GDT: Around the League 2023-2024 "Off Season??!! What off season??!!"

[joestevens29]

I'm obviously speaking as an armchair QB here, so maybe I would sing a different tune if I were in the hot seat, but I just can't understand how players think this way.

If I made it all the way to the dance I would want the full experience. Full arena with fans that truly care each night, loud crowds, classic rivalries, games that are the talk of the country, becoming a local god if you deliver, etc. I'd feel like I was losing out on something if I played in a market like Nashville stuffed with sideshow gimmicks and fans that are "passionate" but don't really know much about the game and certainly not the main feature on the local card.

But they have the passionate fans with full arena, so what exactly is the issue? Not sure it's fair to say they don't really know the game, they've had a team for over 20 years now. It doesn't take that long to get a group of knowledgeable fans for any sport.

O'Reilly took the money. Many were calling him a third line center last year and now he's translated that bad season into a 4 year deal. Took his retirement contract in a City that very many say is a nice place to be. Have no issue with him leaving to go there.

Wtf Ron McLean is back?

Howard Berger strikes again.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Would you rather those guys tell the truth that Canadian teams are being run ass backwards? In ROR case I don't blame the guy, he took the money and ran.

This is definitely part of the reason Canadian teams are consistently on the shitlist. All of them are run by idiots, and time will tell if our superstars wish to stay here for another tour of duty.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

Wtf Ron McLean is back?

absolutely shocking Howard Berger was wrong...

 

[Fourier]

This is definitely part of the reason Canadian teams are consistently on the shitlist. All of them are run by idiots, and time will tell if our superstars wish to stay here for another tour of duty.

I don't buy this at all. Players in Edmonton for example are treated extremely well. The facilities are absolutely first rate and the owner is willing to spend without interfering. Yet even with a very good team the Oilers still tend to be on most NMC/NTC lists. This is much more about lifestyle for older players.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I don't buy this at all. Players in Edmonton for example are treated extremely well. The facilities are absolutely first rate and the owner is willing to spend without interfering. Yet even with a very good team the Oilers still tend to be on most NMC/NTC lists. This is much more about lifestyle for older players.

They're still not a well-managed team, and we have seen videos of McDavid getting harassed during his off-time. There's obviously more to it than just "the team isn't run very well", but until they get over the hump the Oilers will be second class in the eyes of many players.

 

[K1984]

But they have the passionate fans with full arena, so what exactly is the issue? Not sure it's fair to say they don't really know the game, they've had a team for over 20 years now. It doesn't take that long to get a group of knowledgeable fans for any sport.

O'Reilly took the money. Many were calling him a third line center last year and now he's translated that bad season into a 4 year deal. Took his retirement contract in a City that very many say is a nice place to be. Have no issue with him leaving to go there.


Howard Berger strikes again.

I just don't perceive Nashville the pinnacle of the sport no matter how loud their fans are or how many tickets they sell.

I could see the appeal of the market for some, but for me personally I would be much more interested to play in an Original 6 or Canadian market if I had the choice.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

They're still not a well-managed team, and we have seen videos of McDavid getting harassed during his off-time. There's obviously more to it than just "the team isn't run very well", but until they get over the hump the Oilers will be second class in the eyes of many players.

What a load of shit.

 

[K1984]

They're still not a well-managed team, and we have seen videos of McDavid getting harassed during his off-time. There's obviously more to it than just "the team isn't run very well", but until they get over the hump the Oilers will be second class in the eyes of many players.

McDavid also gets first class treatment from the organization, including personal use of the owner's private jet to fly around to various knee specialists when he nearly had a career ending injury to determine which solution was the best for him. As we have seen in other organizations, that is not the case.

If you think that one incident with a few f***ing morons from 5 years ago outweighs all the other things he gets with this team you're fooling yourself.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

What a load of shit.

Okay, you're right. The Oilers are incredibly well-managed and this whole cap crunch we're facing is just a coincidence.

McDavid also gets first class treatment from the organization, including personal use of the owner's private jet to fly around to various knee specialists when he nearly had a career ending injury to determine which solution was the best for him. As we have seen in other organizations, that is not the case.

If you think that one incident with a few f***ing morons from 5 years ago outweighs all the other things he gets with this team you're fooling yourself.

I never said the Oilers don't treat McDavid well. Obviously they gave him the keys to the city.

With that said it's naive to think everything is hunky dorry in McDavid's world especially when the Stanley Cup eludes him.

Like it or not Edmonton is not a prime destination for NHL players. A championship could change that.

 

[K1984]

Okay, you're right. The Oilers are incredibly well-managed and this whole cap crunch we're facing is just a coincidence.


I never said the Oilers don't treat McDavid well. Obviously they gave him the keys to the city.

With that said it's naive to think everything is hunky dorry in McDavid's world especially when the Stanley Cup eludes him.

Like it or not Edmonton is not a prime destination for NHL players. A championship could change that.

All evidence the past 4 or so seasons says otherwise, but whatever.

Using the "cap crunch" as evidence the Oilers are "mismanaged" when about 90% of the league is in the same circumstance is whining for the sake of whining.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

The Oilers are incredibly well-managed and this whole cap crunch we're facing is just a coincidence.

Are you for real? We have had a flat cap for 4 years and now virtually every single team has cap issues of some sort unless they are in full tear down mode. Most of the teams not in red still have significant players and roster positions to fill as well.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

nvm

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

All evidence the past 4 or so seasons says otherwise, but whatever.

Using the "cap crunch" as evidence the Oilers are "mismanaged" when about 90% of the league is in the same circumstance is whining for the sake of whining.

The scouting at both the minor and pro levels leaves a lot to be desired. Is 90% of the league facing that problem too? It's more than just poor cap management.

Are you for real? We have had a flat cap for 4 years and now virtually every single team has cap issues of some sort unless they are in full tear down mode. Most of the teams not in red still have significant players and roster positions to fill as well.

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I'm sure the teams that have won the Cup in recent years won't fret about the cap too much since they already won the big prize.

We still have a gaping hole in the crease despite "fixing" the problem last year.

Let me posit this question to you and yours... How are the Oilers well-managed since that seems to be the argument you are making? Because drafting is still a major concern and signings have produced mixed results.

 

[K1984]

The scouting at both the minor and pro levels leaves a lot to be desired. Is 90% of the league facing that problem too? It's more than just poor cap management.


I'm sure the teams that have won the Cup in recent years won't fret about the cap too much since they already won the big prize.

We still have a gaping hole in the crease despite "fixing" the problem last year.

Let me posit this question to you and yours... How are the Oilers well-managed since that seems to be the argument you are making? Because drafting is still a major concern and signings have produced mixed results.

Oh now drafting is why the Oilers are mismanaged, not the cap.

Insert move goalposts gif here.

 

[bellagiobob]

All I see are a crapload of ghost posts. Site is working as intended.

 

[Fourier]

They're still not a well-managed team, and we have seen videos of McDavid getting harassed during his off-time. There's obviously more to it than just "the team isn't run very well", but until they get over the hump the Oilers will be second class in the eyes of many players.

From a player's perspective they are well managed. I doubt players making signing decisions by looking at trades and UFA signings and trying to analyze which teams are best at managing the cap. They care about winning and how they are treated. At this time the Oilers are viewed as an upper echelon team on the ice and they have a reputation of treating the players and their families very well in terms of off ice support and facilities. In the end all of that is trumped by lifestyle which includes being able to go about your business nearly anonymously when you are not on the ice.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

Oh now drafting is why the Oilers are mismanaged, not the cap.

Insert move goalposts gif here.

You know that both are an issue, right? This isn't an "either or" thing. Drafting, development, and cap management are still problems this team faces. But to bring it back to the cap issue, the Nurse and Campbell contracts are still obstacles that management fully wears.

From a player's perspective they are well managed. I doubt players making signing decisions by looking at trades and UFA signings and trying to analyze which teams are best at managing the cap. They care about winning and how they are treated. At this time the Oilers are viewed as an upper echelon team on the ice and they have a reputation of treating the players and their families very well in terms of off ice support and facilities. In the end all of that is trumped by lifestyle which includes being able to go about your business nearly anonymously when you are not on the ice.

Every player has different priorities. Some would obviously welcome Edmonton more than others, but this team is still missing that championship that would cement them as a prime destination. Things are at least better than they were during the decade of darkness, it's amazing what a generational talent will do. But with that said it's absolutely not a guarantee that both Draisatl and McDavid will stick around if they don't take the next step. I fully believe that last year's WCF run quelled at least a few doubts in their minds but they still are held back by a team that can't get out of its own way. We've had issues on D and goaltending ever since the Cup run, and while the D is probably the best its been since then (the 2016-17 D was pretty good too, and Talbot was amazing that year), the goaltending remains a huge question mark that can only be solved by itself. Campbell isn't going anywhere and it would be stupid to give up on Skinner so soon.

With any luck Broberg and Holloway will step things up this year because that would close at least a few holes, but the drafting for this team leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[Stoneman89]

They're still not a well-managed team, and we have seen videos of McDavid getting harassed during his off-time. There's obviously more to it than just "the team isn't run very well", but until they get over the hump the Oilers will be second class in the eyes of many players.

Rubbish. Every place has loudmouthed losers. You don't have to be a high profile hockey player to experience it. And for every guy that is a loser, there are 10,000 others that worship McDavid.

 

[Fourier]

You know that both are an issue, right? This isn't an "either or" thing. Drafting, development, and cap management are still problems this team faces. But to bring it back to the cap issue, the Nurse and Campbell contracts are still obstacles that management fully wears.


Every player has different priorities. Some would obviously welcome Edmonton more than others, but this team is still missing that championship that would cement them as a prime destination. Things are at least better than they were during the decade of darkness, it's amazing what a generational talent will do. But with that said it's absolutely not a guarantee that both Draisatl and McDavid will stick around if they don't take the next step. I fully believe that last year's WCF run quelled at least a few doubts in their minds but they still are held back by a team that can't get out of its own way. We've had issues on D and goaltending ever since the Cup run, and while the D is probably the best its been since then (the 2016-17 D was pretty good too, and Talbot was amazing that year), the goaltending remains a huge question mark that can only be solved by itself. Campbell isn't going anywhere and it would be stupid to give up on Skinner so soon.

With any luck Broberg and Holloway will step things up this year because that would close at least a few holes, but the drafting for this team leaves a lot to be desired.

If not winning a championship means not well managed then a guy like Poile must be a disaster. He was a GM in Nashville and Washington for 40 years and never won.

Even with two great players winning in today's NHL is not easy. The salary cap equalizes the playing field far more than it was in the past. Timing wrt the cap is also important. Look at a team like Colorado. They would not have won the cup last year if MacKinnon's last contract was one year shorter. Pittsburgh may well not have won their last two cups had the rules that are in place today been in place when Crosby signed his previous extension. But the main issue is that there are 32 teams almost all of which have the very same goal. Like it or not it is harder for a team in a less desirable location to win. And while the Oilers have certainly seen lots of managerial mistakes that have hurt their team the present version would be as attractive to a player interested in winning as virtually any in the league.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

The scouting at both the minor and pro levels leaves a lot to be desired. Is 90% of the league facing that problem too? It's more than just poor cap management.


I'm sure the teams that have won the Cup in recent years won't fret about the cap too much since they already won the big prize.

We still have a gaping hole in the crease despite "fixing" the problem last year.

Let me posit this question to you and yours... How are the Oilers well-managed since that seems to be the argument you are making? Because drafting is still a major concern and signings have produced mixed results.

I am not making any argument, merely responding to the argument you are because they are far from the cap strapped tire fire you make them out to be.

 

[Oilhawks]

Just f*** off and stop wasting everyone’s time. Get some help.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

I don't buy this at all. Players in Edmonton for example are treated extremely well. The facilities are absolutely first rate and the owner is willing to spend without interfering. Yet even with a very good team the Oilers still tend to be on most NMC/NTC lists. This is much more about lifestyle for older players.

They're still not a well-managed team, and we have seen videos of McDavid getting harassed during his off-time. There's obviously more to it than just "the team isn't run very well", but until they get over the hump the Oilers will be second class in the eyes of many players.

I can guarantee you that most Canadian players (probably 95% of them) just think America is a better place to live. Particularly because of the famous cities and in some cases 0 property taxes. Not to mention there's often much better weather.

I don't really think America is even a "better' country than Canada because it has plenty of problems but players just like America better in general. The NHL is an American league and players love American markets. That's just how it is and 0 can be done about it.

 

[Oilhawks]

I can guarantee you that most Canadian players (probably 95% of them) just think America is a better place to live. Particularly because of the famous cities and in some cases 0 property taxes. Not to mention there's often much better weather.

I don't really think America is even a "better' country than Canada because it has plenty of problems but players just like America better in general. The NHL is an American league and players love American markets. That's just how it is and 0 can be done about it.

I’ll leave it at this (it’s not really a political post), but they aren’t the only ones leaving this country for “wanting to make more money” and for “standard of living”.

 

[94 Oil Drops]

I’ll leave it at this (it’s not really a political post), but they aren’t the only ones leaving this country for “wanting to make more money” and for “standard of living”.

Absolutely. Canadian born doctors can't stand it here and we all know why that is and where they are moving to...

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

What a load of shit.

it's Greatkeith...the Oilers could win the Cup in 5 Games and he'd complain it wasn't in a sweep