U know they keep talking about the culture ... It's a Hell of alot easier to maintain a winning attitude when the team is winning.
When the team sucks ... smiley happy thoughts don't tend to change the outcome of the game tooo often.
Attitudes will improve if the team improves ... I think the team is trying to put the cart before the horse.

The Sabres actually have a legitimate starting goaltender.
- GuyLaDouche

Yet they were losing games beacause of "culture" and now they aren't.

Oh, and Millars SV% is only about .05% better then DD/Bulin combined, which works about to about 8 goals so far.

Overall the goaltending numbers aren't that bad though.... certainly need an upgrade, but they aren't far off average.

Agreed that defense has been better then expected, but is still the teams weakness.


Theirs a reason Horc/Hemsky/Smyth are getting more points on the road then at home and a reason Ebs/RNH/Hall are getting more at home then on the road (RNH by a very wide margin)

The kids are far better when they get the match up we want.
- Zombie

The goaltending numbers aren't what bug me. It's the soft goals either A:very early in the game or B:the soft goals late. Both have been killers this year.

As for the kids, well durrr...all teams best players will have better home numbers due to favorable line matching.

Yet they were losing games beacause of "culture" and now they aren't.
- Zombie

Easy to forget the "culture" when the starter goes unconscious. I'll admit its a word that gets thrown around too much but on a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 6 years and is set to pick in the top 3 for the third year in a row, its a legitimate issue.

They've done nothing but suck for 5 seasons. Other teams with arguably less talent continue to be competitive and make the playoffs. I'd say culture is a significant problem.
- GuyLaDouche

Oh I hear you. And to your other point we are indeed grasping for answers.
The culture/ cancer/ room talk is totally valid but it's gets to a point where it becomes so philosophical that I just step back for a moment and look at the facts and realize that hard work isn't going to win you more games when you don't have the horses or to your point: A bloody goaltender.

Yet they were losing games beacause of "culture" and now they aren't.

Oh, and Millars SV% is only about .05% better then DD/Bulin combined, which works about to about 8 goals so far.
- Zombie

And you know as well as I do that it hasn't Millers play all year, its been lately and hes regained his form. A situation where the numbers lie.

The goaltending numbers aren't what bug me. It's the soft goals either A:very early in the game or B:the soft goals late. Both have been killers this year.

As for the kids, well durrr...all teams best players will have better home numbers due to favorable line matching.
- GuyLaDouche

That combined with the home vs away records should probably lead us to the conclusion that they aren't doing that great when playing against the other teams best players.

But the losing is what tends to get the guys down ... they don't tend to get all depressed and antagonized when they are winning
You never hear about winning teams having "culture" problems ... it's because they are winning.

And you know as well as I do that it hasn't Millers play all year, its been lately and hes regained his form. A situation where the numbers lie.
- GuyLaDouche

So in other words culture isn't/wasn't the issue in Buffalo dispite what everyone said.

Oh I hear you. And to your other point we are indeed grasping for answers.
The culture/ cancer/ room talk is totally valid but it's gets to a point where it becomes so philosophical that I just step back for a moment and look at the facts and realize that hard work isn't going to win you more games when you don't have the horses or to your point: A bloody goaltender.
- Salvo

Yup. Sucks too as i was a huge Dubnyk supporter but he hasn't stepped up and doesn't even seem to have progressed. It's why goalie prospects scare me, there's simply no way of accurately predicting whether they will be good or not. Dubs could wind up sucking for a few more years and be in the AHL and then suddenly become a Vezina winner in his 30s.

But the losing is what tends to get the guys down ... they don't tend to get all depressed and antagonized when they are winning
You never hear about winning teams having "culture" problems ... it's because they are winning.
- JasonHarrison

Exactly, theirs always going to be unhappy guys when the team is at the bottom of the league.

We aren't losing because guys are mad, guys are mad because we are losing.

Exactly, theirs always going to be unhappy guys when the team is at the bottom of the league.

We aren't losing because guys are mad, guys are mad because we are losing.
- Zombie

DING, DING, DING ....We have a winner!!!!!

Exactly my point, Zombie!!!

Sigh. I understand Renney is pissed and perhaps lost the room but using phrasing like "it only takes a few guys...to not give a poop"-----I mean...

Indeed, Smyth is a shell of himself but (frank) me if we are talking about a heart and soul guy coming to the rink with a white towel. Who knows perhaps old
bear is just so bloody tired he does'n't that gear anymore.

What I've always loved about Gagner is his passion.
Whatever, just a natural boiling point for a team and a coaching staff searching for answers; what stings is we are back in this place where the messaging is "the room" and "the culture".

Hopefully it's just BS.
- Salvo

Smyth is far from being the heart and soul of this team.

So in other words culture isn't/wasn't the issue in Buffalo dispite what everyone said.
- Zombie

I have no idea, but if there are quitters and malcontents in the room then they need to go. This is where pure speculation comes in. No one knows for sure if there are any issues in the dressing room, but there are certainly issues on the ice and some of that has likely carried into the locker room. Wonder how a guy like Hall feels busting his ass every game on a 29th placed team watching guys making 5 times his salary coasting to the golf course...

I'm thinking it's more about:

Defense is bad

Goaltending is below average

Kid forwards are too young compete with the leagues best

Vets forwards are too old to compete with the leagues best

Then it is about effort and "culture"
- Zombie

While that is all true, the effort needs to be there regardless of how poopty the team is.

So, do we bring in Crawford, bring up Nelson, or stick with Renney?

But the losing is what tends to get the guys down ... they don't tend to get all depressed and antagonized when they are winning
You never hear about winning teams having "culture" problems ... it's because they are winning.
- JasonHarrison

And i don't think the whole culture thing is about possible locker room issues. It refers to a general attitude of acceptance of losing in Edmonton. It will eventually drive our best players away if it isn't fixed.

This coming off season is pretty crucial.

I have no idea, but if there are quitters and malcontents in the room then they need to go. This is where pure speculation comes in. No one knows for sure if there are any issues in the dressing room, but there are certainly issues on the ice and some of that has likely carried into the locker room. Wonder how a guy like Hall feels busting his ass every game on a 29th placed team watching guys making 5 times his salary coasting to the golf course...
- GuyLaDouche

He shouldn't be too worried about it, I'm sure he's going to end up close to one of the highest paid guys on the team.

I have no idea, but if there are quitters and malcontents in the room then they need to go. This is where pure speculation comes in. No one knows for sure if there are any issues in the dressing room, but there are certainly issues on the ice and some of that has likely carried into the locker room. Wonder how a guy like Hall feels busting his ass every game on a 29th placed team watching guys making 5 times his salary coasting to the golf course...
- GuyLaDouche

Which is why Smyth is not resigned yet... there was talk at the TDL and now I have not heard a thing..

Exactly, theirs always going to be unhappy guys when the team is at the bottom of the league.

We aren't losing because guys are mad, guys are mad because we are losing.
- Zombie

I don't think Renney cares that we are losing, it's how we are losing.

While that is all true, the effort needs to be there regardless of how poopty the team is.
- Lahey

Yeah, Lahey ... but losing is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting!

I really think these guys (for the most part) are making the best with what they have. But wanting to win isn't enough to make you win ...

Every team wants to win ... but most teams are more solid and balanced then we are ... it's not always a lack of effort ... most nights it's more a lack of 22 man roster talent

You shouldn't be too worried about it, I'm sure he's going to end up close to one of the highest paid guys on the team.
- Zombie

Of course. That's not the point.

So, do we bring in Crawford, bring up Nelson, or stick with Renney?
- JasonHarrison

If they want a new coach it should be in place already. Why piss around wasting games next year trying to learn a new system? Unless the coach they want to bring in is already employed.

He shouldn't be too worried about it, I'm sure he's going to end up close to one of the highest paid guys on the team.
- Zombie

yeah, but if things don't change ... it might not be with the Oilers!

I don't think Renney cares that we are losing, it's how we are losing.
- Lahey

This.