Something in the water things. We should really figure out why this keeps happening.
I don't think management has ever really put in any significant effort into building a team. Going back to the days of Sam Gagner they just sorta expected all their problems to be solved by this one player. Hall/Eberle were given the keys to the city and free reign to do what they wanted without any real supplemental help. Sure they would get the odd castoff vet but more often than not they were expected to carry the team to greatness. Yakupov was billed as the next great scoring winger yet constantly subjected to Eakins and a general lack of direction. Even Leon struggled very early on in his career before his rookie season was put to pasture far, far too late.
In comes McDavid, a true generational talent. Without a doubt the hardest thing to acquire not only in hockey but in any sport. It's my belief that the Oilers have always viewed McDavid as an "instant win button", guaranteed to win the team a Cup because he's just that good. Last year certainly gives some credence to that idea, but he was immediately met with a bozo GM in Chiarelli and lame duck after lame duck coach. I liked McLellan a lot more than some here, but it was pretty obvious he just couldn't get it done. Then Dave Tippett was brought in to "coach some defense" which naturally never materialized. Just a shitty coach who's never accomplished anything other than beating the Oilers with his undermanned Coyotes teams. And it goes from there with GMs and coaches that most teams wouldn't go near. I think Woodcroft was a bit too raw but at least seemed to push some of the right buttons. Knoblauch actually has some sense but I don't know how much credit I would give to management on him since it's probable he was hired only because of his McDavid connection (see: Jackson).
The Oilers have just abysmal drafting and development. The only picks since McDavid (in 2015) that are actively playing with the Oilers right now are Skinner and Bouchard. And the only picks that are actually still playing in the NHL are Puljujaarvi, Yamamoto, Desharnais, McLeod, Broberg and Holloway. Not exactly an impressive lineup of drafted players from a 9 year stretch. I guess you could throw Bear and Jones in there too but even then they're barely playing.
This also ties into the shitty asset management that we've been discussing in this thread. Too many picks and prospects thrown away on garbage. Petry for a few picks (which as of right now has amounted to nothing seeing as Stolarz and Talbot are no longer with the team), a couple of seconds for AA, and what we witnessed in the offseason. Oh and that Pronger trade that was only saved by Jordan Eberle who eventually turned into Strome, into Spooner, into Gagner and finally into nothing. Hall into Larsson into nothing.
McDavid masks a ton of issues with this org, content to do the absolute bare minimum in all areas and hope it all works out. As I said before, had we good prospects that were knocking on the door I doubt losing Broberg/Holloway really hurts us all that much. But we don't. At all.
EDIT: I forgot about John Marino. So far carved out a nice little career for himself. Dealt for a 6th because he didn't want to play here.
