Hockey means so much in Edmonton, and the fans expect the team to emerge from the darkness and into the light, with their dues paid, their penance done.
Just imagine if it does not work out that way. Just imagine if there is not the expertise and competence to turn that embarrassment of riches (young, raw talent that any club would drool over) into results.
This is the season for the Oilers to do something, or even just begin to do something. Actually, the imagining is becoming reality. The team makes a lot of mistakes out on the ice, the defence is only average or less, and the goaltending has s-u-c-k-e-d supremely.
Good luck with Bryzgalov, Edmonton. He is not as bad as his press, but still it just looks like so much flailing by Kevin Lowe.
It's not how many cream of the crop draft picks you have, it's whether you turn them into success, whether by keeping them or trading them.
Oilers management has some perverse pride (possibly coupled with incompetence) that keeps them from moving forward.
Cash in some of those chips, Lowe, MacTavish and company. They have a shelf life. This is a very interesting situation to observe.
typical Chico 
