Sean Maloughney: Sigh

The title says it all.

no disrespect intended to the fans of this storied franchise, but jesus (frank)ing christ what is going on here? when is it going to end? this team is wasting McDavid's and Draisaitl's prime years. having a goalie depth chart that has Mike (frank)ing Smith anywhere on it is a bad idea and having geriatric Keith patrolling in front of him isn't helping.

maybe throwing Kane in the locker room will fix things.

some of the other chronic-under-achieving teams have some excuses to fall back on, but the Oilers have the best player in the league. look how long the Capitals have rode on Ovi's back before they finally cashed in. Watching this hobbled Edmonton roster, one gets the feeling they will never cash in.

That was painful to watch…

Should have never hired Holland. Can't change that. But he should have fired Tippett after being swept by the Jets. With $25m+ to spend you don't sign wimps like Barrie, RNH. You don't sign Smith. I liked the idea to bring in Keith, but you insist on salary retention. Freddie Anderson was an option. Kuemper. Yzerman got Nedeljkovic for 3rd. Any of those guys has this roster in a playoff spot. It's just gross incompetence. Fire Nicholson, Holland, Tippett. Start over. Anyone with any connections to Hockey Canada or Oilers alumni has their resume lit on fire. A guy like Mike Gillis could be a nice POHO. Look at what Zito is doing. I was calling for him to replace Chia 5 years ago. Hextall is a bright guy. Just an endless list of people. But Nicholson keeps hiring morons without even conducting interviews.

When do we start to seriously discuss Nicholson being a Bettman plant whose sole job is to sewer Edmonton until McDavid demands a trade or walks to UFA?

Is it to the point one of the big 2 have to be traded for a package of solid depth This is sad to see 2 elite players and some other good pieces, but year after year the same outcome. Really did think this year might be different!

Is it to the point one of the big 2 have to be traded for a package of solid depth This is sad to see 2 elite players and some other good pieces, but year after year the same outcome. Really did think this year might be different!

Should have never hired Holland. Can't change that. But he should have fired Tippett after being swept by the Jets. With $25m+ to spend you don't sign wimps like Barrie, RNH. You don't sign Smith. I liked the idea to bring in Keith, but you insist on salary retention. Freddie Anderson was an option. Kuemper. Yzerman got Nedeljkovic for 3rd. Any of those guys has this roster in a playoff spot. It's just gross incompetence. Fire Nicholson, Holland, Tippett. Start over. Anyone with any connections to Hockey Canada or Oilers alumni has their resume lit on fire. A guy like Mike Gillis could be a nice POHO. Look at what Zito is doing. I was calling for him to replace Chia 5 years ago. Hextall is a bright guy. Just an endless list of people. But Nicholson keeps hiring morons without even conducting interviews.
- HockeyBuzzed

Not true. Vasilevsky wouldn’t have the oilers in a playoff spot. The team in front of the goalie needs vast improvement.

One of the better blog titles I've seen on here.

The Oilers should get radical and trade McDavid and Draisaitl, tank and start over. Take a page out of the old Nordiques/Avs book when they traded Lindros but ended up with the Cups. Do it now before McDavid demands a trade and decreases the Oilers' leverage.

One of the better blog titles I've seen on here.

The Oilers should get radical and trade McDavid and Draisaitl, tank and start over. Take a page out of the old Nordiques/Avs book when they traded Lindros but ended up with the Cups. Do it now before McDavid demands a trade and decreases the Oilers' leverage.
- Zezel

McDavid to Anaheim for Gibson, Zegras, Drysdale and 2 first rounders.
Drai to LA for Kempe, Iafallo, Durzi, Byfield and a first.
Profit.

I wish McDavid and Draisaitl publicly demanded massive change in the organization. It's what Katz and co. deserve.

I wish McDavid and Draisaitl publicly demanded massive change in the organization. It's what Katz and co. deserve.
- jfkst1

They say they believe in the management and coaching.
Katz is the most hands off owner in the league. He very rarely visits Edmonton or shows his face publicly. Nicholson is in full control of the team. He’s incompetent though as Sean pointed out. Change needs to start with him.

McDavid to Anaheim for Gibson, Zegras, Drysdale and 2 first rounders.
Drai to LA for Kempe, Iafallo, Durzi and a first.
Profit.
- TurdFergeson

Oh the proposals will be fun!

It would be like when Gretzky got traded, except McDavid won't have won any Cups, and he won't be crying, he'll say I promised Drai I wouldn't do this as he's giggling and blowing a noisemaker and throwing handfuls of confetti in the air.

Fire everyone. Release Kieth. Trade McDavid. Make Nuge Captain.

They say they believe in the management and coaching.
Katz is the most hands off owner in the league. He very rarely visits Edmonton or shows his face publicly. Nicholson is in full control of the team. He’s incompetent though as Sean pointed out. Change needs to start with him.
- TurdFergeson

I don't understand how these billionaires become wealthy when they clearly had to delegate properly to acquire their wealth yet are incapable of doing so with sports franchises. Maybe a matter of being able to manage in their industry and not being able to convert that to other industries. Very bizarre to me.

I don't understand how these billionaires become wealthy when they clearly had to delegate properly to acquire their wealth yet are incapable of doing so with sports franchises. Maybe a matter of being able to manage in their industry and not being able to convert that to other industries. Very bizarre to me.
- jfkst1

Fandom.

I don't understand how these billionaires become wealthy when they clearly had to delegate properly to acquire their wealth yet are incapable of doing so with sports franchises. Maybe a matter of being able to manage in their industry and not being able to convert that to other industries. Very bizarre to me.
- jfkst1

Same reason why some big businesses fail, they had a good run and then they (frank)ed it all up.

I don't understand how these billionaires become wealthy when they clearly had to delegate properly to acquire their wealth yet are incapable of doing so with sports franchises. Maybe a matter of being able to manage in their industry and not being able to convert that to other industries. Very bizarre to me.
- jfkst1

Unable to correctly diagnose the issue.

Let’s see more McDavid and Drai trade proposals. Blow this fucker up!

Let’s see more McDavid and Drai trade proposals. Blow this fucker up!
- TurdFergeson

McDavidbfor Barkov and a pick.

I have come to really like the guy over the past 2or3 seasons, but it is VERY difficult to win when your superstar does not give 100% quite a lot of the time. When I see Draisaitl try another low percentage Peewee fancy pass get intercepted...and then hang his head...and skate off...I just feel like giving up on them myself.

This display resonates with the other teammates 100% and that's the root of the Oilers problems. McDavid is not free of guilt either in this regard. His defensive game is getting much better, and he clearly cares, but he's far from Crosby, Ovechkin, O'Reilly, Bergeron, Toews, Landeskog...etc. etc. in the lead by example category. If you're going into battle and you see that your leader is "not sure", then probably you're not so sure. The rookies sure aren't.

So there is an issue with the coaches these days not able to call out the star players when they mail it in, and there is another issue with the star players mailing it in.

I see this as a major issue (have for a while) and it is absurd that this pretty serious issue is so much smaller than the goaltending issue.

Get some passion.
Get a goalie.

McDavidbfor Barkov and a pick.
- wreckage

Barkov, Weegar, first.

Zadina, Rasmussen, Larssen and a 1st for Draisaitl...after Holland put the Wings in such a horrible spot with horrible contracts and very little talent, he owes them a trade like this

McDavid for Hornqvist, Gudas and Johansson

gives us veteran good guy
a hitter
and another goalie who is somehow in the NHL

Kenny gonna do this and retain 50%