This is getting old no?
The Oilers currently sit with a record of 6 wins and 12 losses, that’s 12 points, good for last in the west. In fact they are tied with Columbus for the worst record in the entire league.
But they don’t have McDavid, excuse.
They have lot’s of injuries, excuse.
They’re learning a new system, excuse.
They’re not getting the goaltending, excuse.
They’re visually better, FREAKING EXCUSE.
I really hate the term visually better. Sure they are. This is not your same Oilers team, as in they’re not folding their cards as easy as they’re used to. BUT THEY’RE IN LAST PLACE SO WHO CARES.
Now, we’re not necessarily hearing these phrases coming from Oilers brass, but when you turn to social media as I know many of you do, these are the things I’m reading from fans, and I don’t get it anymore. 10 years, aren’t you sick of it? Tired of the same old tire fire every year? I am.
Since the start of the 2006-2007 season this team has been a big pile of stink. Every year I, and we, as fans get our hopes up for something better. I would like to see improvement, but I’m done with this visually better garbage, a term made famous by Craig McTavish. You want to impress me now Oilers, well the only thing that is really going to do that is by putting up numbers in the win column. No more, well they look ok, they’re trying harder, SCREW THAT I WANT WINS. I want to see the Oilers up in the standings. This isn’t a playoff team, sure, but we’re back to that all to familiar ground of last place in the middle of November.
UGH….at least tickets will be cheap the rest of the way.
Goalies
What the hell is it with the Oilers goaltending? Every year the Oilers try to find the diamond in the rough and it fails. Last year Scrivens, this year Talbot.
Now, just wait before I get to carried away. I believe Cam Talbot is a much better goalie then he’s led us to believe, but, he’s been directly responsible for at the very least (I’m being conservative) two of the Oilers losses, it’s likely more. Talbot has allowed numerous soft goals that have absolutely killed the Oilers. The goal by Frolik in the dying seconds of a tie game versus the Flames, the opening goal last night, the winning goal last night. All shots a professional goalie should be stopping 99.99% of the time.
Anders Nilsson has been better, but he’s had his weak games too. The Phoenix game the other night, “But he was playing the 2nd night in a row” EXCUSE. What ever goalie is going to emerge for the Oilers they’re going to eventually have to put two wins in a row together.
I remain hopeful that our netminding problem is going to reverse itself soon however. I refuse to believe that the Talbot trade and Nilsson signing we’re bad ones, at least not yet anyway.
Forwards
Where would this team be without Taylor Hall?
I owe Mr. Hall an apology, for the last few years I’ve been very quick to criticize him for his actions on the ice. I felt that he was to whiny, prima donnaish, needed to grow up, etc. Well Taylor, way to come out this year and prove all the haters wrong. You’ve easily been the best player on the team, as our friend Lowetide says, you’re pushing the river. It’s clear that you are a leader on this team, that you wear your heart on the sleeve of your jersey. Thanks Taylor Hall, for being a player trying to turn this team around.
Ok, not onwards. No one outside of this top line can score with any regularity. With the exception of Hall this whole team has been inconsistent, sure there have been injuries but Coach McLellan said it, when there are injuries it’s time for others to step up, Carpe Diem, seize the day. But that isn’t happening, Anton Lander is goalless, Purcell has been okay the last few games, Miller quiet, Letestu can’t provide offense either.
Even with a healthy group of forwards there wasn’t enough secondary scoring, this team won’t go anywhere with out it. Changes are needed.
Defense
Just not ready. That’s the phrase the best describes the Oilers d-core. There are 3 rookies and a second year player in the line-up right now playing significant minutes. Griffin Reinhart has been in and out of the line-up, but he’s not had a game yet where he’s had more positive moments then negative, kid is going to be a player but not quite yet. Darnell Nurse has been just okay, in spurts he’s shown his brilliance but he’s shown the chaos we’ve all come to know quite a bit also. In fact Nurse found his but stapled to the bench for a large part of last nights game.
Klefbom is going to be one hell of a player, again he’s just not ready. Sekera had a slow start but is coming around. Fayne, it’s tough to know which Fayne to expect each night he plays.
The Positives
There are a few, albeit minor positives.
The team doesn’t have Craig MacTavish running the show anymore, I have much more confidence in this teams management then I have in the past. Chiarelli is going to make moves, and I believe he’s going to make them sooner then later.
As far as coaching goes, Todd McLellan isn’t accepting excused either. His press availability’s are to the point, and while he won’t single out players he seems to have a no BS sense to him. This is also the first time in many years that it appears the the players are fully bought in on a coaches message and that is kind of refreshing.
I’m not going to stop cheering for this team. I’m not going to stop watching. But I’m not going to give them an easy ride and put up excuses when they lose games they should have won. We as fans have been giving this team a far to easy ride. Just put points up in the standings, No More Excuses.
Thanks for Reading
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