Oilers culture issues

[independent observer]

What do Broberg, Holloway, McLeod and Foegele have in common? They all left the Oilers after last season and took a step forward this season.

The Oilers over-reliance on Draisaitl and McDavid is a big issue in my view. In tight games they often play 24+ minutes. I understand that they are in win now mode but it is important to have young players on cheap contracts that chip in and can take on bigger roles as they develope in good organizations.

A lack of positive mistake culture for young players and a fanbase that is apparently lacking to appreciate some players by just seeing the bad… when I read comments about Bouchard I am seriously puzzled.

It was no secret that Holloway was talented but he never got a fair extended chance to play in the top six. The coaching staff only realized in the playoffs that it may be wiser to play Broberg over Desharnais.

To top it off mgt also didn‘t value those players and prioritized to sign older players in Arvy and Skinner which falls in line of a culmination of mistakes in prior seasons (Nurse, Campbell, Lucic contracts, Hall trade, etc)

 

[Three On Zero]

It’s an owner issue more than a culture issue. Katz has made decisions more so based on keeping McDavid happy over winning. Most management hires have been related to McDavid in some capacity (outside of Bowman). Wouldn’t be shocked if he’s a voice in the team structure also

 

[Bounces R Way]

All that front office cares about is keeping McDavid and Draisaitl happy so the money train keeps rolling and they can keep chucklef***ing it up on the golf course with their boys.

 

[bov]

Two offer sheets, a trade and a UFA...

A "lack of positive mistake culture" (uhh, what?) has nothing to do with this.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

They were one goal away from a Cup last year and are a contender again this year, it could be a lot worse

 

[McRpro]

"positive mistake culture"

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

If you rely too much on the big guns something is wrong with the team.

 

[independent observer]

"positive mistake culture"

Success grows from mistakes…
The Oilers applied a very short leash on both Broberg and Holloway…

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

They were one goal away from a Cup last year and are a contender again this year, it could be a lot worse

People are hatin on OP, but you can’t look at that roster construction (or offseason) and say “ya, no worries.” It seems like they always add parts, but not the needed or good-fit parts, and it’s always just looking at that season or those playoffs. Long-term they’ve only gotten worse and more unbalanced, so ya, I’d say there’s a problem there. They’ve been so pressured to win one every year with those two that they’ve kinda neglected any sort of long term build/vision. I don’t like their odds this year or anytime soon- shame, because I hate the “he didn’t win a SC” thing when discussing a player’s greatness.

 

[Czechboy]

I don't think it's a lack of culture.. I think it is idiotic management. Chia to Holland to Bowman is just a brutal stretch while, at the same time, having some real nice talent. The hard part was done and they just needed to fill in the roster around some very elite players.

Instead they just playing McDrai and hope they can carry a lacklustre roster to a Cup. Amazingly, it almost worked.lol

 

[NVious]

Sid and Geno only won a cup together before Matt Murray and Kessel came along showing that even the best two players in the game can only do so much together and they had Letang/MAF to help them before that.

Go look at the D/goalies Edmonton has had, atrocious.

Even this year, they should've went all in on Binnington, at the minimum get Gibson who has shown the capacity to be excellent, they do very little.

Ultimately they should've been more aggressive in getting a goalie/1D, totally inexcusable.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Has anyone researched if their culture issues are because of a lack of palm trees?


I dont know if its so much a culture issue, or the way the team has been build since before McDavid. Oilers problems have been defense, goaltending and a lack of depth scoring, 2 out of those 3 problems have been there for years. All 3 have reared their ugly heads this season. Oilers have had plenty of time to address them and wont. Thats not culture, thats bad management.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Has anyone researched if their culture issues are because of a lack of palm trees?


I dont know if it’s so much a culture issue, or the way the team has been build since before McDavid. Oilers problems have been defense, goaltending and a lack of depth scoring, 2 out of those 3 problems have been there for years. All 3 have reared their ugly heads this season. Oilers have had plenty of time to address them and wont. Thats not culture, thats bad management.

Weird, the way you guys are talking I’d think we’d be fighting for a WC spot yet we are 5 back for 3rd in the league after a horrendous stretch post 4 nations. The amount of negative comments on this thread about a team that was a goal away from a Cup is hilarious

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Should have kept Holloway and Foegele. Both having very good years now and Foegele is on pace to score 20 goals with 50 pts.

Can't blame Warren for slamming his old team the other day.

 

[snipes]

Culture looks good tonight?

 

[Zirakzigil]

Weird, the way you guys are talking I’d think we’d be fighting for a WC spot yet we are 5 back for 3rd in the league after a horrendous stretch post 4 nations. The amount of negative comments on this thread about a team that was a goal away from a Cup is hilarious

No one has looked at the Oilers defense/goaltending this year and been "yep, Id bet on them winning the cup." Its been the same story year after year with the Oilers. Except this year McDavid has only played elite superstar level instead of generational and isnt covering up the glaring issues as much. And lately its lets throw McDavid and Drai out there because the rest of the team cant score to save their lives.

 

[brentashton]

Let’s put it this way…
The oilers have fewer cultural issues than this site has in operational functionality.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

I feel like this is a serious reach..

 

[Rodgerwilco]

I’m honestly not too sure what you hope to gain from posting this in the main boards as opposed to the oilers boards.


What precisely do you mean by:

lack of positive mistake culture for young players and a fanbase that is apparently lacking to appreciate some players by just seeing the bad

What exactly does “positive mistake culture” mean?

 

[nerevarine]

This is one of those threads that will look super silly when edmonton cruises to a cup win this year

 

[Ratsreign]

What do Broberg, Holloway, McLeod and Foegele have in common? They all left the Oilers after last season and took a step forward this season.

The Oilers over-reliance on Draisaitl and McDavid is a big issue in my view. In tight games they often play 24+ minutes. I understand that they are in win now mode but it is important to have young players on cheap contracts that chip in and can take on bigger roles as they develope in good organizations.

A lack of positive mistake culture for young players and a fanbase that is apparently lacking to appreciate some players by just seeing the bad… when I read comments about Bouchard I am seriously puzzled.

It was no secret that Holloway was talented but he never got a fair extended chance to play in the top six. The coaching staff only realized in the playoffs that it may be wiser to play Broberg over Desharnais.

To top it off mgt also didn‘t value those players and prioritized to sign older players in Arvy and Skinner which falls in line of a culmination of mistakes in prior seasons (Nurse, Campbell, Lucic contracts, Hall trade, etc)

Hottest take; if knoblach would have used those guys more in 3rd period game 7, McD Drai not totally whupped by the last 90 seconds or so...
That game gets tied and on to OT.....

 

[Connor McConnor]

No one has looked at the Oilers defense/goaltending this year and been "yep, Id bet on them winning the cup." Its been the same story year after year with the Oilers. Except this year McDavid has only played elite superstar level instead of generational and isnt covering up the glaring issues as much. And lately its lets throw McDavid and Drai out there because the rest of the team cant score to save their lives.

The defense is fine. Walman has been a great addition and is exactly what the team needed. A top 4 of Nurse Ekholm Walman and Bouchard is absolutely good enough to win the Cup. Edmonton's defensive structure since Knob/Coffey has been one of the teams' strengths, not weaknesses.

Goaltending? Yeah, I mean every single Oiler fan in the World knows it all rides on goaltending. Edmonton is 32-6 when they get .900+%. That is literally league average. But to think there are "culture issues" and this team still isn't good enough to go on a run is foolish. Too much parity in the NHL nowadays, if the Oilers are being dissected like this why aren't we doing it for every other team in the league that has the same amount of points?

So when Edmonton was on a tear before 4 Nations and Colorado was struggling they were a poorly run team right? 2 generational stars and nothing to show for it since the Cup run? But now that they've gone on a run and the Oilers have struggled, this team has "culture issues" and isnt a threat while Colorado is a juggernaut again? Lmao.

 

[Jumptheshark]

We were over due for an oiler bashing thread.

Oilers missed judged how badly Broberg wanted out and after signing guys like Arvedsson, Skinner and a few others? They had no money of Halloway.

Both Foegele and McLeod were victims of the cap.

This has more to do with poor management decisions then what goes on in the dressing room

 

[Gnome17]

Appreciate the anti-jinx.

 

[Spawn]

It’s an owner issue more than a culture issue. Katz has made decisions more so based on keeping McDavid happy over winning. Most management hires have been related to McDavid in some capacity (outside of Bowman). Wouldn’t be shocked if he’s a voice in the team structure also

The Edmonton Oilers GMs with McDavid in the organization have been: Chiarelli > K. Gretzky (interm for 1/2 a season) > Holland > Bowman

Which of those have been related to McDavid in some capacity?

Anyways, on the topic of the op. This isn't a culture issue for the Oilers. This is a combo of poor development, poor professional scouting and a case of players going from less opportunity on a good team to more opportunity on ones that aren't as good.

Foegele had 41 points last year and is on pace for 46 this year.
McLeod had 30 as a 3C on a good team last year to on pace for ~48 as a 2C on a garbage team.
Broberg couldn't crack a left side that had Ekholm, Nurse and Kulak.

Holloway is the big loss. Crazy the Oilers didn't match that offer sheet after the playoffs he had. The rest meh. Not really missed. McLeod is a good player who I liked. And I'd gladly take him back as our 3C this season. But the team also needed an injection into their prospect pool and Savoie has had a fantastic first pro season in the AHL.