i know. i love him, but i just know that i'd (frank)ING HATE HIM if he was on another team.

the one thing i'll say is that he doesn't seem to have that "dirty streak" that his brother has shown......at least not yet.....and obviously not the same offensive game, again, not yet.
- sensarmy_11

Yeah. Brady is the angel of the 2

i know. i love him, but i just know that i'd (frank)ING HATE HIM if he was on another team.

the one thing i'll say is that he doesn't seem to have that "dirty streak" that his brother has shown......at least not yet.....and obviously not the same offensive game, again, not yet.
- sensarmy_11

Oh I’m sure it will come.

Oh I’m sure it will come.
- Wildschwein

the offense, or the scum bag tendencies?

I don’t know.. we’re playing with 6+ new players on the roster with most of them having career years. I think the Tavares effect is over rated.
- Flamin_Irishmin

Flames have 5 skaters who’re going to post 70+ points this season, with one of them being a Norris caliber defender. They also play in the weakest of the 4 Divisions.

The Islanders have 2 skaters that MIGHT crack 60+ points, and no defender that comes remotely close to Gio. They also play in the 2nd toughest Division, with the likes of Pittsburgh, Columbus, Carolina and Washington.

One of these coaches has done much more with far less, in far more trying circumstances.

I won’t even bother with Tampa.

the offense, or the scum bag tendencies?
- sensarmy_11

Both.

dude, i say this knowing full well that my team is hot garbage, but i don't think the issue with the oilers is effort....i think it's a SEVERE lack of talent. McDavid and Draisaitl are all-world (97 is the best on earth, and 29 is top 10 IMO), RNH and Nurse are nice pieces, but beyond that is basically a collection of AHL calibre players.

like holy hell, you have Kassian, Chiasson, and Lucic in your top six......
- sensarmy_11

It’s also a lack of effort on some people’s parts but yes obviously talent is an issue as well....look at what Arizona is doing right now having lost 350+ man games due to injury....sorry but I’m not buying that it’s just a lack of talent

It’s also a lack of effort on some people’s parts but yes obviously talent is an issue as well....look at what Arizona is doing right now having lost 350+ man games due to injury....sorry but I’m not buying that it’s just a lack of talent
- RatedR80

i don't know man......granted you see them play way more than me, but it seems like the fact they're even in a playoff race at this point speaks to the fact that there is actually pretty decent effort.

there are teams with far more depth and talent who were eliminated a long time ago, edmonton is still in it. a lot of that is McDavid and Draisaitl, but they seemed to be playing pretty hard tonight

i don't know man......granted you see them play way more than me, but it seems like the fact they're even in a playoff race at this point speaks to the fact that there is actually pretty decent effort.

there are teams with far more depth and talent who were eliminated a long time ago, edmonton is still in it. a lot of that is McDavid and Draisaitl, but they seemed to be playing pretty hard tonight
- sensarmy_11

It’s both the lack of talent and effort tbh....no excuse for the slow start vs the Sens in a “do or die” game at home but that’s just how it is regardless of who we play against.....I’m hoping for lots of changes in the off season but we shall see

It’s also a lack of effort on some people’s parts but yes obviously talent is an issue as well....look at what Arizona is doing right now having lost 350+ man games due to injury....sorry but I’m not buying that it’s just a lack of talent
- RatedR80

That Russell/Nurse pairing continues to play the game of putting eachother in the worst possible positions to defend. Larsson seems to be going along with it somewhat, but Klef won't have any of that garbage.

Is it just me or has it really become clear that Lucic only ever looks straight ahead? I don't think I ever see him look for a better play, a good outlet option, a clearer lane for skating, etc. if it isn't immediately in front of him.

Alex Chiasson: "The first period, it just feels like we don’t respect our opponent ... We play a team at the bottom of the standings that traded away four or five of their best players and they go out and outwork us. In our position, that’s not good enough."

Oilers players saying what I have been saying....it’s great they see it but they never learn

That Russell/Nurse pairing continues to play the game of putting eachother in the worst possible positions to defend. Larsson seems to be going along with it somewhat, but Klef won't have any of that garbage.

Is it just me or has it really become clear that Lucic only ever looks straight ahead? I don't think I ever see him look for a better play, a good outlet option, a clearer lane for skating, etc. if it isn't immediately in front of him.
- MaximumBone

I have had enough of Russell this season....play Benning with Nurse and put Gravel with Sekera and see how that works....not much else can be said about Lucic that hasn’t already been said....I’m pretty sure I watched him trip and fall on his own feet twice in the game alone and I agree I think he looks one way and that’s it

It’s both the lack of talent and effort tbh....no excuse for the slow start vs the Sens in a “do or die” game at home but that’s just how it is regardless of who we play against.....I’m hoping for lots of changes in the off season but we shall see
- RatedR80

I'll say something perhaps controversial, but I agree with Boob Nicholsuck that there's a personality element or two missing in the dressing room. The presence of some motivating or stabilizing presence is absent and that's contributing to the team's shortcomings. This isn't to say that Matt goddam Hendricks is the best instantiation of such, but I do think a presence like that is lacking... based off the second and third-hand reporting I hear about the room and its personalities.

Alex Chiasson: "The first period, it just feels like we don’t respect our opponent ... We play a team at the bottom of the standings that traded away four or five of their best players and they go out and outwork us. In our position, that’s not good enough."

Oilers players saying what I have been saying....it’s great they see it but they never learn
- RatedR80

It's nice to know it's laziness rather than ignorance Makes parting ways with half of them a whole lot easier.

I'll say something perhaps controversial, but I agree with Boob Nicholsuck that there's a personality element or two missing in the dressing room. The presence of some motivating or stabilizing presence is absent and that's contributing to the team's shortcomings. This isn't to say that Matt goddam Hendricks is the best instantiation of such, but I do think a presence like that is lacking.
- MaximumBone

IMO it’s not that controversial at all....I’m also not saying Hendricks is the answer but just look at this team....it’s the same thing over and over and over again and do they learn? Of course not....obviously skill is a concern but getting a couple of character guys for the locker room wouldn’t hurt either....preferably ones that don’t hurt the team with thier play

It's nice to know it's laziness rather than ignorance Makes parting ways with half of them a whole lot easier.
- MaximumBone

Reading and hearing stuff like this 70+ games into the season just pisses me off....it’s right there and they see it but nope let’s just keep doing the same old and hope it works....I can’t even put this on Hitch this is just a locker room issue

“Former Edmonton and Boston GM Peter Chiarelli back for the second straight game, watching from the Blues management booth with GM Doug Armstrong. Not sure of the role/potential role, but Army has a track record of this with Bob Gainey, Dave Tippet, etc.”

Interesting....

IMO it’s not that controversial at all....I’m also not saying Hendricks is the answer but just look at this team....it’s the same thing over and over and over again and do they learn? Of course not....obviously skill is a concern but getting a couple of character guys for the locker room wouldn’t hurt either....preferably ones that don’t hurt the team with thier play
- RatedR80

Precisely and that's a mix that Edmonton has struggled with for as long as I've been watching them.

Precisely and that's a mix that Edmonton has struggled with for as long as I've been watching them.
- MaximumBone

Making a prediction now for the off season....the Oilers will make a play for Schwartz in the off season

Reading and hearing stuff like this 70+ games into the season just pisses me off....it’s right there and they see it but nope let’s just keep doing the same old and hope it works....I can’t even put this on Hitch this is just a locker room issue
- RatedR80

While I won't blame him entirely, I'm also not prepared to exempt Hitch from any blame. It is partly the coaches job to spark motivation for his team.

While I won't blame him entirely, I'm also not prepared to exempt Hitch from any blame. It is partly the coaches job to spark motivation for his team.
- MaximumBone

Here is why I’m not and I’m not a fan of Hitch coaching this team next year either....that’s 2 coaches in a row and still the same old....they did the same crap with Todd behind the bench too

Making a prediction now for the off season....the Oilers will make a play for Schwartz in the off season
- RatedR80

And they'll fall flat because the Blues love him like they should. He's a truly elite talent that gives his best effort every night and I think is exactly what the team needs. An internally-motivated, high skill guy that also seems to drive team mood.

In his place, they should pursue Schwartz-lite (sans the injuries), my boy Zucker, instead.

Here is why I’m not and I’m not a fan of Hitch coaching this team next year either....that’s 2 coaches in a row and still the same old....they did the same crap with Todd behind the bench too
- RatedR80

This is why I don't want another coaching carousel retread. We're clearly running in a loop with old school methodology guys like Todd and Hitch. That isn't to say that they're the same; just that they're cut from too similar a cloth.

And they'll fall flat because the Blues love him like they should. He's a truly elite talent that gives his best effort every night and I think is exactly what the team needs. An internally-motivated, high skill guy that also seems to drive team mood.

In his place, they should pursue Schwartz-lite (sans the injuries), my boy Zucker, instead.
- MaximumBone

I’m in favour of Zucker but I think it might actually be possible if we get someone decent to run the team....I’m just going to assume the Flames and Wild will finish the trade they tried to make before the TDL in the off season

I’m in favour of Zucker but I think it might actually be possible if we get someone decent to run the team....I’m just going to assume the Flames and Wild will finish the trade they tried to make before the TDL in the off season
- RatedR80

That would be oh so typical Oilers. The Flames know who they want and they grab them when they become available. It's clear their evaluative methodology is superior to the Oilers' in virtually every way.

This is why I don't want another coaching carousel retread. We're clearly running in a loop with old school methodology guys like Todd and Hitch. That isn't to say that they're the same; just that they're cut from too similar a cloth.
- MaximumBone

Can’t even predict who the coach will be due to we have no idea who the GM is going to be but what I do know is I don’t want a big name coach coming in