Why Write Off the Oilers?

[Deathsdoorstep]

Free Agency just started yesterday. Yes, all the huge name guys went on day 1, and no, none of them went to Edmonton. None of them went a lot of teams, not just Edmonton. How would it feel to be a Habs fan today?

The Oilers are only a couple of guys short of a really solid team. They have loads of young talent to either trade or develop. They have a bloc of players who have been to the Stanley Cup Final.

Do you lot really think that everyone who had a bad year last year will repeat that again? I don't.

We've got rid of Lightweight Lupul, and added a #1 defenseman who can work the powerplay and move the puck. That is a huge improvement. Huge.

Much more can still be done to improve the team. Often, it is the second tier free agents that can make a big difference.

3 Months till camp, mates. 3 months. Yet many are resigned to the draft lotto again.

Just remember....without those injuries we would have made the playoffs, and had a real shot at winning the division.

[Numberz]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Ya, I'm kind of sick and tired of all the "the world is ending" talk around here...let's just wait and see, anything is possible.

[Diesel]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Who's going to score goals on this team?

[stamphater]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Who's going to score goals on this team?

It's a question with no solid answer. I'm just not a fan of scoring by committee. Not saying it can't work but I'm pretty sure we get one more forward at least here. Hopefully he knows how to put the puck in the net.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

There are only a handful of legitimate superstar forwards in this league. Are we going to panic because nobody came to Edmonton on day 1 of a 3 months process?

[Oiler]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Not panicking, but it is reasonable to see the Oilers at most being average for the upcoming season and in the bottom 5 more likely. If so, then it is good, as they are in rebuild mode anyway and will have to reply on their drafting (yech) and trades to improve.

[Beerfish]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

My #1 reason for some pessimism is the coaching situation.

As for all the great young talent, we'll see if they get to play or not.

[Klaus]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Stop blaming injuries for last year. This team sucks, alright? Ask any team around the league and they're probably thrilled at how easy of an opponent this Oiler team will be this upcoming year. Last year, the only reason we were leading the division around Christmas was because teams like the Canucks, Wild and Flames had not hit their full stride yet, we fluked it out and barely at that.

The Oilers have no hope of even landing a second tier player through free agency, nobody wants to be here, none of them want to come to our great city because all they have heard is bad things. The management and ownership group does not help either, obviously they have a horrible rep around the league.

Every year misled fans say "Oh, its only day one of free agency", then it turns into "Oh, its only August" then that turns into "Oh we have one more month until training camp". The fact is, nobody significant ever comes through free agency to our team and yet we hope and pray every year that things are going to be different.

As it stands, this team is in the bottom 3 of the league. Adding another d-man and a top 6 forward will not change that positioning much if at all. What we need are a #1 LW, a #1 C, a Top 4 D, and a backup goaltender before we even start talking about contending for the eighth seed.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Stop blaming injuries for last year. This team sucks, alright? Ask any team around the league and they're probably thrilled at how easy of an opponent this Oiler team will be this upcoming year. Last year, the only reason we were leading the division around Christmas was because teams like the Canucks, Wild and Flames had not hit their full stride yet, we fluked it out and barely at that.

The Oilers have no hope of even landing a second tier player through free agency, nobody wants to be here, none of them want to come to our great city because all they have heard is bad things. The management and ownership group does not help either, obviously they have a horrible rep around the league.

Every year misled fans say "Oh, its only day one of free agency", then it turns into "Oh, its only August" then that turns into "Oh we have one more month until training camp". The fact is, nobody significant ever comes through free agency to our team and yet we hope and pray every year that things are going to be different.

As it stands, this team is in the bottom 3 of the league. Adding another d-man and a top 6 forward will not change that positioning much if at all. What we need are a #1 LW, a #1 C, a Top 4 D, and a backup goaltender before we even start talking about contending for the eighth seed.

The team led the division at new year. Half the lineup was out by the beginning of march. It doesn't take a genuis to figure it out.

[Klaus]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Yes, leading the division was a fluke. Our record was not that great and teams like Calgary, Vancouver and Minnesota had not hit their stride yet. Injuries are a cop-out as far as I'm concerned.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Yes, leading the division was a fluke. Our record was not that great and teams like Calgary, Vancouver and Minnesota had not hit their stride yet. Injuries are a cop-out as far as I'm concerned.

A fluke? Okay there bud.

[Klaus]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

You think that if Vancouver had played like they did from January to the end of the year we would have been even close to the division lead? Please.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

You think that if Vancouver had played like they did from January to the end of the year we would have been even close to the division lead? Please.

Please what? The Oilers were leading the division. That's not a fluke. You have to play the games, they don't just give you points for nothing. They lost fully half their starting roster inside a month. They fell off the charts. Like I said, it doesn't take a genius to figure it out.

[Klaus]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Ok, I don't feel like debating this point any further.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: Why Write Off the Oilers?

Ok, I don't feel like debating this point any further.

You sure you're not a Flames fan. You like to troll a lot. The Oilers led the division at New Year: FACT
The Oilers lost fully 50% of their starters by the beginning of March: FACT


You can't dispute the facts. All you've countered with is: "That was a fluke".

You're a joke.