To Oilers Fans Everywhere:

We all thought this was going to be the year the Oilers turned the corner. Obviously, that hasn’t happened, and it hurts. It’s frustrating – for all of us. For our fans, for our players and staff, and for everyone in our community who shares a common bond around a game, a team and a city that we love.

I know this will almost certainly be the ninth consecutive year since we made the playoffs. I hate that fact as much as anyone, but the reality is that this is only year five of the rebuild that started when we drafted Taylor Hall. The good news, if you can call it that, is that other teams (except the (frank)ing Flames) that committed to fundamental rebuilds went through the same kind of droughts over the same kind of time frames, or longer. That doesn’t make it fun for anyone; it just means we have to stay the course.

Yes, we hoped and expected to be better this year – there’s no question about that. But we’ve also been more active than any team I can think of in rebuilding our organization from bottom to top by supporting player development in OKC and Bakersfield, revamping our scouting organization, firing our goalie coach, signing free agents like Nikita Nikitin, Mark Fayne, Benoit Pouliot, and trading for players like Teddy Purcell. And we’re not done.

But I can also tell you that we are not going to sacrifice the future by doing something short-term. Those days are over and they’re not coming back. If we’re going to rebuild, we want to do it right and we only want to do it once.

I hear a lot from fans about accountability, so let’s be clear. We are all accountable. That includes me, Kevin, Craig, Dallas, every player who wears our jersey, and every member of our staff. I know Kevin is the target of a lot of personal attacks right now, and that’s really unfortunate. Kevin is a big part of our organization, and it’s not just the Oilers that value his knowledge and perspective. He is consistently chosen, year after year, to play a leadership role with Hockey Canada. But when it comes down to it, this is Craig MacTavish’s team. He is the GM. He makes the calls, and he is accountable for building a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup -- year in and year out for years to come.

That’s our vision. We are committed to it -- and we’re confident that we are on the right track.

Our fans have been incredibly patient and supportive. At the same time, we know there’s a lot of frustration and we are asking you to hang in there while we fight through this and put the next few pieces of the team in place.

I’ll tell you this, despite everything, we all wear our Oilers colours with the same pride now as we ever have, and as we will when we’re back on top. We hope you’ll do the same.

We value our fans, we hear you, and we appreciate your support.

Daryl Katz


Fixed

Deal
- Oilfan19

chances are they don't get down that low, im guessing in the 8th-12th range.
I see D - Jeremy Roy or D - Zack Werenski in their future

that's why we are going 3rd overall for Noah! We are drafting D Baby!!!
- DDM-Coga

I'll allow it. Know what would make the Av s amuch better team though? Trading your 2015 1st for Jultz. He is a Norris calibre dman. Hanifin won't develop fast enough.

To Oilers Fans Everywhere:

We all thought this was going to be the year the Oilers turned the corner. Obviously, that hasn’t happened, and it hurts. It’s frustrating – for all of us. For our fans, for our players and staff, and for everyone in our community who shares a common bond around a game, a team and a city that we love.

I know this will almost certainly be the ninth consecutive year since we made the playoffs. I hate that fact as much as anyone, but the reality is that this is only year five of the rebuild that started when we drafted Taylor Hall. The good news, if you can call it that, is that other teams (except the (frank)ing Flames) that committed to fundamental rebuilds went through the same kind of droughts over the same kind of time frames, or longer. That doesn’t make it fun for anyone; it just means we have to stay the course.

Yes, we hoped and expected to be better this year – there’s no question about that. But we’ve also been more active than any team I can think of in rebuilding our organization from bottom to top by supporting player development in OKC and Bakersfield, revamping our scouting organization, firing our goalie coach, signing free agents like Nikita Nikitin, Mark Fayne, Benoit Pouliot, and trading for players like Teddy Purcell. And we’re not done.

But I can also tell you that we are not going to sacrifice the future by doing something short-term. Those days are over and they’re not coming back. If we’re going to rebuild, we want to do it right and we only want to do it once.

I hear a lot from fans about accountability, so let’s be clear. We are all accountable. That includes me, Kevin, Craig, Dallas, every player who wears our jersey, and every member of our staff. I know Kevin is the target of a lot of personal attacks right now, and that’s really unfortunate. Kevin is a big part of our organization, and it’s not just the Oilers that value his knowledge and perspective. He is consistently chosen, year after year, to play a leadership role with Hockey Canada. But when it comes down to it, this is Craig MacTavish’s team. He is the GM. He makes the calls, and he is accountable for building a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup -- year in and year out for years to come.

That’s our vision. We are committed to it -- and we’re confident that we are on the right track.

Our fans have been incredibly patient and supportive. At the same time, we know there’s a lot of frustration and we are asking you to hang in there while we fight through this and put the next few pieces of the team in place.

I’ll tell you this, despite everything, we all wear our Oilers colours with the same pride now as we ever have, and as we will when we’re back on top. We hope you’ll do the same.

We value our fans, we hear you, and we appreciate your support.

Daryl Katz


Fixed
- The-O-G

I hate you, so very very much.

Since the 04-05 lockout (and excluding the partial season) the Oilers have averaged 76 points per year.

This season, they're on pace for 52 points, TEN points lower than their worst season over that time.
- BINGO!

I hate you, so very very much.
- Oilfan19

Shake up this core. It's not working and even guys in the room are saying that other guys don't give a poop anymore. (frank), send em all on there way and bring in some hard working guys that will fight every night for this team. I would give anything right now for that blue collar team we had in the late 90's early 2000's because they actually went out there every night and worked there asses off. Those teams didn't have near the skill this team does but they worked hard and won games.
- Oilfan19

I was actually thinking along the same lines. What if the "core" is the problem? Too many years if losing and lack of leadership, with a dysfunctional organization, is it possible that guys lime RNH, Hall, Eberle, etc won't ever reach beyond good player status?



And at this point, Jultz isn't going to pan out. Great college and AHL player, but the game is just toobig for him at the NHL level.

I hate you, so very very much.
- Oilfan19

I know....I did it to be a jackass, but also to show what an absolute joke Katz is. He doesn't get enough of the blame IMO

I know....I did it to be a jackass, but also to show what an absolute joke Katz is. He doesn't get enough of the blame IMO
- The-O-G

youre an oilers bully

It's too bad we couldn't be better this year. Winnipeg is 8th in the west and is on pace for 39 wins and 91 points, which is pretty low compared to some other years.

20th place is down from last year too. 25th place is on pace for 11 points lower than last year.

This would have been a great year not to suck. And frankly it still can be if they stop moping.

I'll allow it. Know what would make the Av s amuch better team though? Trading your 2015 1st for Jultz. He is a Norris calibre dman. Hanifin won't develop fast enough.
- ChetManly

morning gents
- The-O-G

Eakins drives real good.

I was actually thinking along the same lines. What if the "core" is the problem? Too many years if losing and lack of leadership, with a dysfunctional organization, is it possible that guys lime RNH, Hall, Eberle, etc won't ever reach beyond good player status?



And at this point, Jultz isn't going to pan out. Great college and AHL player, but the game is just toobig for him at the NHL level.
- batjester

Anything's possible. We can only guess who's unmotivated and who isn't, but it doesn't look like RNH and Hall are unmotivated from their on-ice play.

As for Schultz, the guy never got any chance to be sheltered. He went from 0 to top pairing in less than half a season. No wonder he struggles. If a team/management took care of him, there would be a player there.

I was actually thinking along the same lines. What if the "core" is the problem? Too many years if losing and lack of leadership, with a dysfunctional organization, is it possible that guys lime RNH, Hall, Eberle, etc won't ever reach beyond good player status?



And at this point, Jultz isn't going to pan out. Great college and AHL player, but the game is just toobig for him at the NHL level.
- batjester

The only pieces that I would absolutely not move is Hall, 2015 1st and possibly Nuge. The rest can be had for the right price. Jultz would be a great 2nd line winger if he had P. Bergeron on his line

I know....I did it to be a jackass, but also to show what an absolute joke Katz is. He doesn't get enough of the blame IMO
- The-O-G

I agree man. He is letting this go on and making excuses for these guys.

Anything's possible. We can only guess who's unmotivated and who isn't, but it doesn't look like RNH and Hall are unmotivated from their on-ice play.

As for Schultz, the guy never got any chance to be sheltered. He went from 0 to top pairing in less than half a season. No wonder he struggles. If a team/management took care of him, there would be a player there.
- Morris

This 100%. Schultz can still be a great Offensive dman if paired with a #1 shutdown guy.

The only pieces that I would absolutely not move is Hall, 2015 1st and possibly Nuge. The rest can be had for the right price. Jultz would be a great 2nd line winger if he had P. Bergeron on his line
- Oilfan19

You gotta keep Nuge. You don't fix your centre depth by moving centres.

The only pieces that I would absolutely not move is Hall, 2015 1st and possibly Nuge. The rest can be had for the right price. Jultz would be a great 2nd line winger if he had P. Bergeron on his line
- Oilfan19

Does petry play his off hand or does he stick to the Right side?

I agree man. He is letting this go on and making excuses for these guys.
- Oilfan19

That letter is from almost a year ago....and what has actually changed?

Like have some (frank)ing accountability for (frank) sakes.

Guy is just cashing cheques man....it's sad to see!

You gotta keep Nuge. You don't fix your centre depth by moving centres.
- CubanBuffet

Yeah agreed.

I agree man. He is letting this go on and making excuses for these guys.
- Oilfan19

I bet he lets his son run the Oilers.

That letter is from almost a year ago....and what has actually changed?

Like have some (frank)ing accountability for (frank) sakes.

Guy is just cashing cheques man....it's sad to see!
- The-O-G

Thats the worst part. It wouldn't be a problem if we were seeing even a little progress. But it gets worse every year.

I bet he lets his son run the Oilers.
- ChetManly

wait a minute..........

Does petry play his off hand or does he stick to the Right side?
- DDM-Coga

He will do anything you want baby

This is pathetic already, how incompetent does the management/coaching/owner have to be to not make any changes at this point. Im sick of these guys keeping there jobs by saying that were rebuilding, be patient...
- Oilfan19

What deal does Mact have right now that makes them better?