Matt Henderson: G51 Oilers @ Jets: Random Thoughts

Jets are on fire...look out Oil

Really thought the Oil looked like the would compete this year, on paper at least. I'm sure they won't do to much more then they have this season to change things but what happens if 50 games in next season we are seeing the same results? ( Not saying they will ) Do one of the big two then become available or will it be Eberle or Yak that get shipped off to send a message and acquire a piece that will help make the Oil more of a team then a bunch of young stars.

Really thought the Oil looked like the would compete this year, on paper at least. I'm sure they won't do to much more then they have this season to change things but what happens if 50 games in next season we are seeing the same results? ( Not saying they will ) Do one of the big two then become available or will it be Eberle or Yak that get shipped off to send a message and acquire a piece that will help make the Oil more of a team then a bunch of young stars.
- blizzzard

I don't think this team goes anywhere with Eakins in control. They have a much better team but the results haven't been worse. Since Mctavish went out of his way to hire eakins, he will never admit his mistake to it either. Eakins needs to get his poop together. Making this franchise look like the biggest joke ever.
Also, Hall and RNH won't be moved imo. Eberle will be the first one traded out of the 4 i think. But who knows, maybe Yak and his bumhole agent demand a trade cause of Eakin's pathetic treatment towards him, which doesn't seem like it'll end soon.

Really thought the Oil looked like the would compete this year, on paper at least. I'm sure they won't do to much more then they have this season to change things but what happens if 50 games in next season we are seeing the same results? ( Not saying they will ) Do one of the big two then become available or will it be Eberle or Yak that get shipped off to send a message and acquire a piece that will help make the Oil more of a team then a bunch of young stars.
- blizzzard

I agree with you, Blizz ... but if we are ven 20 games into next season without at least a .500 record, it's time for an overhaul.

That said, unless some significant upgrades at defense, and some added size and grit, I see no way that next year will look any different, regardless of who is behind the bench.

I would love to see the seas part and Weber end up here, but barring that I think we need to go no-holds barred after Girardi in the off season. I would also love to see a trade that could swing Coutourier and/or Simmonds our way. (One can dream)

I don't think this team goes anywhere with Eakins in control. They have a much better team but the results haven't been worse. Since Mctavish went out of his way to hire eakins, he will never admit his mistake to it either. Eakins needs to get his poop together. Making this franchise look like the biggest joke ever.
Also, Hall and RNH won't be moved imo. Eberle will be the first one traded out of the 4 i think. But who knows, maybe Yak and his bumhole agent demand a trade cause of Eakin's pathetic treatment towards him, which doesn't seem like it'll end soon.
- JasonDh

Yea I wasn't buying all the hype that came with Eakins and you know with how many Toronto fans there are that his hype would get way overblown. I really liked the guy before him kruger was it ? He had them playing quite well didn't see why he needed to go.

I agree with you, Blizz ... but if we are ven 20 games into next season without at least a .500 record, it's time for an overhaul.

That said, unless some significant upgrades at defense, and some added size and grit, I see no way that next year will look any different, regardless of who is behind the bench.

I would love to see the seas part and Weber end up here, but barring that I think we need to go no-holds barred after Girardi in the off season. I would also love to see a trade that could swing Coutourier and/or Simmonds our way. (One can dream)
- JasonHarrison

I see the Rangers play more then the Oil because they are a rival but do you think maybe Girardi was a product of Torts system ? Not sure if he picked it up lately but I thought he had been struggling since Torts left so I'm not sure how he would do in another system. Especially since I thought Ference would help out your back end quite a bit but that hasn't happened. Obviously Ference is a lower caliber player the G but he was exactly what I thought the Oil needed. I think a guy like Zubrus would help a lot as well in their bottom six but he is playing great on our top line with Jagr and Zajac.

The hit was a clean hit and the oilers rarely ever stand up for their own, I think the last time was the first game against Winnipeg when joensuu fought buff

I can understand why the other guys wouldn't like yak, but at the same time I'm sure it isn't that bad. I just think that because his season is awful everything bad gets magnified and everything good gets shoved under the rug

I don't think this team goes anywhere with Eakins in control. They have a much better team but the results haven't been worse. Since Mctavish went out of his way to hire eakins, he will never admit his mistake to it either. Eakins needs to get his poop together. Making this franchise look like the biggest joke ever.
Also, Hall and RNH won't be moved imo. Eberle will be the first one traded out of the 4 i think. But who knows, maybe Yak and his bumhole agent demand a trade cause of Eakin's pathetic treatment towards him, which doesn't seem like it'll end soon.
- JasonDh

I feel so bad for the city of Edmonton and my 35 year old son who are diehard Oiler fans. Eakins is a joke as is the rest of management. Everyone is laughting

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

Nobody knows winning like Kevin Lowe

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.

I feel so bad for the city of Edmonton and my 35 year old son who are diehard Oiler fans. Eakins is a joke as is the rest of management. Everyone is laughting
- flyerdude17

I'm laughing with them, not at them

Yea I wasn't buying all the hype that came with Eakins and you know with how many Toronto fans there are that his hype would get way overblown. I really liked the guy before him kruger was it ? He had them playing quite well didn't see why he needed to go.
- blizzzard

Kruger wasn't that great. His power play was slightly better ( less that a 2% difference) and he had a goalie playing up to his potential. He had this team getting badly outshot, however, he did have a better winning % and at the end of the day, that's what counts. I'm not really sure that Scotty Bowman or Al Arbour could have coached this team to a winning record this year, but I am certain that Eakins is over his head somewhat.

Matt Henderson: G51 Oilers @ Jets: Random Thoughts
- Matt_Henderson

Hate to say this but if Yak didn't get hurt last game, he would of had it coming this game. I'm sure Ladd/Buff would have finished him off for his antics on Pavelec.

Was hoping to see Scrivens back in the net but I'm sure he'll play in game 52.

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

100% Bubba. Minimum 5 players needed in key roles. New additions must be competitive , physical, experienced, respected and productive In Their roles.

100% Bubba. Minimum 5 players needed in key roles. New additions must be competitive , physical, experienced, respected and productive In Their roles.
- Jeropotato

all of those things are desperately needed.

at least 1 guy in the top 6
1 guy in the bottom 6
2 guys on the backend
a goalie


id prefer 2 additions to the top 6, but ill settle for 5 impact guys...

As a Jets fan, I have had this game marked on my calendar for a while for the pure fact alone that Yakupov was going to be given a hard time for his elbow to Pavs head.... but he isn't playing which is probably in Yaks best interest.... I know the boys were furious about that.

Will be an interesting game..

I feel so bad for the city of Edmonton and my 35 year old son who are diehard Oiler fans. Eakins is a joke as is the rest of management. Everyone is laughting
- flyerdude17

....and the tradition continues in Philidelphia with the extention of Steve Mason, as he tries to navigate the same pathetic path previously blazed by Roman Czechmanek, Micheal Leighton and Ilya Bryzgalov

Just kidding, Mason is playing better since he landed in Philly and they are legit contenders now.

all of those things are desperately needed.

at least 1 guy in the top 6
1 guy in the bottom 6
2 guys on the backend
a goalie


id prefer 2 additions to the top 6, but ill settle for 5 impact guys...
- hugefemale dog77

Yeah, that was bare minimum, and the reason I think we miss the playoffs next year. Not a knock on Mac T's abilities, just think its a retardedly tall order , signing 5 key guys. I would be ecstatic if we got 3.

I was hoping to see Scrivens play, but oh well! Than again, perhaps he will if Bryz (frank)s up (which is likely).

Yeah, that was bare minimum, and the reason I think we miss the playoffs next year. Not a knock on Mac T's abilities, just think its a retardedly tall order , signing 5 key guys. I would be ecstatic if we got 3.
- Jeropotato

1 guy for the top 6
1 for the bottom
1 impact defencemen


even sticking with scrivens/bryzgalov


id be shocked and ecstatic

1 guy for the top 6
1 for the bottom
1 impact defencemen


even sticking with scrivens/bryzgalov


id be shocked and ecstatic
- hugefemale dog77

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.

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.

The hit was a clean hit and the oilers rarely ever stand up for their own, I think the last time was the first game against Winnipeg when joensuu fought buff

I can understand why the other guys wouldn't like yak, but at the same time I'm sure it isn't that bad. I just think that because his season is awful everything bad gets magnified and everything good gets shoved under the rug
- CrustyRooster

I agree with your last sentence. Nobody looks for someone to blame when you're winning.