Only difference between Krueger's garbage Oilers and Eakins' garbage Oilers is that Dubnyk wasn't garbage under Krueger. The difference from 7th last to 2nd last.
- Jack-artist

Yakupov wasn't as bad either.

Only difference between Krueger's garbage Oilers and Eakins' garbage Oilers is that Dubnyk wasn't garbage under Krueger. The difference from 7th last to 2nd last.
- Jack-artist

100% Bubba. 100%.

100% Bubba. 100%.
- Jeropotato

Bubba? Isn't that a nickname that one gets in Prison ?

Yakupov wasn't as bad either.
- laughs2907

That too. Him going from not great to not good doesn't have much as an effect on anything though.

Bubba? Isn't that a nickname that one gets in Prison ?



- Reveen

No, I follow the Iron Sheik way too much on Twitter.

Yakupov wasn't as bad either.
- laughs2907

He had one good month, and thats when the season was already lost.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that the Jets are likely gonna win.

No, I follow the Iron Sheik way too much on Twitter.
- Jeropotato

That twitter account must be a train wreck. The Sheik is bat crap crazy.

He had one good month, and thats when the season was already lost.
- nanook82

Well he's due a month.

That twitter account must be a train wreck. The Sheik is bat crap crazy.
- Reveen

It's kinda funny at first, but he basically repeats the same insults over and over. My favorite last year was
"Toronto Blue Jays or Toronto Dead dog sh1t Taco? Tell me bubba.

1 impact defense man would have to be priority no 1, no matter what. With the defense we have , it doesn't matter who's in net.


What kind of player do you see in the top 6?
I vote for Center . I like Dubinski, Zajac, and Martin Hanzal , but I recognize I'm being ambitious.
- Jeropotato

agreed on all counts.

hanzal would be a dream come true. but not happening.
dubinsky is certainly intriguing as well and he helps our team far more than gagner even at his best can imo.


defence first without a doubt..

and then a new 2c in that top 6.

but with those 2 sorted, id also like to infuse a big bruising winger into that top 6. perron on the 3rd line or moving up and down

Only difference between Krueger's garbage Oilers and Eakins' garbage Oilers is that Dubnyk wasn't garbage under Krueger. The difference from 7th last to 2nd last.
- Jack-artist

or is thumbs down more applicable?

Good post. The players aren't backing each other up. Usually, when things are going poorly, the players at least come closer together--look at Philly last Fall. But we don't see that here. There is no clear leader who is able to inspire the group.
It's usually darkest before the dawn, but looking at this group, we're only at 3 a.m., so it'll get even worse before we see any improvement.
For those who think we're only a few players away from being competitive, I ask them to look again at the total picture: players, coaches, management. There's nothing that I see that gives me hope of this Team being able to turn it around anytime soon and that sucks big time.

Good post. The players aren't backing each other up. Usually, when things are going poorly, the players at least come closer together--look at Philly last Fall. But we don't see that here. There is no clear leader who is able to inspire the group.
It's usually darkest before the dawn, but looking at this group, we're only at 3 a.m., so it'll get even worse before we see any improvement.
For those who think we're only a few players away from being competitive, I ask them to look again at the total picture: players, coaches, management. There's nothing that I see that gives me hope of this Team being able to turn it around anytime soon and that sucks big time.
- haymac

Yakupov + Daryl Katz's son for P.K. Subban?

I love Subban -- He's not a robot.

look at that lineup. no, really look at it and stop looking for easy answers and one guys fault.

disgustingly bad.

kids as our first line go to guys and no real help behind them
gagner and jones 2/3rds of our 2nd line.
Hendricks on the 3rd.
ference as our top pairing guy.
jultz as our top pairing guy
belov on the 2nd unit

etc etc


I cant believe any of us ever thought this team could be successful and still continue to blame it all on coaching.
everyone is at fault here. that lineup is abysmal.
no coach in this league could make that lineup into a contender. none.
- hugefemale dog77

Something you don't see or admit is that with this new Coach the team have take a big step back,now can Eakins get better next season who knows,but is not just some fans,some media as well have admit that this team have take a step back with the Coaching change,most fans and even media didn't expect the team to be a playoff contender but did expect to keep improving,and please don't say the team have improve 5v5.

What would the Oilers have done had HALL been hit you ask?

Absolutely nothing... nothing at all.

This team licks scrotum; top to bottom.

Sorry Jero... even you can't put a positivie spin on this team.

Apathy is the key word... and once that is born, it is damn hard to get rid of.

Eakins has (frank)ed this team up the ass... Yak is broken, Jultz is lost, and even Perron looks disengaged now. Deplorable!

agreed on all counts.

hanzal would be a dream come true. but not happening.
dubinsky is certainly intriguing as well and he helps our team far more than gagner even at his best can imo.


defence first without a doubt..

and then a new 2c in that top 6.

but with those 2 sorted, id also like to infuse a big bruising winger into that top 6. perron on the 3rd line or moving up and down


- hugefemale dog77

Everybody lives a bruiser, but I would also like a bigger more defensive minded winger like Kulemin. Why not both types, to move up and down depending on opponents, injuries, etc.

He had one good month, and thats when the season was already lost.
- nanook82

He improved because Krueger eventually figure out Yak and use Yak on ways to help him improve PP and with players that had the same drive as Yak.

Positives:
Mact has started retool in an effort to save the rebuild
I expect pending ufas to be moved and unwanted ufas to be moved for other unwanted ufas in an effort see if any potential can be harnessed

Our coach now knows his ahl system does not work and is attempting to grow and evolve

Okc looks primed to contribute to our roster. It seems as the trade deadline approaches the barons may add viable NHL options to our line up..... this is new

Negatives
The oilers season
The oilers record
The oilers lack of compete
- Oilerulez

Right about Eakins. This young Team needs an experienced NHL coach to guide them. We are in mid-rebuild here. We don't have the time for a minor league coach, no matter how much he was hyped, to come into the league to learn his craft.
MacT is also a rookie G.M. and it shows. Sure, he made a couple of good moves (Perron, moving Horc) but he screwed up by making public his desire to trade Hemmer, which blew up in his face, tried to sign Clarkson for ridiculous money, and predicting bold moves. So, we've got a rookie Coach, rookie GM and the old guard, ineffective assistants and the puppet-master overseeing it all, Lowe. This leadership group does not encourage optimism for many, many Fans.

Something you don't see or admit is that with this new Coach the team have take a big step back,now can Eakins get better next season who knows,but is not just some fans,some media as well have admit that this team have take a step back with the Coaching change,most fans and even media didn't expect the team to be a playoff contender but did expect to keep improving,and please don't say the team have improve 5v5.
- AlEx_OiL

eakins will have to change his coaching mentality, theories, metaphors, or philosophies. he's also learning on the fly. in the offseason, mact must let eakins pick his assistants. give him that choice.

Something you don't see or admit is that with this new Coach the team have take a big step back,now can Eakins get better next season who knows,but is not just some fans,some media as well have admit that this team have take a step back with the Coaching change,most fans and even media didn't expect the team to be a playoff contender but did expect to keep improving,and please don't say the team have improve 5v5.
- AlEx_OiL

Eakins... More like Weakins
... GET IT? GET IT? Weak cause it's close to his name, and he sucks ballzzzz.

Something you don't see or admit is that with this new Coach the team have take a big step back,now can Eakins get better next season who knows,but is not just some fans,some media as well have admit that this team have take a step back with the Coaching change,most fans and even media didn't expect the team to be a playoff contender but did expect to keep improving,and please don't say the team have improve 5v5.
- AlEx_OiL

goaltending was so weak early.
that's been the biggest difference.
we were outta the playoff race by November

dubs was decent last year behind an even worse defence


that roster we're icing is embarrassingly bad. you're delusional if you think another coach would have us winning on a regular basis with this lineup.

What would the Oilers have done had HALL been hit you ask?

Absolutely nothing... nothing at all.

This team licks scrotum; top to bottom.

Sorry Jero... even you can't put a positivie spin on this team.

Apathy is the key word... and once that is born, it is damn hard to get rid of.

Eakins has (frank)ed this team up the ass... Yak is broken, Jultz is lost, and even Perron looks disengaged now. Deplorable!
- OilDerek

Post of the year, and it's ONLY 18 days in!

eakins will have to change his coaching mentality, theories, metaphors, or philosophies. he's also learning on the fly. in the offseason, mact must let eakins pick his assistants. give him that choice.
- deks1

agree but those assistances need to be better than Eakins.

He had one good month, and thats when the season was already lost.
- nanook82

he was completely invisible for the bulk of the season.