Long read for a whole lot of nothing
Appreciate you reading it and your response, or lack thereof, Zerotonine. Just laying out some things I’ve been noticing about both teams, specifically management and player impact. As you noticed, or maybe not, there’s frustration directed at my team, and some observations from afar about the Oilers’ questionable asset management. That’s been in discussion on the Oil board all season. The loss of Broberg and Holloway, the FA signings… It’s a valid argument and can potentially explain why their season didn’t meet high expectations.
I also stand firm about player styles. I’ve witnessed McDrai get eliminated three times by players who drive success by playing in all zones. How long will it before the stubborn McDrai realize you need to play both ends of the ice to achieve the ultimate goal in today’s game?
Believe it or not, my previous post was originally longer, analyzing why this series feels like a toss-up. The Kings are basically the same team (with more consistent goaltending), so why in the hell is there a legitimate statistical advantage favoring L.A. to beat EDM? The Oilers simply haven’t met expectations, why is that? I just look back at the off-season.
You seriously underestimate how poorly the Oilers are run from the top down. MacKinnon, Eichel, and Barkov all belong to organizations serious about winning. None of them would've gone anywhere near the likes of Chiarelli, Holland, and Bowman. What NHL fan looks at the front office and says "Wow I sure wish my team hired that guy"? Not a one. From drafting, to development, to trades, to signings... The Oilers don't do any of those things well.
I look at a team like the Knights that will do anything to win. They'll bend the rules, they'll tell former heroes to go pound sand, they'll shank other GMs in the back if it means they'll win. Everything I ever wanted to know about how the Oilers were run can be summed up in three simple words "Can't squeeze GMs", a legendary quote by Ken Holland, emphasizing how he's more worried about offending other bad GMs than helping his team win. This is the hand we're dealt. Without McDavid this is a lottery team, and even that might be generous.
A team like the Avalanche saw needs in the lineup and addressed them. The Oilers scoured the waiver wire for other team's castoffs because they're too afraid to send anyone away. Then in their infinite wisdom they rushed players back from injury (including their Hart candidate and best defenseman) and lost Ekholm for the season, all but guaranteeing a lengthy playoff run isn't in the cards.
Whenever this season ends, team management will identify a scapegoat for their sheer incompetence. It'll likely be Skinner or the coach, but it won't be one of the good old boys, that's for sure. Their shitty goalie coach will get a pass, Bowman will be excused because it's first year, Jackson wouldn't fire himself, and Katz will continue to collect billions of dollars because he knows he has a golden goose in #97.
The turning point of the McDavid era will always be when they were looking at Bill Zito and then pivoted to Ken Holland when he became available. It was that exact moment that sealed our fate. Because why hire someone you don't know when you can hire a friend instead? That's been the theme for the team for the past 2 decades, always trying to take the easy way out.
You know it’s funny, from a Kings fan observer, I thought Ken Holland’s tenure was largely successful in transforming the Oilers from a team struggling for consistency into a perennial playoff contender and legit Cup threat. There was steady improvement, and stability, providing clear direction using his experience. And respectability too, players were willing to play for Edmonton, it’s been a long time since that happened. I thought he earned an extension to finish the job, but they let him go.
Would Zito have done better? That’s an interesting thought. He was definitely more aggressive in his approach. He’s built such a powerhouse, but one of the key reasons for that is Barkov's complete game. Traded away Jonathan Huberdeau in a blockbuster.. wonder why. That’s some bold stuff from Zito for sure.
How do you build around McDavid? You definitely need a player with a defensive conscious on his wing(Nuge), and some net front presence(Hyman). Holland did okay there. He thought he had a potential star canadian pair in Nurse-Bouchard, hence the big contract for Darnell, but it didn’t work out. Ekholm was a homerun though. Brought in complimentary pieces over time. Goaltending? He tried with Jack Campbell. Bust. Skinner though… you know what? Usually goaltending is last to be blamed. Even recently Stan Bowman was firm about their goaltending. And I understand it, until the Oilers play stronger defense, they will never look for a trade.
I don’t view Holland as a disaster, but I get what you’re saying about Zito. You can make an argument he could’ve pushed the Oilers over the top sooner. But hey, Holland reached the finals too. Oilers are definitely weaker this year.