The Canadian NHL hockey teams.

[overthere]

Yes, they are just a year removed from the MacTavish-Lowe era, and you can't just bounce back from that kind of sustained ineptitude overnight.

I read recently that before the 2012 draft they had a big meeting with all their scouts and most of them were convinced that Ryan Murray was the guy they needed to draft, except for the European scout who was 100% behind Alex Galchenyuk. Only a couple of the scouts wanted Yakupov, some of them didn't even have Yakupov on their lists at all. So Lowe, Katz, and MacTavish-- who wasn't even GM at the time, he was on the payroll as Lowe's assistant VP-- go out for dinner and drinks. The next day they inform the scouts that they've made their decision, and the decision is ... Yakupov.

I don't know that Ryan Murray is exactly setting the world on fire, but the whole story just seems typical of how Lowe and MacTavish ran the team. Convinced they're smarter than everybody else, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Convinced they're gurus because they rode Gretzky and Messier's coat-tails to a fistful of Stanley Cup rings. "I know a thing or two about winning, if that's ever a concern."

Obviously the results on the ice weren't much better this year... but I think Chiarelli is at least doing the right things. I think that between him and McLellan, they at least know where the problems are, even if they haven't found solutions yet. Some of those problems would have been alleviated by not having Oscar Klefbom, Connor McDavid, and RNH all out for half or more of the season. Klefbom is 22 and already their best defenseman... I don't know whether that's encouraging, or just a reflection of how bad this team has been at identifying talent. Drafting Klefbom is one of the few smart things that happened under Lowe. I don't know what's wrong with Nugent-Hopkins... it seems like he's always injured. I also think it's possible that McLellan and Chiarelli have probably identified some "core players" who are not exactly committed to winning, and are trying to figure out how to get rid of them.

I hope they trade draft picks this year to bring in experienced players that can support the existing core. It's embarrassing that they're once again picking close to the top. Trying to force more promising young players into the lineup every year is part of the reason they're stuck in this spin-cycle. I think they had planned to leave Darnell Nurse in the minors this year, and were forced into bringing him up because of depth problems and injuries.

-k

The published story in Edmonton in recent weeks is that the vote was consistently 9-2 for Yakupov. For what it is worth, it was a poor draft year, but there is no doubt that Yakupov is the worst #1 overall since Patrik Stefan. Ryan Murray was #2, and has been hurt much of his young career, and pretty indifferent for the rest of it.

I fully expect the Oilers to trade their first round pick, they don't need any more prospects. They have finsihed at #2 overall, and we can expect them to beat put Toronto for the #1 pick at the draft lottery. Of course, thee will be heads exploding all over Canada/Leaf Nation Once the spatter from that has settled, the Oilers can get down to trading nearly everybody except a few. Actually, there will be a few on the block or just let go: Ference, Lander, Yakupov, Eberle, maybe Pouliot, Fayne, Nikitin, Pardy, Clendenning, and several others will be in play.

The best move Chiarellia made was for Talbot, the second best is for Maroon.

[kimmy]

I definitely hope they trade their pick... it is time to build around Connor McDavid and Taylor Hall. I think that others like Draisaitl, Sekara, Talbot, Nurse, and Klefbom should be part of the long term plan as well. Others I am not quite as sure about... RNH, Eberle... and obviously Yakupov needs to move on.

Nikitin and Pardy have expiring contracts, and I think Ference's contract has 1 more year left. There are probably others who have expiring contracts as well who won't be invited back.

Oilers fans talk as if Lowe and McTavish were fired... they weren't and still hold management positions on the team.

Lowe is out of the hockey business and works elsewhere in the Katz group. MacTavish has been demoted to Flunky.

-k

[overthere]

I definitely hope they trade their pick... it is time to build around Connor McDavid and Taylor Hall. I think that others like Draisaitl, Sekara, Talbot, Nurse, and Klefbom should be part of the long term plan as well. Others I am not quite as sure about... RNH, Eberle... and obviously Yakupov needs to move on.

Nikitin and Pardy have expiring contracts, and I think Ference's contract has 1 more year left. There are probably others who have expiring contracts as well who won't be invited back.

Lowe is out of the hockey business and works elsewhere in the Katz group. MacTavish has been demoted to Flunky.

-k

I think Hall is on the trading block too. And I think RNH is not, which suits me. He has had a tough year with a few injuries, but he is an excellent two way player. Maroon and Kassian are the kind of players that Chiiarelli will seek as forwards.

I agree that Lowe has been demoted to vice chairman of the entertainment group. His most visible role has been to organize things like Sathers buntoss and the 'last game at Rexall' party. He has nothing to do with hockey. MacTavish has vanished almost entirely from the radar, as has Buchberger. At the big Rexall thing, both were supposedly scouting at the Frozen Four tourney. Every player there has already been scouted many. many times, so this sounds like baloney to me.

Bob Nicholson is in charge of hockey operations, and he was the guy responsible for firing everybody, including Lowe and McT.

[Accountability Now]

Oilers fans talk as if Lowe and McTavish were fired... they weren't and still hold management positions on the team.

Yup still there indeed however I question how much management responsibilities they have.

Interesting note, Mac-T was notably absent from the big Oil reunion for what they claim was due to the Final Four. In other words he's been relegated to scout.

[Big Guy]

Looking for a web page showing a graphic of playoff brackets, records dates etc.

Any suggestions?