Real Reasons The Oilers Suck
Posted 9:41 PM ET | Comments 0
Kevin Lowe, pretty much the main reason and I have some very valid points as to why.
1) The Pronger trade, yes his wife asked for the trade out of Edmonton, I mean Chris asked for the trade, but it looks like Kevin jumped on the first offer about a week after Pronger asked for the trade he was dealt to the Ducks for Lupul, Smid and a conditional draft pick( which was a 1st rd pick). So really Lupul didn't work out turns into Pitkanen which then turns into Eric Cole, who then turns into Patrick O'Sullivan, then turning into now Jim Vandermeer. When you trade agrueably the best defenceman in the game a franchise guy you should get something more then a couple average prospects. Hold out until something closer to camp and go after a Getzlaf or Perry, I know they were probably untradeable but at least try see somebody in the east if they have somebody that's more promising then Joffrey Lupul and Ladislav Smid.
2) Not signing Ryan Smyth to the extention he deserved. Really $500K that's the difference between a team going in a downward spiral and a team still competing for a playoff spot consistently. Yeah at the time it was a good deal on paper for the Oilers Robert Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra, and a 1st rd pick ( Alex Plante, which if I had the choice would have picked Colton Gillies from the Saskatoon Blades a bigger strong centerman who can skate), but really Ryan Smyth your face of the franchise the man who bleeds the Oilers colours! I've met Smytty before one of if not the nicest guys ever and just happy to be playing Pro Hockey for the team he grew up LOVING too. Let's pause for a second this is the 4th year he has not been with the Oilers let's see where these players are now, Nilsson-KHL, O'Marra-AHL, really should be 3rd or 4th line center with the Oilers, and Plante- AHL not really doing anything special, at all, how bout Smyth- once again fighting for a playoff spot with the Kings now and making their power play alot more effective then ever before, and really pissing goalies off still which is awesome. So you think he's worth the extra $500k you didn't give him now, but wait he signed for more after all making an extra $750k more then the Oilers would have him for. So good for Ryan you deserve it man. Oh wait there's more.
3) During the off season they sign Vanek! Yes there is light at the end of the tunnel after all, oh wait Buffalo matched that offer sheet, crap, but hey Dustin Penner signed with us and is staying, so this could be ok. Well it didn't start off on the right foot with the coaching staff nor the fans, but to Dustin's credit he was thrown into a bad situation as it is, but still I loved this one of the few moves I did love why a) because he needed to do something b) the cup run he just had and was great in and c) because I hate Brian Burke most overrated GM in NHL history. Whether you like it or not Dustin Penner was looked at to be the new Ryan Smyth, which sucks for him but that's the measure he has to try live up to in the fans eyes. This is where "Smyth's money" is going too well according to come people. Ok am I the only one that actually is seeing what's going on here Lowe is too stubborn to give in to his big time players, good players, or so I think. Ok next point.
4) Shawn Horcoff at age 30 coming off shoulder surgery signs 6 year $35mill extention. Huh??? Why?? He just had shoulder surgery, he before the last season was at best during a hot streak a number 2 centerman. Ok he was an all star and was on pace for a point per game, but really before maybe .50 points per game and having one career year, which was shortened due to injury a significant one at that, should not translate into a big number 1 center type dollars deal, maybe you can do the 6 years but maybe $3mill at most what a joke. So Kevin will give $5.5 mill to a player like Horcoff but wouldn't give it to Ryan Smyth, hmm why is this Kevin's mulligan, do over, 2nd chance, maybe yes, but really this is the wrong person to give this too i'm sorry can you do a mulligan on actually signing that contract please!! I don't get it.
5) Finally he's gone, oh wait he's promoted and a yes man has been brought in Steve Tambellini. How many people actually think that Tamby is running the show, I'm not buying it, just because Kevin Lowe has pretty much pissed off the other GMs doesn't mean Tamby is actually the voice of the Oilers in trade talks, it's still Kevin you can't fool me, maybe most casual and oblivious Oiler fans but not me. You want to know why there hasn't been a big deal or spectacular player( aside from drafting Hall) that has come to Edmonton, because Tambellini/ Lowe value their players way too high for what they are actually worth. Two prime examples Captain Horcoff $5.5 mill, and Tom( I'm a push over) Gilbert $4.1 mill. I know that NHL 11 be a GM mode is totally different from being an actual GM but really you have to give a little to get a lot. For instance it's been said by Richard Cloutier your Oilers blogger, that the Caps are interested in Bulin, but really what does Edmonton have that Wash. would want aside from the washed up goalie, and what do you expect they will give up for him, well here's the thing Dubnyk=Dud at best a solid backup, so the Oilers really need a good young goalie, Wash has 3 but I can tell you Wash loves their 3 goalies, I know this cause one of those 3 goalies Washington has is one of my best friends. So really you think George McPhee will go for a 1 for 1 , old for young straight up , not a chance, and cause Edmonton is rebuilding they will not want to part with any draft picks or prospects, because Kevin Lowe is too damn stubborn too. If your going to get a solid young goalie like a Neuvirth hypothetically your going to have to trade 1 if not 2 mid to late round picks along with Bulin to get him by himself, but that is too much to ask from Steve Tambellini or Kevin Lowe.
It is just a piss off that I cheer for this team and yet they continue to disappoint me not just on the ice but off the ice especially with very questionable moves, and philosophies and it truly feels like we are the New York Islanders of the west and just hopeless, well at least as long as Kevin Lowe is around. I truly feel like I could turn this team around with what would be to me common sense moves, but to others would seem like I would be giving up too much or not getting enough in return, well I for one have been disappointed with the moves that have been made for the last 5 years.
1) The Pronger trade, yes his wife asked for the trade out of Edmonton, I mean Chris asked for the trade, but it looks like Kevin jumped on the first offer about a week after Pronger asked for the trade he was dealt to the Ducks for Lupul, Smid and a conditional draft pick( which was a 1st rd pick). So really Lupul didn't work out turns into Pitkanen which then turns into Eric Cole, who then turns into Patrick O'Sullivan, then turning into now Jim Vandermeer. When you trade agrueably the best defenceman in the game a franchise guy you should get something more then a couple average prospects. Hold out until something closer to camp and go after a Getzlaf or Perry, I know they were probably untradeable but at least try see somebody in the east if they have somebody that's more promising then Joffrey Lupul and Ladislav Smid.
2) Not signing Ryan Smyth to the extention he deserved. Really $500K that's the difference between a team going in a downward spiral and a team still competing for a playoff spot consistently. Yeah at the time it was a good deal on paper for the Oilers Robert Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra, and a 1st rd pick ( Alex Plante, which if I had the choice would have picked Colton Gillies from the Saskatoon Blades a bigger strong centerman who can skate), but really Ryan Smyth your face of the franchise the man who bleeds the Oilers colours! I've met Smytty before one of if not the nicest guys ever and just happy to be playing Pro Hockey for the team he grew up LOVING too. Let's pause for a second this is the 4th year he has not been with the Oilers let's see where these players are now, Nilsson-KHL, O'Marra-AHL, really should be 3rd or 4th line center with the Oilers, and Plante- AHL not really doing anything special, at all, how bout Smyth- once again fighting for a playoff spot with the Kings now and making their power play alot more effective then ever before, and really pissing goalies off still which is awesome. So you think he's worth the extra $500k you didn't give him now, but wait he signed for more after all making an extra $750k more then the Oilers would have him for. So good for Ryan you deserve it man. Oh wait there's more.
3) During the off season they sign Vanek! Yes there is light at the end of the tunnel after all, oh wait Buffalo matched that offer sheet, crap, but hey Dustin Penner signed with us and is staying, so this could be ok. Well it didn't start off on the right foot with the coaching staff nor the fans, but to Dustin's credit he was thrown into a bad situation as it is, but still I loved this one of the few moves I did love why a) because he needed to do something b) the cup run he just had and was great in and c) because I hate Brian Burke most overrated GM in NHL history. Whether you like it or not Dustin Penner was looked at to be the new Ryan Smyth, which sucks for him but that's the measure he has to try live up to in the fans eyes. This is where "Smyth's money" is going too well according to come people. Ok am I the only one that actually is seeing what's going on here Lowe is too stubborn to give in to his big time players, good players, or so I think. Ok next point.
4) Shawn Horcoff at age 30 coming off shoulder surgery signs 6 year $35mill extention. Huh??? Why?? He just had shoulder surgery, he before the last season was at best during a hot streak a number 2 centerman. Ok he was an all star and was on pace for a point per game, but really before maybe .50 points per game and having one career year, which was shortened due to injury a significant one at that, should not translate into a big number 1 center type dollars deal, maybe you can do the 6 years but maybe $3mill at most what a joke. So Kevin will give $5.5 mill to a player like Horcoff but wouldn't give it to Ryan Smyth, hmm why is this Kevin's mulligan, do over, 2nd chance, maybe yes, but really this is the wrong person to give this too i'm sorry can you do a mulligan on actually signing that contract please!! I don't get it.
5) Finally he's gone, oh wait he's promoted and a yes man has been brought in Steve Tambellini. How many people actually think that Tamby is running the show, I'm not buying it, just because Kevin Lowe has pretty much pissed off the other GMs doesn't mean Tamby is actually the voice of the Oilers in trade talks, it's still Kevin you can't fool me, maybe most casual and oblivious Oiler fans but not me. You want to know why there hasn't been a big deal or spectacular player( aside from drafting Hall) that has come to Edmonton, because Tambellini/ Lowe value their players way too high for what they are actually worth. Two prime examples Captain Horcoff $5.5 mill, and Tom( I'm a push over) Gilbert $4.1 mill. I know that NHL 11 be a GM mode is totally different from being an actual GM but really you have to give a little to get a lot. For instance it's been said by Richard Cloutier your Oilers blogger, that the Caps are interested in Bulin, but really what does Edmonton have that Wash. would want aside from the washed up goalie, and what do you expect they will give up for him, well here's the thing Dubnyk=Dud at best a solid backup, so the Oilers really need a good young goalie, Wash has 3 but I can tell you Wash loves their 3 goalies, I know this cause one of those 3 goalies Washington has is one of my best friends. So really you think George McPhee will go for a 1 for 1 , old for young straight up , not a chance, and cause Edmonton is rebuilding they will not want to part with any draft picks or prospects, because Kevin Lowe is too damn stubborn too. If your going to get a solid young goalie like a Neuvirth hypothetically your going to have to trade 1 if not 2 mid to late round picks along with Bulin to get him by himself, but that is too much to ask from Steve Tambellini or Kevin Lowe.
It is just a piss off that I cheer for this team and yet they continue to disappoint me not just on the ice but off the ice especially with very questionable moves, and philosophies and it truly feels like we are the New York Islanders of the west and just hopeless, well at least as long as Kevin Lowe is around. I truly feel like I could turn this team around with what would be to me common sense moves, but to others would seem like I would be giving up too much or not getting enough in return, well I for one have been disappointed with the moves that have been made for the last 5 years.