The Edmonton Oilers are coming off of a 7-1 loss on Saturday night, and are facing a level of pressure unseen in Oil Country before. As the Oilers embark on a ninth straight season out of the playoffs, fan frustration has reached a boiling point. People are demanding firings, demanding trades, and demanding change from a once proud organization.
Change is apparently in the air in Edmonton, we saw a firing on Monday, and multiple hockey insiders are reporting that Edmonton is “desperate” to make a deal, and that just about everyone is on the table for a move. Players previously thought untouchable, like Jordan Eberle, David Perron and Justin Schultz, are now on the table for an Edmonton team that badly needs to change the mix.
The Oilers current mix simply is not working, and massive change is needed on this roster. They aren’t good enough on defense, don’t have enough centers, and lack the urgency that good teams have. More experience is needed at key positions, and a shake-up is likely required here too.
The following are quotes from hockey insiders from their radio spots on Monday. Full credit to Nichols on Hockey for their GREAT work putting all these quotes together. You can, and should, visit them here.
“I think they have to now. It’s absolutely essential that – whether it’s a Jordan Eberle or Nail Yakupov or somebody else – Justin Schultz – whatever. Some of those bodies need to be moved and parlayed into different pieces that address the specific weaknesses of the team as it exists.”
“I think this is what’s happened over the last 24 hours and will continue to – I think we’re going to see some trades. And I think we’re going to see some significant names moved around. I think outside of Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, anybody and everybody could be flying out the door.”
“I know that Craig MacTavish has been looking for centers. He’s been looking for help on the blueline. He’s been kicking tires on trying to improve the quality of goaltending in Edmonton.”
“But it was now expedited by how bad they were versus the Chicago Blackhawks. And so that’s the black mark on the organization and on this team, and that has elevated MacTavish’s level of urgency. So he’s, cliché making his calls and taking calls, but when I tweeted out this morning – and I was openly criticized, no big deal – by Oilers’ faithful when I said, ‘Look, he’s willing to listen to just about anything. And almost everyone is available.’ Well, I’m talking about just about everyone.
“Ryan Nugent-Hopkins isn’t going to get traded. They need their centers. They need more of them and he’s Edmonton’s No. 1 center. He’s not going anywhere. It’s hard to imagine the type of deal that would be required to include Taylor Hall in an Oilers trade. But it’s not impossible. And then you go from that level to the next level with Jordan Eberle. I think that there’s a possibility that Jordan Eberle could get traded. I think there’s a possibility that Justin Schultz could be included in something. David Perron is obvious. But what are you getting, with all due respect to David Perron, in return? You’re getting something, but you’re probably not getting a No. 2 center, which they desperately need.
“I think it’s really risky going after that core of Hall, Jordan Eberle. Schultz to a lesser degree. He’s a younger guy with a shorter contract. But sometimes those names just start conversations, don’t they. And you end up somewhere else other than with Jordan Eberle as your primary target. I think that’s probably what MacTavish is hoping for.”
“I think changes are in the works. I do. I heard that yesterday (Sunday) was a pretty intense day for the Oilers management.”
“Behind the scenes, I think the Oilers were working a lot of stuff. I think – when I was on Saturday night, I had heard their key guys were not available. I don’t know if that’s true anymore. I think the Oilers might have thrown everybody on the table. Now, I think if we’re talking somebody like a Taylor Hall, the price is massive. I really do think that.
“But what I do think is that Craig MacTavish has promised he will make a trade before he fires the coach. That’s what guys have told me. And I think that’s what his plan remains. And I wonder if Edmonton is kind of now listening on everybody . Doesn’t mean anything is going to happen. But I think they’re listening on players they weren’t listening on as recently as 36 hours ago.”
Again, thanks to Nichols on Hockey, please stop by there!
My Thoughts:
Things are about to get very interesting. I think the Oilers are sticking with their gun, Dallas Eakins. Craig MacTavish was once a coach, and knows that he left Eakins out to dry when he gave him a totally unbalanced roster. MacT is a loyal guy, and it seems like he is very loyal to Dallas Eakins. I’m starting to believe that Eakins is going to get at least the rest of this season to try and get the results needed.
Firing Fred Chabot, in my mind, is another vote of confidence in the head coach, giving him another assistant that he could bring in under himself. Eakins isn’t going anywhere, the change is coming from elsewhere.
Personally, I think that David Perron, Jeff Petry and Jordan Eberle will all be moved before the March 2nd trade deadline. I would imagine we see something happen pretty soon too, especially with the amount of smoke coming from these very well connected insiders.
The Oilers current roster just is not good enough. There are too many holes, and too many areas of weakness with this team. To address this, the Oilers will need to change the mix of their roster, and that likely includes making some trades.
Buckle up Oiler fans, change is likely coming to a roster that is long overdue for a meaningful overturn. If things go south in Dallas tonight, which is possible, we could even see something as soon Wednesday morning.
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