Oilers Spill – Thoughts From MacT’s Presser

After eleven straight losses, Oilers GM Craig MacTavish finally spoke to the media today in a half hour press conference. In the presser, MacT gave a short assessment of the team, then went on to take some questions from the assembled media. I won’t break down all the quotes, because in reality it was a nothing press conference. What we heard comes as no surprise to anyone who has been listening or paying attention.

Thoughts:

Not Trading Future Assets: MacT made a point of saying that he was not going to move out future assets to “prop up” this current team, which is understandable at this point. The Oilers are only going to fix this thing by drafting and developing players. Giving away a 2nd round pick for a player to just reach 25th doesn’t make sense. Sadly, I agree with this point at this time. That said, it can also be seen as “embracing the tank”.

Accountability: MacT called out the players, asking for more accountability from within the locker-room. He’s right there too, because there simply hasn’t been enough of that this season. MacT also called out Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, asking them to step up and take the reigns as the leaders in that room, which caught my eye. Once again, MacT is absolutely right.

Also on this topic, MacT touched on how the coaching message has been the same, and that it is up to the players to take over and step up. That said, Dallas Eakins did not get off the hook totally here, as he and his staff were called out a bit as well.

No Mistake Here: MacT mentioned that he didn’t think it was a mistake to come into the season with only two NHL centers this season, because he claims that the price was too high via trade for a center. Look, I know the prices are high, but there were stop-gap options out there in free agency in the summer. I’m calling total BS here on MacT. He knows it was a mistake, but refuses to acknowledge it.

Nikitin: MacT stepped up for his new defender when Nikitin was called out by a media member as a failure of a signing. MacT mentioned how the team needed a defender badly, and that Nikitin is an actual NHL defender and is a good one. His one knock on Niki? He has been inconsistent this season.

Don’t Blame Me!: MacTavish got a little angry and a little worked up when talking about his failures as GM, flat out bashing former GM Steve Tambellini. MacT told the media that it is wrong to lump him in with that old regime, and that he has only been on the job for 18 months.

While that is true, MacT has had two summers to reshape this roster, and he has reshaped it. The problem? It hasn’t worked. Yes, MacT has hit on a few players, but more often than not he has missed and has failed to address some major holes. Oh, and MacT kept the same assistant coaches and scouts as the last group. Essentially, MacT kept the old regime, minus Tambellini, in tact. The results have been the same too, so it’s totally fair to question him.

Overview:

I must say, this press conference certainly got the talk flowing in Edmonton. Personally, I picked up on a few things. First off, the coach, for now, is safe. Secondly, the players are the ones on the hot seat in Edmonton. MacT called them out a few times, and clearly is not happy with the level of compete and with the level of urgency with this hockey team. Saddest part is, he is 100% right, there is very little urgency with these guys.

I’m thinking the Oilers are going to end up making some kind of trade. Very rarely does a manger call out his players like this and not change the mix of his roster. Plus, there is far too much smoke right now for there to be absolutely no fire.

I think changes are coming to Edmonton, but I don’t think it is going to be the coaching staff. MacT made a point to guide the blame towards the players, and towards himself. I can see a deal coming soon.

Lastly, I really wasn’t impressed with MacT blaming and bashing the Tambellini era. Tambi sucked as a GM, we know that, but blaming him for the current issues was a little bit pathetic to be honest. I get the frustration from MacT, but this is more his team than Tambellini’s team, and he needs to own that, not shift blame to the last guy.

MacT didn’t deliver anything earth shattering today, but showed that he cares, and publicly proclaimed that his players need to be better and need to step up, especially his core.

Oh, one more thing, MacT mentioned his core as “his best three players”, which is a much smaller than before. With a shrinking number, it certainly seems like more players are out there to be had.

I’m not sure what is going to happen next, but between this press conference and all of the internal meetings being conducted in Edmonton this last week, something has to give, and has to give soon.

We wait.