Now What – Updated

Rock Bottom, I think we are there. The fans who’ve been begging to see some action from Oilers ownership and management are out for blood. The main stream media pundits have jumped on that band wagon to, and of course Oilers winger David Perron called out for accountability from the coaches and the players. What’s new here you ask, well for starters the media members starting to ask the hard questions of of head coach Dallas Eakins is something we haven’t seen for some time. Fans have been asking these for the tough questions to be asked and well, now they are. Mark Spector did a great job of that Friday night after the Oilers 2-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

I didn’t watch last nights game, I took my wife to the new Hunger Games movie and instead of watching the dismal Oilers performance I got to spend two hours watching Jennifer Lawrence on the big screen. But alas this isn’t a movie review site this is an Oilers blog. The Oilers a horrific loss at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks, the post game presser seemed more like a wake then a press conference, the media went relatively easy on Dallas Eakins, I wonder if they know what is coming in the following days, if perhaps that was Dallas Eakins last press conference as the head coach. But is firing Dallas Eakins realistic, and is it the change needed.

I wrote a few weeks ago that Eakins has lost the room, I still believe that, but I’m not convinced firing the head coach is the right move. In fact it may do more damage to an already heavily damaged team, and/or it may not matter who is coaching this rag tag roster. So what now? There are a few options, lets have a look.

Oilers Rig writer Romulus had a great series of tweets today outlining his hopes for change;



Oilers moves I’d make right now. 1. Don’t fire MacT or Eakins 2. Fire Chabot 3. Fire Pro Scouts Gare and Semenko 4. Fire Am. Scout Bob Brown

— Romulus’ Apotheosis (@RomulusNotNuma) November 23, 2014

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5. Return Draisaitl to junior 6. Call up Lander 7. Find an NHL center 8. Don’t trade anything of value for a goalie — Romulus’ Apotheosis (@RomulusNotNuma) November 23, 2014

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9. Explore market on Eberle, Schultz, Perron 10. Sign Loktionov 11. Do not trade Marincin or Klefbom 12. Listen to @mc79hockey

— Romulus’ Apotheosis (@RomulusNotNuma) November 23, 2014

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I’ll add my two cents on some of Rom’s points now;

MacT and Eakins need to stay – Not sure I agree 100% here, Eakins can not seem to employ a system, that the team he’s been handed by his GM, that works for this group. The coach has also made some very questionable roster decisions, i.e Brad Hunt, not playing Martin Marincin, Justin Schultz’s minutes etc. MacT failed miserably this summer trying to fill the needs at center, he did acquire Pouliot and Fayne two signings I still like very much, good pieces to have if this was a successful team. MacT stays, Eakins (out of his depth) goes.

Fire Chabot – YES, no brainer. The Oilers haven’ t had a successful goalie since Dwayne Roloson. Every goalie that the team has been high on has come in to Edmonton and laid down a stinker more often than not. The fact that Dubnyk is having success in Phoenix this season under goalie coach Sean Burke adds even more fuel to the fire.

Return Draisaitl to junior – When Drai was drafted I said that he’d be with the Oilers all season long. I didn’t think it was a good idea but it is what it is. I’d love to see him returned to the WHL but I’m still skeptical it will happen.

Call Up Lander – Well if you return the rookie to the dub then Lander should get his time, It’ not really an improvement but it won’t hurt in the long run.

Find and NHL center – Of Course. Even if Drai is to return next year and even if Lander can emerge the Oilers are still short at the NHL center spot.

Explore market for Perron, Schultz and Eberle – There only real untouchables on my Oilers team would be RNH and Draisaitl. Build from the center.

I’d keep going but as I am writing this the Oilers have called a press conference for 11:00, I’ll be back after that with a review of what ever happens and some more of my own thoughts on fixing this terrible team.

Ok so apparently no presser so I’ll continue.

Don’t trade anything of value for a goalie – Yep, agreed. Fire Chabot then see what he can do with the two tenders we have now. Scrivens and Fasth’s contracts aren’t going to hurt anything and this season is already a wash.

Do not trade Marincin and Klefbom – Another no brainer, we need to look to the future and these two are looking to be a big part of that future on the Oilers defense.

Listen to Tyler Dellow – The Oilers might still be losing but the underlying numbers are starting to pick up. Put the right players in the right positions with the right coaching and Dellow will help with that analysis.

There are a few things I’d add to this list,

1- Extend Petry

2- DO SOMETHING, doing nothing will not fix the team. Ask all the kings horses and all the kings men how hard it was to put humpty dumpty back together again.

As an aside to the now controversy surrounding this Oilers press conference, this was not twitters fault. The information was apparently first reported by global news, not from a blogger, not from a disgruntled Oilers fan. So calm down people.

Thanks for Reading.

D