Wait, what?
Count his lucky stars Montreal play in Montreal? That doesn't make sense. Where do you want Montreal to play? Unless we start invited European teams into the NHL, I'm fairly confident Montreal will be an Eastern team from here on out.

Anywho, when you guys relocate to Quebec City, you can enjoy the poop conference and the domination that will ensue from Hall, Yakipoo, Nurse, Pouliot, Acton and Scrivens.
- walshyleafsfan

it makes perfect sense. maybe you're missing something. just keep reading it over and over. maybe itll make sense to you eventually.....

montreal plays in the eastern conference. and because of how skewed the conferences are, hes lucky for it because his team is average and they wouldn't appear near as strong surrounded by the teams in the west. ( you see how I slowly and painfully spelled that out for you?..)

this was a rather weak attempt at a troll while attempting to defend your sh1tty conference at the same time

and did u really try and throw 'relocation' in there?? yeah, its imminent

Your Post is no less short sighted. And just by saying "ur telling ur the cold hard truth" certainly doesn't make it so.

Team speed is shortsighted. IMO, the oilers have speed to burn, but In those last few games, especially the ones he's referenced, the oilers needed to play t. t collapsing, kind of disjointed defensive style to eke out 2 points. This is the definition of trying to build a identity. Teams don't have to (and absolutely shouldn't) be one track and pigeonholed into one style of hockey. This wasn't a lack of quick decision making, it was an adjustment. As far as ugly, grinding, counter punching, defensive wins; u of all people should understand that.

Not a tough team by any stretch as they have tried to ride smaller undersized kids. But they've added some size and functional toughness this offseason. Does this make them an especially tough team? No. They tried to build a culture of skill first as their identity and made some rotors or pigeonholed themselves abit and have tried to fix it.


They're young. Period.

An offensive team that is doing its absolute best to work on defensive acumen. This isn't about a identity, it's about addressing weaknesses.

We're incredibly small in skill positions. Have tried to address that.

I'd say resilient bu that's debatable. Certainly not as vulnerable as they have been.


Light. But as I said, they were built on smaller skilled forwards to begin with.

They've got some players who like to play a rough game. But the core is still reasonably kind.

I just don't think the blog, nor your post holds much validity
- hugefemale dog77

If anything im looking big picture. Certainly not short sighted. Every team and every successful business for that matter defines itself by how they wish to represent themselves and their product. Yes, you need to find flexibility but ultimately you build yourself by how how you define yourself. Until your management decides what product theyre trying to put on the ice, you guys will be forevef lost in some undefinable system. You need somethi g to revert back to when things get difficult. May e in another 10 years you guys will figure it out.

If anything im looking big picture. Certainly not short sighted. Every team and every successful business for that matter defines itself by how they wish to represent themselves and their product. Yes, you need to find flexibility but ultimately you build yourself by how how you define yourself. Until your management decides what product theyre trying to put on the ice, you guys will be forevef lost in some undefinable system. You need somethi g to revert back to when things get difficult. May e in another 10 years you guys will figure it out.
- TandA4Flames

completely short sighted. u keep peddling these easy answers.

the oilers are an incredibly fast group. but because they are that, they shouldn't make adjustment? they should always get into a track meet because they don't want to mistake anyones definition of them?! you're confusing with good and putting the right pieces together to having a team definition. did you get this out of a textbook?
my retort is; not applicable, not applicable, not applicable

you don't watch much oilers do you?

and if you do. pay closer attention

Your Post is no less short sighted. And just by saying "ur telling ur the cold hard truth" certainly doesn't make it so.

Team speed is shortsighted. IMO, the oilers have speed to burn, but In those last few games, especially the ones he's referenced, the oilers needed to play that collapsing, kind of disjointed defensive style to eke out 2 points. This is the definition of trying to build a identity. Teams don't have to (and absolutely shouldn't) be one track and pigeonholed into one style of hockey. This wasn't a lack of quick decision making, it was an adjustment. As far as ugly, grinding, counter punching, defensive wins; u of all people should understand that.

Not a tough team by any stretch as they have tried to ride smaller undersized kids. But they've added some size and functional toughness this offseason. Does this make them an especially tough team? No. They tried to build a culture of skill first as their identity and made some rotors or pigeonholed themselves abit and have tried to fix it.


They're young. Period.

An offensive team that is doing its absolute best to work on defensive acumen. This isn't about a identity, it's about addressing weaknesses.

We're incredibly small in skill positions. Have tried to address that.

I'd say resilient bu that's debatable. Certainly not as vulnerable as they have been.


Light. But as I said, they were built on smaller skilled forwards to begin with.

They've got some players who like to play a rough game. But the core is still reasonably kind.

I just don't think the blog, nor your post holds much validity
- hugefemale dog77

And jut so we're clear, your definition of your team is, "theyre young, period."

And jut so we're clear, your definition of your team is, "theyre young, period."
- TandA4Flames

I addressed it point by point. that was one of them

try and keep up

easy answers. your confusing with good and putting the right pieces together to having a team definition. did you get this out of a textbook?
my retort is; not applicable, not applicable, not applicable

you don't watch much oilers do you?

and if you do. pay closer attention
- hugefemale dog77

You havent spent much time in the real world have you. Someday when youre done school and you start climbing g corporate ladders or attempting to start your own business, youll realize what im talking about. Im not saying Ryan's definition was correct, im just saying the Oilers dont know what they are yet. Is Mac t trying fo build an all purpose team that can play in all types of games? Is he trying to build an offensive powerhouse who will simply try to oht score ots opposed end every game? Is he trying g to build a hard working, tough to play against team that makes you pay when you come i to their building? What ars they? Tell me because sk far all you've said is "they're young." Building towards what?

I addressed it point by point. that was one of them

try and keep up
- hugefemale dog77

You didn't address anything. Like your team you jotted down a scramble of ideas with no discernable ideal of what they are. I dont think you have the 1st clue as to what they are trying to accomplish.

this team is finding theyre identity and what they need to do to be successful.
u can piegeonhole this as a negative however you like, but it doesn't hold an ounce of validity.

the oilers have the skill to achieve success through more than one set game plan. but they need to understand the basics of winning first. these boring, solid defensive wins they've recently achieved are exactly how this team is going to turn the corner. regardless of whatever identity uve decided they have or don't have

some people just cant see the big picture I guess

You didn't address anything. Like your team you jotted down a scramble of ideas with no discernable ideal of what they are. I dont think you have the 1st clue as to what they are trying to accomplish.
- TandA4Flames

maybe because you're set on the idea that a team has to have set place among their peers. I hope edm doesn't pigeonhole themselves going forward that they don't have the horses to make adjustments.

I don't think there's any question, the oilers drafted through skill and speed, but management also knows that the team requires the other facets of the game to be successful.

wait, we're a fast and skilled team. lets continue acquiring fast and skilled players through the 4th line. because that's the identity we're seen as.....
what confuses you so much? that they've got themselves a gritty, defensive 4th line now? or that they've made adjustments on the defensive side of the puck? u didn't see this coming?

maybe because you're set on the idea that a team has to have set place among their peers. I hope edm doesn't pigeonhole themselves going forward that they don't have the horses to make adjustments.

I don't think there's any question, the oilers drafted through skill and speed, but management also knows that the team requires the other facets of the game to be successful.

wait, we're a fast and skilled team. lets continue acquiring fast and skilled players through the 4th line. because that's the identity we're seen as.....
what confuses you so much? that they've got themselves a gritty, defensive 4th line now? or that they've made adjustments on the defensive side of the puck? u didn't see this coming?
- hugefemale dog77

Ok. No point in discussion this with you. You clearly lack any real life experience and prefer the simplicity of turning a blind eye to issues. In any business you need an identity, something the consumer and your employees can identify with. When everyone is on board and evefyone buys in success follows.

Ok. No point in discussion this with you. You clearly lack any real life experience and prefer the simplicity of turning a blind eye to issues. In any business you need an identity, something the consumer and your employees can identify with. When everyone is on board and evefyone buys in success follows.
- TandA4Flames

k. bye.

see ya on your next foray into oiler threads for some trolling

k. bye.

see ya on your next foray into oiler threads for some trolling
- hugefemale dog77

Not at all trolling g bro. Just trying to offer insight from a different perspective. Keep walking blindly with your lost team. Its gotten them real far so far. Keep doing exactly what your doing

You havent spent much time in the real world have you. Someday when youre done school and you start climbing g corporate ladders or attempting to start your own business, youll realize what im talking about. Im not saying Ryan's definition was correct, im just saying the Oilers dont know what they are yet. Is Mac t trying fo build an all purpose team that can play in all types of games? Is he trying to build an offensive powerhouse who will simply try to oht score ots opposed end every game? Is he trying g to build a hard working, tough to play against team that makes you pay when you come i to their building? What ars they? Tell me because sk far all you've said is "they're young." Building towards what?
- TandA4Flames

Hey there. I'm in the real world. Am an entrepreneur. Am I qualified enough to talk to you without you being condescending?

MacT has said many times that he wants to be an uptempo, smart, possession-oriented team. He's even explicitly stated he wanted to build his lines in a style similar to the way Chicago rolls them out, and explicitly stated he made defensive cuts this year not necessarily related to their overall ability, but with a real prejudice towards puck-moving ability. Stupid or no, he's made it his mission to have no more Smids or Nick Schultzes, and run 7 two-way or puck-moving dmen.

Eakins has extolled the virtues of puck possession above all else, and has certainly deployed the lines in lockstep to the way MacT has built them.

They're defining how they want the team to look, whether fans of other teams are listening.

Note: I haven't extolled the virtues of their team identity or claimed it's perfect, I just think it's absurd to say they haven't spent any time defining it in any way.

Hey there. I'm in the real world. Am an entrepreneur. Am I qualified enough to talk to you without you being condescending?

MacT has said many times that he wants to be an uptempo, smart, possession-oriented team. He's even explicitly stated he wanted to build his lines in a style similar to the way Chicago rolls them out, and explicitly stated he made defensive cuts this year not necessarily related to their overall ability, but with a real prejudice towards puck-moving ability. Stupid or no, he's made it his mission to have no more Smids or Nick Schultzes, and run 7 two-way or puck-moving dmen.

Eakins has extolled the virtues of puck possession above all else, and has certainly deployed the lines in lockstep to the way MacT has built them.

They're defining how they want the team to look, whether fans of other teams are listening.

Note: I haven't extolled the virtues of their team identity or claimed it's perfect, I just think it's absurd to say they haven't spent any time defining it in any way.
- Morris

I was never trying to condescend. I simply made a comment on a response to the blog. Someone didnt care for my opinion and tried to patronize me and i responds in kind. But thank you, you are the first one that has actually made a statement that explains where the Oilers are tryjng to go. I understand that Garner is not a popular blogger amongstget some of you Oiler faithful, but i thought he laid out a compelling argument and most attacked him for the final paragraphs that painted an ugly picture and maybe not so correct view of the team. So, like us, your team has a direction you just haven't reached the final product. Good luck to you guys, i really hope both teams fulfill their goals and AB has 2 power house teams again.

I was never trying to condescend. I simply made a comment on a response to the blog. Someone didnt care for my opinion and tried to patronize me and i responds in kind. But thank you, you are the first one that has actually made a statement that explains where the Oilers are tryjng to go. I understand that Garner is not a popular blogger amongstget some of you Oiler faithful, but i thought he laid out a compelling argument and most attacked him for the final paragraphs that painted an ugly picture and maybe not so correct view of the team. So, like us, your team has a direction you just haven't reached the final product. Good luck to you guys, i really hope both teams fulfill their goals and AB has 2 power house teams again.
- TandA4Flames

Yours was about the first post on the matter I saw, so I shouldn't have butt in before grabbing the context.

I think the my stance is less that we're lacking identity, but maybe that we need to re-think it a little.

We hear all the time from critics that "it's too much of the same skillset" and "this isn't the 80s anymore, you can't reliably win games 7-5 all the time" and I think the way they've gone about building the team, there's a kernel of truth to that. Hence why guys like Pouliot, Purcell and Fayne who maybe give the team a different look are good for business.

I think the complete roster haul (I believe counting draft pick trades MacT made the most roster moves of any GM in the history of hockey last year) points that they're trying to carve something out. I don't know whether it'll work perfectly, but making tweaks on the fly is a lot more enjoyable if you at least get back to mediocrity

Yours was about the first post on the matter I saw, so I shouldn't have butt in before grabbing the context.

I think the my stance is less that we're lacking identity, but maybe that we need to re-think it a little.

We hear all the time from critics that "it's too much of the same skillset" and "this isn't the 80s anymore, you can't reliably win games 7-5 all the time" and I think the way they've gone about building the team, there's a kernel of truth to that. Hence why guys like Pouliot, Purcell and Fayne who maybe give the team a different look are good for business.

I think the complete roster haul (I believe counting draft pick trades MacT made the most roster moves of any GM in the history of hockey last year) points that they're trying to carve something out. I don't know whether it'll work perfectly, but making tweaks on the fly is a lot more enjoyable if you at least get back to mediocrity
- Morris

well said