I had to check my head, I thought at first this was April 1st all over again:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/edmonton-oilers/Oilers+Steve+Tambellini+speaks+noon/1499196/story.html (http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/edmonton-oilers/Oilers+Steve+Tambellini+speaks+noon/1499196/story.html)
So now we finally get to see how the Oilers will perform under a different coach. Thoughts?
My two cents is that it isn't wholly anyone's fault for the poor games the Oilers have had. The team, coach, and coaching staff all have to work together to make things happen. MacT may be leaving and he is unpopular with many fans including myself. It's no guarantee of improvement but a change will help.
I don't know if it will be the turn of the tide for the oil, but it is a start. Now if we get a professional NHL coach behind the bench (not just a player made coach), maybe the oil will be pointed in a positive direction.
Time will tell.
I wouldn't mind seeing a coach who can inspire his players. Our players are good enough to do well, but all the little stories you hear about how MacT talks to them is that he batters them down when they do wrong - better to praise them when they do right.
I'd like to see the team make playoffs at least 50% of the time in a decade...
2006, 2003, 2001, 2000: http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=30997 (http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=30997)
Out of 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, (no 2005 due to lockout), 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000. Well, 4/9 is almost 50%...
Did you know there's only six players left from the team that went to game 7 of the Stanley Cup final in 2006? Did you know Kyle Brodziak is one of 'em? Man, this team keeps flipping players.
That's something else that needs to change.
Is it just me or have we been in a "rebuilding" phase for almost 15 years already?
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 16, 2009, 12:02:30 AM
That's something else that needs to change.
Is it just me or have we been in a "rebuilding" phase for almost 15 years already?
Indeed, but that is because we keep doing it, while tring to make the playoffs every year. If you look at the good young teams now, they really tanked it for a few years to get the really high draft picks, and then start building around those picks.