*sigh*
As an Oiler fan for the majority of my life I’ve seen the good (winning Stanley Cups), the bad (trading away the likes of Gretzky, Coffey, Messier etc), and the downright ugly (the early 90′s and these last couple years). Yet for the first time in the franchises history this past season we finished dead last and despite how terrible that sounds we ended up with the first overall pick which is an obvious perk for being the worst team in the NHL.
As the 2008-2009 season ended things didn’t look good and as the 2009-2010 season ended things didn’t look any better…yet there was a glimmer of hope at the end of this long black tunnel and that was the fact that the Edmonton Oilers finally had some prospects in there system that actually may end up being game changers on a nightly basis. Jordan Eberle, Linus Omark, Magnus Pavarri, and the latest in the fold after the whole Taylor/Tyler saga would be none other then #4 Taylor Hall. Thats not to discredit a lot of the other prospects in the development system but let’s face it…this past season anything and everything you heard about the Oilers was surrounding one of or all three of Eberle, Hall, or Pavarri.
Hope
Coming into this NHL season no one overly knew what to expect, we knew all three of our potential big wigs could play the game at a high level in Junior but how would that equate to success in the NHL? Would we see something along the lines of a Sidney Crosby/Alex Ovechkin esq rookie season? Would we surprise people like the Colorado Avalanche did last year with the likes of a guy like Steve Duchene? Best of all lost in the fold of all this was still relatively new NHL’rs Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano. Even more surprising was the lack of talk surrounding seasoned vets Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff who arguably would play on the top line with one of the rookies.
At 18 Hall is still learning the NHL game
Having not even lived in Edmonton for the past couple years the hype train was even reaching God’s Country, better known to us living here as the Peace Country. The City of Edmonton believed it, the media believed it, the fans believed it…something special was in the works with the Edmonton Oilers. The hockey club finally had a future, a promising future despite the fact that three players they would rely on heavily for the upcoming season had yet to play a game in the NHL, it’s most dangerous player in years past had just come off major shoulder surgery, or even yet it’s former heralded young stars had particularly tough seasons the year before.
Game 1
Of course as an Oiler fan who could forget game one of the 2010-2011 campaign and the remarkable effort put forth by one of those “saviors”. It was that goal that had fans eyes light up and think this year couldn’t be all that bad.
Ask the average fan out there at that time and most would figure they would challenege for a playoff spot…ask a fan that understands the game and you would be hard pressed to find someone who actually would believe that despite a 4 to 0 drubbing of the Calgary Flames on game one of the NHL season that a team comprised of fresh faces and a ton of even fresher rookies that this team would be in the thick of it come April.
Sure, the season isn’t over and I could be jumping the gun but if the month of November has been any indication of what’s in store for the rest of this season…we better take a big gulp, sit back, relax, and take it all in stride that this is part of the process.
Everybody Panic
And now the average Joe is in panic mode.
The Oilers now sit 20 games in on the regular season sitting dead last in the Western Conference and only one point up on the New York Islanders for last place overall. The team has struggled tremendously defensively in this past month of hockey and was recently called out by head coach Tom Renny asking for more compete and intensity not only playing but preparing for the game as well. Only time will tell if his tirade pays off but by listening to local radio shows and call ins one would think it’s time to blow up the roster…again.
“Fire the Coach” , “Trade Hemsky” , “Trade Penner”, are just some of the random and more frequent quotes out there. Watching Oil Change the other night we got a glimpse behind closed doors on how the team and its fans are fairing through this dismal stretch of hockey, the most animated part came from watching Oilers radio personality Dan Tencer fielding phone calls. Truthfully I dont know how some of these radio hosts do it. I often find myself shaking my head and turning the radio off most nights as I cant stand the stupidity coming from some people. The quote on Oil Change “We should have drafted Cam Fowler first overall because we need a puck moving defensemen who can quarterback the powerplay” was just the tip of the iceberg I’m sure over the past month. The panic set in right now is borderline ridiculous.
I won’t deny when a team needs to compete harder but the expectations this year were set far to high from the bgeinning and because of that fans have begun to flip the switch not fully understanding that THIS IS A REBUILD. Losses will happen, bad losses will happen, and more importantly really bad losses will happen. Does anyone remember the Pittsburgh Penguins or Chicago Blackhawks before their turn around? They we’re downright ugly, no better or worse then the product the Oilers have put on the ice.
I suppose the real question is however, can the Oilers fan base wait that long?
Moving Forward, errr, to last
Another Piece to the Puzzle
As a fan I can wait. Especially watching the dismal attempt our defense puts forth. Read an article today which quoted this:
The Oilers blue line is weak and described by rivals as “soft.”
I would say that is a fair assessment. Our defensive corps is hurting and as most would agree having a stud defensemen for the future would be the ideal situation…which is why I can’t quite understand the panic in everyone’s voice. If all goes to plan the Oilers will be looking at drafting (I’m positive) Swedish defensemen Adam Larsson.
“A Swedish defenseman with good puck handling and eye for the game. Incredibly calm on the ice. Very large for a player of his age. Plays very smart. A fast skater but could improve his acceleration. A good playmaker. Has good offensive skills which will develop with time. Positions himself well. One of the top prospects for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.”
Unless Larsson falls off the face of the earth this upcoming season I don’t see how he isn’t drafted (unless of course we don’t get top pick) by the Oil. If we end up not obtaining first overall, which of course is still very possible, and end up in the top 3…well we still can’t complain as we stockpile yet another solid player for the future and possibly end up with that starting center we will need.
Prospects, prospects, prospects, prospects…people
Simma down
I suppose my message in all of this to all you Oiler fans is “SETTLE DOWN”. We aren’t going to fire the coach, we’re not going to make any drastic moves (unless it’s for prospects), and there is no harm in obtaining another top 3 pick in this year’s (and possibly next) draft. Things are slowly coming together, it won’t happen this year, probably not the next, hell probably not even 2-3 years after that but this team will get better and will become a tough club to play against in the future. I won’t predict we will be Stanley Cup contenders but being able to have a turn around like the Penguins, Blackhawks, and LA Kings.
Of course we will hear it from Canuck fans and to a far lesser extent (especially these days) the Calgary Flames but bide your time and bite your lip as there is a good outlook on the horizon..and when Carey Price leaves Montreal to sign in Edmonton it will solidify our goaltending issue as well…perhaps the only thing missing is a nice new spanky arena…
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