Oilers, most loved team in the league.
Posted 7:04 PM ET | Comments 3
Does anyone else in Edmonton gain any satisfaction in being the most hated team in the National Hockey League? At the very least, we can be proud of not being the least appealing team in the league (sorry New York Islanders). Or for that matter, the most underachieving team (Cough...Toronto); or the team that was metaphorically raped in free agency (Buffalo Sabres).
Starting with the Vanek restricted free agent signing attempt, Buffalo's general manager Darcy Regier vehemently attacked Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe. Secondly, with Lowe's offer to Anaheim's Dustin Penner; Anaheim's GM Bryan Burke used every excuse available to scapegoat his obvious dissatisfaction with the offer.
Following the Chris Pronger trade in the summer of 2006, the failure to resign community favourite George Laraque for minimum salary, and the moronic trade that landed Ryan Smyth in Long Island; Edmonton Oilers fans have not had much to cheer about. Morale has been very low, with many people calling for heads to roll in Edmonton's upper management.
Now in late July, with the trade acquiring Joni Pitkannen. The free agent signing of Defensemen Sheldon Souray, Oiler fans now have something to cheer about. Those two blue liners alone boost Edmonton's defensive core from the bottom of the league(25-28), to somewhere in the 12-15 range. As well, with the lingering possibility of Dustin Penner joining the Oilers in the near future, Edmonton fans finally have something to look forward too.
Along with the improvement in roster players, Oiler fans will also gain some satisfaction from being the most hated team in the league. I could see this image of the Oilers solidifying the fans to an almost cult status (a la Winnipeg Jets). To top it off, lets add some hate to our lineup with a Matthew Barnaby free agent signing, and a trade for Sean Avery.
Oilers Unite.
Starting with the Vanek restricted free agent signing attempt, Buffalo's general manager Darcy Regier vehemently attacked Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe. Secondly, with Lowe's offer to Anaheim's Dustin Penner; Anaheim's GM Bryan Burke used every excuse available to scapegoat his obvious dissatisfaction with the offer.
Following the Chris Pronger trade in the summer of 2006, the failure to resign community favourite George Laraque for minimum salary, and the moronic trade that landed Ryan Smyth in Long Island; Edmonton Oilers fans have not had much to cheer about. Morale has been very low, with many people calling for heads to roll in Edmonton's upper management.
Now in late July, with the trade acquiring Joni Pitkannen. The free agent signing of Defensemen Sheldon Souray, Oiler fans now have something to cheer about. Those two blue liners alone boost Edmonton's defensive core from the bottom of the league(25-28), to somewhere in the 12-15 range. As well, with the lingering possibility of Dustin Penner joining the Oilers in the near future, Edmonton fans finally have something to look forward too.
Along with the improvement in roster players, Oiler fans will also gain some satisfaction from being the most hated team in the league. I could see this image of the Oilers solidifying the fans to an almost cult status (a la Winnipeg Jets). To top it off, lets add some hate to our lineup with a Matthew Barnaby free agent signing, and a trade for Sean Avery.
Oilers Unite.
I don't think you can say that the Oilers are the most hated team in the league. For sure, the Ducks and Sabres fans hate them, but come on. People in China hate the Leafs. Leafs, Flyers, Rangers and probably even the Sabres at this point are hated much more than the Oil. Now, if Lowe sends an offersheet to Spezza before Murray signs him to an extension....then maybe you'll get that title.
Hey whoa you guys need to calm down. No one hates edmonton. They hate Kevin Lowe. He has become the GM joke of the NHL. The same way that Todd Bertuzzi is the Joke of the Players.
Ya leafs are the most hated...Everyone hates them. They run the league.