I think the Flyers and Oilers match up well for a move. Maybe L.Schenn for Perron? I wuld like to move Coburn and Read for Eberle. I think the Oilers need a new mix
- J35Bacher

If not wanting Luke Schenn for perron is over valuing our players, then whichever blogger spewed that nonsense is totally correct.

No thanks

Sell low! It's the only way ull ever get better!

Trade:
Oilers 2015 1st round pick

for

Calgary

Smid

French is close. Cordell is correct that defence is the biggest thing. Getting true top pair would make a lot of the other things diminish.

Trade:
Oilers 2015 1st round pick

for

Calgary

Smid
- buddy_doug

Good one.

Lol....

He has nothing to do with it. I'm not a klowe supporter but he's not the problem. Removing him accomplishes nothing.
- Iggysbff

"but he's been there from the start of the losing culture, KLowe is the problem".

Their is so much you guys need to do it is a lost cause. So much for sabres being the laughing stock of the league. Talk about tanking 6 game losing streak you guys should crawl in a hole and be embarrased.

Just in case Iggy

French is close. Cordell is correct that defends is the biggest thing. Getting true top pair would make a lot of the other things diminish.
- Iggysbff

There are just so many things wrong... I feel bad for you guys.

I'm also convinced that Eakins' "SWARM!!!" defensive scheme is completely ineffective at an NHL level. It works in lesser leagues where the opposition doesn't have the hockey sense to react intelligently in a very short period of time, but NHLers don't panic. They find an outlet and suddenly 4 players are completely out of position.

Perron is right that the leadership of the team needs to address the issues, but I don't see Hall/Ferrence/whoever stepping up and saying "This isn't working. We need to try something else."

If Eakins can't adjust his game plan, then he needs to go. If MacT can't bring in defensive help then he needs to go, and if both Eakins and MacT need to be fired, then so does Kevin Lowe.

You should be able to build a contender around Hall, and RNH. It might cost you Perron, or Eberle, or Yakupov, some combination of them... but this roster needs some balance. Open up the market for these guys and play GMs off one another. There are other teams out there desperate to make changes right now too.

Lol....

He has nothing to do with it. I'm not a klowe supporter but he's not the problem. Removing him accomplishes nothing.
- Iggysbff

I disagree... If you remove Klowe it takes the stamp that has been dark for these last 8 years... It also indicates new beginnings... New faces and likely new focus... But you have to clear the entire group MacT and all the buddies... start fresh...

There are just so many things wrong... I feel bad for you guys.

I'm also convinced that Eakins' "SWARM!!!" defensive scheme is completely ineffective at an NHL level. It works in lesser leagues where the opposition doesn't have the hockey sense to react intelligently in a very short period of time, but NHLers don't panic. They find an outlet and suddenly 4 players are completely out of position.

Perron is right that the leadership of the team needs to address the issues, but I don't see Hall/Ferrence/whoever stepping up and saying "This isn't working. We need to try something else."

If Eakins can't adjust his game plan, then he needs to go. If MacT can't bring in defensive help then he needs to go, and if both Eakins and MacT need to be fired, then so does Kevin Lowe.

You should be able to build a contender around Hall, and RNH. It might cost you Perron, or Eberle, or Yakupov, some combination of them... but this roster needs some balance. Open up the market for these guys and play GMs off one another. There are other teams out there desperate to make changes right now too.
- jtommyt

I'm with Mact. I don't think Eakins is the issue. We are one of the most improved corsi teams this year. If not the most. Its not translating into wins because of two things IMO. A true top defender. And a better center depth chart. We still struggle to get scoring depth. And our back end is one of the lowest scoring in the league. Two big holes. Fix those and we improve immensely IMO.

I'm with Mact. I don't think Eakins is the issue. We are one of the most improved corsi teams this year. If not the most. Its not translating into wins because of two things IMO. A true top defender. And a better center depth chart. We still struggle to get scoring depth. And our back end is one of the lowest scoring in the league. Two big holes. Fix those and we improve immensely IMO.
- Iggysbff

This. Backup goalies can succeed, providing the team that is in front of them are capable of playing a solid team game.

sure, why not? but you have to take Jultz.
- ChetManly

I'll take Boyd Gordon instead

I'll take Boyd Gordon instead
- SABRES 89

He's our best faceoff man!

I'm with Mact. I don't think Eakins is the issue. We are one of the most improved corsi teams this year. If not the most. Its not translating into wins because of two things IMO. A true top defender. And a better center depth chart. We still struggle to get scoring depth. And our back end is one of the lowest scoring in the league. Two big holes. Fix those and we improve immensely IMO.
- Iggysbff

and this:

BEN SCRIVENS 3.35 .887
VIKTOR FASTH 3.37 .890

One thing I should have mentioned before I hit "enter." The Oilers need to either take a stand with Eakins and his system and get players that fit that mold or get rid of him and find a coach that will run and gun (Wilson or Crawford?). They are in the middle and it looks like a soap opera out there. Don't know which might be more successful, but its getting to that point.

and this:

BEN SCRIVENS 3.35 .887
VIKTOR FASTH 3.37 .890
- nanook82

I bet that improves immensely with a better team in front of them.

He's our best faceoff man!
- ChetManly

You can have Hodgson

I think the Flyers and Oilers match up well for a move. Maybe L.Schenn for Perron? I wuld like to move Coburn and Read for Eberle. I think the Oilers need a new mix
- J35Bacher

thats what you would like ? What about the oilers .... Those are awful
How would you feel about Simmonds for Arcobello and nikitin or maybe coburn B schenn for Arco and Shultz ??

You can have Hodgson
- SABRES 89

no.

I bet that improves immensely with a better team in front of them.
- Iggysbff

Agreed.

I am not an Oil fan, but a casual observer. I want to see them do better, because they are a small market team.

So I don't see the Oil play a ton, but every time I do, or see highlights, or hear a post-game conference, I am struck by how bad Eakins is. Now here is my confusion, why is the finger not pointed at him more. I get that Lowe's job has been abysmal, and MacT maybe hasn't brought the right players in (though I suspect anybody would have trouble with that at this point), but Eakins is so obviously a problem.

* The anonymous GM poll place him almost last in the league.
* He is all about pointing the finger, which is the opposite of accountability. From blaming players junior coaches, to the media, etc.
* I hear people complaining about management not bringing in the right players, but how about Eakins rewarding the the wrong players. He plays the hell out of J Schultz,
and his soft forward lines. I have watched him bench 3rd liners for a turn over, yet hall and eberle can turn it over 10x a period without repercussion. He regularily healthy scratched his best defensive defenseman like N Schultz, Smid, etc when they were there. Look at N Schultz in Philly now, much like the stalwart he was in Minny. While Smid is no world beater in Calgary, no one questions his effort or heart.
* Un-professional. The whole Travis Moen thing, and many other incidents. Do you think Scotty Bowman, would drop an F-Bomb and flew off the handle because Travis Moen observed the Oilers like to play north south hockey? Taking donuts away from reporters... is this something a professional NHL coach should be concerned with, or someone concerned with asserting their authority?
* Personality: He comes off as smarmy, arrogant, condescending, trailer trash in a suit. That is my view from 1000 km away, what is the players opinion?
* Players simply don't buy into his system. Maybe his system is great, but they aren't buying it, so it doesn't matter. I am guessing my previous point has something to do with him not being liked. Yeah you can say there are coaches not liked in the dressing room that get results, but those coaches have paid their dues, and earned respect through actions, which Eakins hasn't.

But I hear people lamenting poor Dallas Eakins like Steven Simmons, and even in this thread. I have also heard fans in this forum voicing that Eakins isn't the problem. These are my observations, so I just wondering what I am missing?

I am not an Oil fan, but a casual observer. I want to see them do better, because they are a small market team.

So I don't see the Oil play a ton, but every time I do, or see highlights, or hear a post-game conference, I am struck by how bad Eakins is. Now here is my confusion, why is the finger not pointed at him more. I get that Lowe's job has been abysmal, and MacT maybe hasn't brought the right players in (though I suspect anybody would have trouble with that at this point), but Eakins is so obviously a problem.

* The anonymous GM poll place him almost last in the league.
* He is all about pointing the finger, which is the opposite of accountability. From blaming players junior coaches, to the media, etc.
* I hear people complaining about management not bringing in the right players, but how about Eakins rewarding the the wrong players. He plays the hell out of J Schultz,
and his soft forward lines. I have watched him bench 3rd liners for a turn over, yet hall and eberle can turn it over 10x a period without repercussion. He regularily healthy scratched his best defensive defenseman like N Schultz, Smid, etc when they were there. Look at N Schultz in Philly now, much like the stalwart he was in Minny. While Smid is no world beater in Calgary, no one questions his effort or heart.
* Un-professional. The whole Travis Moen thing, and many other incidents. Do you think Scotty Bowman, would drop an F-Bomb and flew off the handle because Travis Moen observed the Oilers like to play north south hockey? Taking donuts away from reporters... is this something a professional NHL coach should be concerned with, or someone concerned with asserting their authority?
* Personality: He comes off as smarmy, arrogant, condescending, trailer trash in a suit. That is my view from 1000 km away, what is the players opinion?
* Players simply don't buy into his system. Maybe his system is great, but they aren't buying it, so it doesn't matter. I am guessing my previous point has something to do with him not being liked. Yeah you can say there are coaches not liked in the dressing room that get results, but those coaches have paid their dues, and earned respect through actions, which Eakins hasn't.

But I hear people lamenting poor Dallas Eakins like Steven Simmons, and even in this thread. I have also heard fans in this forum voicing that Eakins isn't the problem. These are my observations, so I just wondering what I am missing?
- snowsquirrel

Agreed. Eakins has to take responsibility for the team's on ice play. Look at the Canucks this year compared to last year? I think coaching has a lot to do with that situation.

Fire your coach because it is so (frank)ing easy.

Put MacT behind the bench until spring.

Their is so much you guys need to do it is a lost cause. So much for sabres being the laughing stock of the league. Talk about tanking 6 game losing streak you guys should crawl in a hole and be embarrased.
- hanleyaj

Who? The fans?
We didn't pick the team. Frustrating that my team can't get over the hump, but it's not embarrassing. Doesn't change my life one way or another.

The quality of your posts is what's Truly embarassing

This Team has had the wrong mix of players for years. Regardless of what Lowe says, this is not MacT's team, it's Lowe who was the architect of it all. So, meaningful change starts at the top. Only then can you begin to change the "culture".
MacT doesn't admit that Eakins is a problem because in MacT's inexperience, he went out to get Eakins and now is in denial & doesn't want to admit he's wrong. I said last year that hiring a rookie GM who then hires a rookie coach is a recipe for disaster; it surely has been that.
So, they fire Chabot---hopefully there's much more to come.

I bet that improves immensely with a better team in front of them.
- Iggysbff

Oh yea, consdering these are the worst goalie stats in the leauge, on any team. The Oilers obviously have the worst (frank)ing team in the NHL on paper