Let That Be Your Last Battlefield
Edmonton is a city of 1.8+ million (CMA) but it’s really a series of neighbourhoods and towns that have been building in all directions since about 1795 when Fort Edmonton was built. That was about 40 years after Anthony Henday mapped out his freeway, but he didn’t get to hang around for another 220 years to see how it turned out.
I’m not sure how much of Edmonton, the real Edmonton, Peter Chiarelli saw in his time with the Oilers. I hope he can see our city up close and personal in the decades that will roll out from this one.
For the city itself, which houses most of the Oilers fanbase, today comes as a relief. This is the day when the club can renew itself, to bring hope back to the conversation. Me? I am once again thinking of the Star Trek episodes entitled “Year of Hell” when Voyager tangles with the Krenim whose ultimate weapon-ship manipulates time to erase their enemies. Over and over again.
THE ATHLETIC
The Athletic Edmonton is going to bring it all season long. Proud to be part of a lineup that is ready to cover the coming year. Outstanding coverage from a large group, including Daniel Nugent-Bowman and Jonathan Willis, Lowetide, Minnia Feng and Pat McLean. If you haven’t subscribed yet, now’s your chance. Outstanding offer is here.
- New Lowetide: Peter Chiarelli’s inability adjust, poor trades and free-agent misses at the centre of his firing.
- New Jonathan Willis: Rushed Mikko Koskinen deal was one Peter Chiarelli should not have been allowed to make.
- Lowetide: Oilers sign Mikko Koskinen long term, signalling the end of the line for Cam Talbot in Edmonton.
- Jonathan Willis: Waiving of Ryan Spooner is another black mark on Peter Chiarelli’s Oilers resume.
- Lowetide: If the Oilers are sellers at the deadline, expect a Condo of Condors heading north.
- Lowetide: Jay Woodcroft’s usage of Tyler Benson and other young forwards in Bakersfield is both welcome and encouraging for Edmonton Oilers fans.
- Tyler Dellow: After 47 games, the Oilers’ 5-on-5 scoring woes stand out.
- Lowetide: The Oilers’ way forward and the smartest route to finding an impact winger this summer.
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Goalless Tobias Rieder hopes to follow Zack Kassian and Milan Lucic and end his offensive funk.
- Jonathan Willis: Why the Oilers should make a decision on Peter Chiarelli this week.
- Lowetide: Complete Oilers top 20 prospects, Winter 2018
OILERS AFTER 50
- Oilers in 2015: 19-26-5, 43 points; goal differential -26
- Oilers in 2016: 27-15-8, 62 points; goal differential +15
- Oilers in 2017: 22-24-4, 48 points; goal differential -30
- Oilers in 2018: 23-24-3, 49 points; goal differential -13
OILERS IN JANUARY
- Oilers in January 2016: 4-5-2, 10 points; goal differential -4
- Oilers in January 2017: 7-3-1, 15 points; goal differential +4
- Oilers in January 2018: 5-5-0, 10 points; goal differential -13
- Oilers in January 2019: 5-6-0, 10 points; goal differential -7
WHAT TO EXPECT IN JANUARY
- On the road to: Arizona, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose (Expected 2-2-0) (Actual 2-2-0)
- At home to: Florida, Arizona, Buffalo (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 2-1-0)
- On the road to: Vancouver (Expected 0-1-0) (Actual 1-0-0)
- At home to: Calgary, Carolina, Detroit (Expected 1-1-1) (Actual 0-3-0)
- Overall expected result: 4-5-2, 10 points in 11 games
- Current results: 5-6-0, 10 points in 11 games
I promise not to brag, but that’s pretty close to a direct hit. Edmonton is exhausted now, the last three games saw a group of great players unable to pull the big part of the roster over the line.
DEFENSE, LAST NIGHT
FORWARDS, LAST NIGHT
CHIARELLI’S FIRED
My piece at The Athletic this morning gives you an idea about Chiarelli’s time in Edmonton and the reasons for his firing. Stay tuned for more all day at The Athletic from Jon, Daniel and our national writers. We’re going to cover this story from all angles.
One thing I couldn’t find room for in my piece was the noxious trivia item involving the Oilers having to give up a draft pick (represented in human form by Jack Studnicka) for the right to hire a guy who had been fired. The mind boggles.
In the days to come, we’re all going to have a lash at what can be done to improve this team, and about what should be saved and built on from the current club.
I would like to see this team get it right, but am unsure of what that might look like. For me, the wish was always hire a general manager with experience and that didn’t work. They can’t go back, but the way forward must be unique compared to the past.
We can say “hire an analytics team” but you also need a general manager and coaching staff who are willing to apply those things to real life day to day.
We can say “do it like Detroit” or “Winnipeg has the best plan” and I absolutely agree. Question, though: Do fans have the patience? Does Nuge? Does McDavid?
The more I think about this team, the more I think the way forward might be trading the first-round selection this summer. I don’t view this year as a ‘must’ to make the playoffs, but next year must rhyme.
LOWDOWN WITH LOWETIDE
We will carry today’s media avail live at 10 on TSN1260 and then it’s going to be a moving target in terms of guests. Bruce McCurdy from the Cult of Hockey will be on, I expect we’ll reach out to Ryan Rishaug who is always generous with his time. It’s what we call ‘all hands on deck’ and I hope you make us your destination this morning. 10-1260 text, @Lowetide on twitter.
Keegan Lowe does it again – shot from inside the left point deflects off a Condor (Joe G.) and in.
Patrick Russell with the 2nd assist.
3-1 Condors early in the second.
————————-
Ooop, Ethan Bear walks in from the blue line and roofs one from the slot second after the puck is dropped.
4-1 Condors.
Day and Benson with the assists.
Benson with two assists takes over the team lead in scoring from Marody.
I’m sure Hall was a handful, maybe still is.
Thing is if you are getting pushback from a player and that player is getting things done you suck it up, and if you can’t take it at least wait until you can get an appropriate return.
Same with Eberle, after another start to a 20 goal season he’d have brought more.
Timing is important.
We hear a lot of people gnash their teeth about McDavid asking for a trade, but I would be much more worried about RNH. No one has suffered this crap show more than him and he’s also a UFA in two years. Not only that, he spends most of his time playing with kids who should be in the AHL or fourth liners. I would see no reason why he would stay here beyond blind loyalty.
h) Would be MacT’s boss,
“Sorry Craig I need you to clean the executive washroom again.”
Although they scored a couple of goals early in the 2nd, as we’ve seen many times this year from the Condors, after a dominating first, they’ve lagged in the 2nd. Eagles just scored with 4 left in the 2nd to cut the lead to 4-2 and have been the better team this period.
Condors get a late PP, their first of the game, and Bear is indeed on PP1 (Jones was PP1 prior to his recall).
Actually, both Bear and Jones are out there.
I don’t follow mark spector usually because, well, I think we all know, but saw this and giggled like a schoolgirl.
“Can report that the Koskinen deal was negotiated between Chiarelli and the agent, Markus Lehto. No one else from Oilers end.”
OriginalPouzar,
Ty for updates!
My pleasure (although I get derided for doing it on another platform).
With that said, bedtime for me, 2:05 am comes quick!
Nicholson debunked that OBC leak to Spector in the presser. It was a group decision long in the planning.
As I’m doing other stuff, I’ve been keeping an eye on the Condor’s twitter. Currently up 6-2 in the 3rd period, Benson with a 3 point night so far, Bear with another nice goal.
My take; which is probably not needed in this smart group, is this: Katz is a coward.
I am surprised that you would take that as a truth. There is no reason to believe anything from this org in the press, especially regarding something that on the surface is patently incompetent, or any public statement from any profit seeking org.
To be completely honest would mean getting fired at some point if not immediately. Money needs making. Faces need saving.. I wish the goalies could save their faces more.
He said a lot of things. He knew that would be bad optics.
So after all this, all the discussion of trades and talent drain and roster and years of OBC interference we have the answer to the problem with the Oilers. He was asked what the Oilers problem was and replied “they hate Hitch”
Right.
So then replace Hitch tomorrow. Team is good now? Problem solved.
I may have jumped the gun on you here because I have not read the whole thread, but my judgement tells me a lot of things are wrong, and a Hitchcock dislike would be the most minimal and easily fixable problem.
Edit: I don’t doubt your info. I don’t doubt that players talk. I just don’t think the source identified the problem
Can I just post this as mine instead?
I actually picture the Oilers like South Park views economic policy.
https://youtu.be/wz-PtEJEaqY
This whole scene feels like Darryl Katz’ sandbox (as others have hinted over the years).
For the CEO of a multi-billion dollar business, this Oilers product is the sh!ts. In a pure business sense, I guess there’s still some money to be milked from the enterprise but the brand is tarnished and in danger of devaluation.
If the owner would apply a few basic business principles: lean corporate design (no hangers-on, I’m looking at most of the OBC here), quality assurance, accountability, deliverables and renewal. Is there any aspect of this organization that is excellent? Scouting? Development? Quality product? Maybe the ability to deliver a ‘public-private partnership’ building (bilking the AB taxpayer!).
I like what McCrimmon helped do in LV – find undervalued modern players. Yet, why would any self-respecting NHL executive want to be a part of this gong show?
The weird nostalgic, impatient, intolerant culture has eaten strategy for a decade. New broom!
Bob Nicholson: “the next GM will have good player evaluation skills”
I present to you the premier talent evaluator in the game today:
Al Murray
Tampa Bay Lightning Director of Amateur Scouting
Last year is a long time ago to remember.
Suppose next you are going to try and tell us that we haven’t always been at war with Eurasia.
Colorado, Anaheim, and Vancouver all lose.
It really ain’t over, folks.
Im not sure it’s the same skill set, though he’d be a good hire st what he does.
Burgers mentioned the GM managing a lot of things. I think this is a mistake.
What the GM needs to do is firstly make sure the nhl team works, that means cap management, having the right coach for the team and successful trades.
Of course the farm and other assets need to produce but that can be handled by others. Too many hats in critical positions means greasy hair under all of them, or a greasy scalp.
This is the strangest of years. It may actually drop to 88 pts as cutoff for the wild card. The west truly is a tire fire this year.
John Chambers,
That’s so great but the playoffs are what convinced mgmt we were good in the first place..
Get in, get swept in 4 by CGY…
Is that the goal here?
Well Gang…
The rest of this hockey season can be looked upon as rather a treat for all of us. So many years spent post Halloween looking at future prospects & drafts. Many others bashing management. One where we discussed how far the team can go in the playoffs. Well we are now presented with an in depth look at how the Oilers will search & hire a GM. We’ve never had this process come to us unfolding as the team is folding. Kind of exciting. Ahhh…maybe I’m just too numb to be angry.
Wow – looks like I missed the Condors put on a show in the third, outshooting the Eagles 18-6 and outscorig them 3-0:
Callahan from Espositto
Stanton from Day and Benson on a PP
Jones from Bear and Callahan on a PP
Bear with 1G and 1A and his goal was a beauty.
Benson with 3 apples.
A sixth straight win for the Condors and a massive win against the team chasing them for a playoff spot.
Yamamoto and Spooner should add some more offensive punch to the team for this weekend.
Do we believe him when he says the organization has made mistakes developing prospects, has been guilty of bringing up the top guys too quick and an organizational change needs to be made or do we believe that because it was an acknowledgement of error and simply don’t believe the stuff that doesn’t put the organization in a bad light?
Seems that statement was pretty honest and damning of how the organization has operated in a pretty material area, top prospect development.
Lowe Howson MacT Nicholson all stay = no difference at all…
I can’t see Tier 1 teenagers wanting tickets to games suddenly, just because the madman who destroyed the Oilers future is gone. Not with the OBC rotten corrupt to the core remaining.
Mario Tremblay could not handle Roy. Look how that turned out for him and the Canadiens!
The lineup is fatally flawed, that we know…..we changed the coach but nothing changed……my point is they are even worse now than they were under Todd…the question is why?……Hitch does not have a magic wand and as a matter of fact the players hate having him as coach and it is manifesting in very bad performances
Ive never heard this before, anybody else?
From Jason Botchford
“Moments before trading picks No. 16 and 33 for Griffin Reinhart, Chiarelli was about to trade those same two picks for Erik Gudbranson.”
He’s an NHLer at least lol
I wonder what happened (if true)
Could the back half of this season see some calm – no GM, no panic moves, expectations greatly reduced… and in that lull McDavid gets some consistent linemates, players play for their craft, Hitchcock coaches to teach, and lo and behold the Oilers find an Art Ross and a Wild Card at the end of this turbulent rainbow?
That would get Connor is well deserved MVP and this season he would become legend regardless of what happens in the playoffs.
– I will probably repost this, but I’ve been thinking about what is the best interest long-term for the team in terms of results for rest of year?
– Ideally, Sek and Klef come back and the team plays a lot better, and gets into the playoffs and shows well.
– As a fan, this is what we should all want. But what does a playoff berth and good results mean?
– I don’t want Hitch back as coach next year. I don’t want the org thinking all they need is a new shiny GM who is way better than Chia and we can fix this bad-boy up in a jiffy
– I fear that a playoff run might actually not be the best for the org, as it might make them think that its all good: is that crazy talk on my part?
I’d never heard that before.
QFT this fine Thursday morning