What a passionless effort from the Edmonton Oilers. They spotted the San Jose Sharks six goals before deciding to turn up the heat and put some heart into the game. The defense can’t defend with Klefom and Russell out, the forwards can’t manage to hold onto puck possession for more than 10 seconds thus negating any notion of a scoring chance, and the goalies can’t stop the puck.
Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock basically said the same thing in his post-gamer,
It’s toxic in Edmonton and before the game was even over I was sent a message by one of my sources,
A decision on #Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli might be coming in the next few days after todays game.
Oilers owner Darryl Katz was in the crowd as well as Bob Nicholson. Sitting 3-4 seats away was Keith Gretzky and Peter Chiarelli. Apparently, not a lot of interacting was being done… I heard it’s cold in Rogers Place but I don’t imagine it got any warmer where they were watching the game from.
I’ll hold off on the post I’ve been promising to give you when Chiarelli gets fired but for the time being, do you think firing him will do anything to improve the health of the Oilers defense? Will the new GM (probably Keith Gretzky on the interim) be able to come in and all of a sudden work magic with this roster?
I will say this though, the fanbase and the media do not like being blamed for the Oilers performances when things are down. I get it and it’s not completely their fault but we’re heading into 15 years of poor Oilers seasons and the team has been headed by former Oilers as well as GMs and coaches from outside the organization who have championship pedigree. The one thing that has stayed the same, the media and the fanbase. Just saying. Maybe all those ex-players who talk about the effect the media and fans have on the team are on to something.
But I digress.
The team is what it is right now. It’s not good enough in its current state. But if you don’t believe injuries are definitely a factor during this losing streak, then I think you’re delusional. Edmonton is down a top-6 forward (Chiasson) and two top-4 defenders. I wonder why the team can’t score or stop the puck.
That’s not to say management isn’t responsible.
They thought that Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto could be impact players and they haven’t been able to be. That doesn’t mean they won’t be but at the moment, they’re not quite there. They didn’t do bring anybody in to deal with the Sekera injury for two years in a row. And they haven’t done anything to help out right now.
I’m not going to go back and talk about the Larsson, Strome, or Reinhart deals because frankly, enough time has passed on those that I believe if they were THAT poor of trades, either the Oilers would be way worse than they are or the Islanders and Devils would be way better than they are. Neither has happened.
Bob Stauffer, the host of Oilers Now, thinks the Oilers should go after an upgrade on the blueline. Others think that they should try for some secondary scoring. I think they’re hooped either way but I would also prefer a defender. I just think that if they stump up for a winger, they’re back to square one with regards to their reliance on Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl.
The best trade proposal I’ve heard that I think would help the Oilers immediately is this one,
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to Boston for Torey Krug and Jake DeBrusk
I don’t imagine the deal would be that clean. Other pieces might need to be involved but they get their winger and their PP quarterback who has a history of producing points from the back-end. Boston gets the centre they’ve desired for years as heir apperent to Patrice Bergeron.
I didn’t hear it but according to one of my followers on Twitter, Stauffer said he expects a goalie trade soon?
Post game bob said a trade is coming and most likely A goalie is gone to clear up money to do it and he said if it was him it would be for a defender if you can find it it’s a good listen
— Oilking (@Oilking90313962) December 30, 2018
If this does happen, expect a flurry of moves. I think that Talbot to Philly is becoming more of a reality than ever. Not sure what defender you could expect out of Philadelphia though. Andrew MacDonald? I’ve thrown out names like Colton Parayko and Tyson Barrie in the past, but what about Brett Pesce? Carolina is in about the same state as the Oilers and they’ve got a surplus of defenders.
What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!
