What I can do is compare Hall to Stamkos. How long did it take Tampa to swing back into competitiveness after drafting Stammer in '08 and subsequently drafting their core of Kucherov, Johnson, Palat and Killorn the year prior? Not long.

Why is it such a mortal sin to call a spade a spade and say that the Oilers and Avs have not had good direction during their rebuild and its prolonged their rise to competitiveness given the talent level of their core?
- Victoro311

Because the truth hurts sometimes.

The point that you have no clue what you're talking about? That point? I think I hit it pretty bang on. But keep going, you are quite entertaining
- Brzlnut

did ya now? what exactly did you bang? Pamela and her 5 friends don't count.

A lot of panties in bunches around here. I kind of thought there would be from the title of the blog. That's another team's young talented captain being discussed. Not only will this enrage Avs fans but also jealous Penguins haters will come flocking at the prospect of the Pens landing him too.

Seeing some really ridiculous comments from fellow Canadians.

Lets forget the Pens and look at the Blackhawks and Kings, two teams equally or more successful in the last ten years as the Pens, and their high draft pics. How can Oilers fans say anything about those teams who didnt have as good/high picks as the Oilers? They can't.

Seriously, the Oilers are the laughing stock for a good few years now and its all because of the plethora of #1's and the continued bottom feeding. They are on the right track now though it seems.
- MattStrat

That's even debateable. Chiarelli is a moron after all.

I love the whole "the Pens were horrible for years" argument. They missed the playoffs 4 times since 1990 and have been one of the most consistent organizations in the NHL over that time period. Their only down time was because of horrible ownership.

The most amusing part of this is that he's calling Crosby's acquisition fortuitous, when Gretzky might have been a Winnipeg Jet if the Jets' owner would have been willing to play a game of backgammon against the Indianapolis Racers' owner.

I love how high and mighty Pens fans are. Pretend like they weren't the bumhole of the league for years. Had you guys not won the draft lottery to get Sid you wouldn't even still have a team. Then you guys magically land Malkin in another draft and act like it was all part of some master plan. And don't even try talking smack about Oilers fans. We've supported our team every step of the way, minus a couple boneheads that threw their jerseys. Our building was sold out every game while we were in the basement for so many years. Your fanbase full of bandwagon jumpers and fans that just started cheering when Sid was drafted, can hardly claim the same. I'm not trying to talk us up, but pull your head out of your ass. Your team was pathetic for a long time too and nobody gave a poop about them. Don't forget it.
- Ihatebrianburke

Yeah in the past 30 years the Penguins have missed the playoffs 5 times and been to the finals 5 times and now that Detroit is going to miss the playoffs we will have the longest consecutive streak active. Chicago, Edmonton, Buffalo, and Toronto are or have copied our strategy for success. Lose for a few years to win for a decade and a half is the way to do it. It worked for everyone but the Oilers until now. Just coming out of a decade of futility and sucking.

I love the whole "the Pens were horrible for years" argument. They missed the playoffs 4 times since 1990 and have been one of the most consistent organizations in the NHL over that time period. Their only down time was because of horrible ownership.
- cap1681

This is the real truth. I personally don't care (at all) about the Oilers, but the Penguins missed the playoffs 4 times since 1990. The team didn't go bankrupt because of fan support. It went bankrupt because ownership was horrific with their money.

How 'bout this little nugget... The Penguins turned down getting a brand new building, instead opting for a one time cash infusion. I think it was 15 million or something like that.

This is the real truth. I personally don't care (at all) about the Oilers, but the Penguins missed the playoffs 4 times since 1990. The team didn't go bankrupt because of fan support. It went bankrupt because ownership was horrific with their money.

How 'bout this little nugget... The Penguins turned down getting a brand new building, instead opting for a one time cash infusion. I think it was 15 million or something like that.
- madmike71

Its the same old, same old from Pens haters. They (think they) have two things at their disposal to use: Crosby is a crybaby and the Pens almost moved outta town because the fans were so sh!tty....neither are even true.

Haters gonna hate.

Its the same old, same old from Pens haters. They (think they) have two things at their disposal to use: Crosby is a crybaby and the Pens almost moved outta town because the fans were so sh!tty....neither are even true.

Haters gonna hate.
- MattStrat

I usually just look at stuff like this when the trolls come out at night.

I love the whole "the Pens were horrible for years" argument. They missed the playoffs 4 times since 1990 and have been one of the most consistent organizations in the NHL over that time period. Their only down time was because of horrible ownership.
- cap1681

And did your fanbase still support the team in those bad years? Nope it was a very empty arena. Now, Has the Oilers arena ever been empty? Nope, cause we're not a bunch of bandwagon jumpers. We support our team no matter what. And no you guys can't say the same.

Hall is a franchise level player. If we're setting the mark at every team needs a generational talent to have a successful rebuild, I'm thinking a lot of teams are in serious trouble.

What I can do is compare Hall to Stamkos. How long did it take Tampa to swing back into competitiveness after drafting Stammer in '08 and subsequently drafting their core of Kucherov, Johnson, Palat and Killorn the year prior? Not long.

Why is it such a mortal sin to call a spade a spade and say that the Oilers and Avs have not had good direction during their rebuild and its prolonged their rise to competitiveness given the talent level of their core?
- Victoro311

Now this is a take that makes sense.

I think Sakic needs to be given a proper chance before getting thrown under the bus. He leaned heavily on Roy and that bit him in the ass. I think he learned a lot from that. Patience is key at the moment, no need to blow it all up.

Penguins don't have the pieces for Landeskog anyway. They should focus on a team that needs a goalie.

Lol...you guys had a quick turn around because Malkin and Crosby were available at your draft possition. Had you guys drafted Whitney, Nugent Hopkins and Yak it wouldnt have worked out for you so well, whereas if we got Hall, Malkin and Crosby it would have been a different story. Give me a break.
- Larsson_fan

What about all the other picks the Oil had? Surely organisations don't rely just on the #1 picks to bring talent into a team? Whose to say Sid & Geno would be the players they are today had they been drafted into a dysfunctional organisation where many other players haven't reached their potential? We'll see how they go with McD, so far there are some 'interesting' decisions.

That's certainly a very good point that first picks can vary greatly in talent. But when you are amassing quite a few of those you should as an organisation turn a corner at some stage. Recognising talent & what to do with that talent also assists in getting the 'show back on the road', so to speak. So rushing guys into a league they're not ready for or at least will benefit better by not playing in it straight away should also be mentioned. Losing builds pressure, pressure creates hostility & all of a sudden the organisation is in a poophole it can't get out of & is not desirable to go to. Pens were very fortunate in having a generational talent (or 2 ), come along & the pressure wasn't felt due to the 'organisation putting a competitive team on the ice'. Sid & Geno didn't win the cup on their own, it was a team effort - same last year when finally our organisation turned the corner. The Oil didn't do that for whatever reason, so coming out & arguing that we as fans are bandwagon fans & saying winning was because of drafting high as well, that's not correct, it's a team game & your organisation screwed the pooch in their efforts to put a competitive team on the ice. There's no coincidence that players that are poop in the Oil come out & play well elsewhere - that's ingrained in the organisation & has zero to do with fans or drafting. Maybe now with McD & your new coaching staff things can finally turn around - it's about time don't you think?
- Aussiepenguin

Free agents wouldnt come to Edmonton before McDavid. Your team raised the eybrows of quite a few UFA's once Sid was drafted as well.