"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000

Survivor CHAMP S52 | S66
OG's #MUSTWIN Scale
Category 1 - Lightly Musty
Category 2 - Moderately Musty
Category 3 - Considerably Musty
Category 4 - Severely Musty
Category 5 - Incredibly Musty

Oscargasm wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 23:21

Kr55 wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 23:19 Oscargasm wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 22:56 Kr55 wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 22:49 Oscargasm wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 22:41 Kr55 wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 22:37 Adam wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 21:03 Ragnarok73 wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 20:34 nullterm wrote on Tue, 25 May 2021 17:26 Whether you keep Tippett or not should be based on where you think the team is next season. He's a good development coach, but clearly not a playoff coach. If we're contending then we need a new coach. But with all the free agent madness looming, I would guess we might have another development year unless we land a bunch of veteran players to fill the gaps Nuge, Barrie, etc are opening up. Ugh, please stop using the term "development year", as it still reminds me far too much about MacT's last presser as GM before his canning. I've come to associate that term with, "another year that we piss away waiting for talent to come along". If I’m McDavid and Holla d suggests next year isn’t a going for broke year? I’m asking for a trade. Two of the top five players in the league in the prime of their careers? There should never be a year they aren’t swinging for the fences and the stupid crutch of being up against the cap and screwed by Chiarelli (as if he was the only voice in the room) is finally gone. I pray Holland doesn’t drop the ball here because if next year is another disaster, McDavid is gone and all hope is lost. I personally don't see McDavid or Drai leaving until their deals are done. To me they seem like guys that will be beating themselves up most of all with every failed year. Which is kinda sad. All good though, they will have lots of years left once they agree to part ways with the Oilers to try something new if we keep failing. I’m imagining Connor with a 40, Jim Lahey style, saying 5 more years Leon, 5 more sexy years. lol. Yeah, they would probably be thankful that there was an 8 year term limit for their generation. If we still don't have a deep team in 3-4 years that is only losing because of some bad luck or injuries, I think it's gonna be clear that parting ways will be the best option for all parties. Oilers can stop being a generational joke, clearly it's never gonna happen at that point, and McDrai can pick their spots and try to hit the reset button. I mean, there’s got to be a point in time when Connor becomes jealous of Leon for his contract expiring one year sooner. That may cause a rift in their friendship. I think the good news for McDavid there might be that he is way more valuable to trade with 1 year left on his deal than at the deadline. So probably could just go that same summer :) Ugh...Adam sparked another conversation of extreme negativity It’s hypothetical negativity. We both know Leon and Connor are signing extensions before their current deals expire. This ship is turning this offseason!!

"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000

"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireLowe #FireBobbyNicks #FireKenHolland #FireKeithGretzky

The very definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing expecting different results.

Generally Disappointed.

Hey, feelgood stuff

zach laing @zjlaing
after playing over 60 minutes last night, darnell nurse and his fiancé mikayla welcomed their first child, a boy named aiden, into the world.

"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000

"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000

Please do not feed the bears. Feeding the bears creates a dependent population unable to survive on their own. Bears.

"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000

[Updated on: Tue, 25 May 2021 15:30]

Oilers Goal Differential
17/18: 234 GF / 263 GA (-29)
18/19: 232 GF / 274 GA (-42)
19/20 (82 game pace): 257 GF / 254 GA (+3) in 64 games
2021 (82 game pace):269 GF / 235 GA (+34) after 38 games

"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireLowe #FireBobbyNicks #FireKenHolland #FireKeithGretzky

Here's that knee by Demelo on the best player in the world in game 4.. no call.. NOTHING!!!
Clowns on the Sportsnet panel totally ignored it.. total BS..
https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1397035474124894215

Guy hasn't drawn ONE penalty in 2 playoff series.. that's statistically impossible unless the decision to make a call has a built in bias.

McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!!
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
P. Chiarelli math.. T. Hall = A. Larsson, Yak= bag o'pucks (OK he got one right...) K. Russell = $4.1 M+NMC, G. Reinhart= M. Barzal + A. Beauvillier, J. Eberle = R. Spooner,

Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 00:35

Here's that knee by Demelo on the best player in the world in game 4.. no call.. NOTHING!!! Clowns on the Sportsnet panel totally ignored it.. total BS.. https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1397035474124894215 Guy hasn't drawn ONE penalty in 2 playoff series.. that's statistically impossible unless the decision to make a call has a built in bias.

Nothing to see here

Survivor CHAMP S52 | S66
OG's #MUSTWIN Scale
Category 1 - Lightly Musty
Category 2 - Moderately Musty
Category 3 - Considerably Musty
Category 4 - Severely Musty
Category 5 - Incredibly Musty

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 08:05

Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 00:35 Here's that knee by Demelo on the best player in the world in game 4.. no call.. NOTHING!!! Clowns on the Sportsnet panel totally ignored it.. total BS.. https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1397035474124894215 Guy hasn't drawn ONE penalty in 2 playoff series.. that's statistically impossible unless the decision to make a call has a built in bias. Nothing to see here

Just gotta battle through it like everyone else.

Couple penalties I saw last night. Marner gets a slight slash on the side of his butt that doesn't affect the play at all. Matthews gets a microscopic crosscheck. The refs can't get their hands up fast enough in some places of the world. Maybe a difference in gravitation force out east.

"We need to get better immediately. That starts today"
- Lowe, 2013

"Next year I would forecast as another developmental year"
- MacT, 2015

5 x $5,000,000

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 08:25

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 08:05 Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 00:35 Here's that knee by Demelo on the best player in the world in game 4.. no call.. NOTHING!!! Clowns on the Sportsnet panel totally ignored it.. total BS.. https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1397035474124894215 Guy hasn't drawn ONE penalty in 2 playoff series.. that's statistically impossible unless the decision to make a call has a built in bias. Nothing to see here Just gotta battle through it like everyone else. Couple penalties I saw last night. Marner gets a slight slash on the side of his butt that doesn't affect the play at all. Matthews gets a microscopic crosscheck. The refs can't get their hands up fast enough in some places of the world. Maybe a difference in gravitation force out east.

If that kind of reffing occurs when they play the Jets, the Jets will be shorthanded 50% or more of the games.

Survivor CHAMP S52 | S66
OG's #MUSTWIN Scale
Category 1 - Lightly Musty
Category 2 - Moderately Musty
Category 3 - Considerably Musty
Category 4 - Severely Musty
Category 5 - Incredibly Musty

"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireLowe #FireBobbyNicks #FireKenHolland #FireKeithGretzky

McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!!
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
P. Chiarelli math.. T. Hall = A. Larsson, Yak= bag o'pucks (OK he got one right...) K. Russell = $4.1 M+NMC, G. Reinhart= M. Barzal + A. Beauvillier, J. Eberle = R. Spooner,

"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireLowe #FireBobbyNicks #FireKenHolland #FireKeithGretzky

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 07:25

Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 08:05 Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 00:35 Here's that knee by Demelo on the best player in the world in game 4.. no call.. NOTHING!!! Clowns on the Sportsnet panel totally ignored it.. total BS.. https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1397035474124894215 Guy hasn't drawn ONE penalty in 2 playoff series.. that's statistically impossible unless the decision to make a call has a built in bias. Nothing to see here Just gotta battle through it like everyone else. Couple penalties I saw last night. Marner gets a slight slash on the side of his butt that doesn't affect the play at all. Matthews gets a microscopic crosscheck. The refs can't get their hands up fast enough in some places of the world. Maybe a difference in gravitation force out east.

Its all part of the NHL's script. There is a script.

McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!!
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
P. Chiarelli math.. T. Hall = A. Larsson, Yak= bag o'pucks (OK he got one right...) K. Russell = $4.1 M+NMC, G. Reinhart= M. Barzal + A. Beauvillier, J. Eberle = R. Spooner,

Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 11:04

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 07:25 Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 08:05 Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 00:35 Here's that knee by Demelo on the best player in the world in game 4.. no call.. NOTHING!!! Clowns on the Sportsnet panel totally ignored it.. total BS.. https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1397035474124894215 Guy hasn't drawn ONE penalty in 2 playoff series.. that's statistically impossible unless the decision to make a call has a built in bias. Nothing to see here Just gotta battle through it like everyone else. Couple penalties I saw last night. Marner gets a slight slash on the side of his butt that doesn't affect the play at all. Matthews gets a microscopic crosscheck. The refs can't get their hands up fast enough in some places of the world. Maybe a difference in gravitation force out east. Its all part of the NHL's script. There is a script.

Time to change your handle to Skookum Tim.

Restored: "We're sucking hind banana here." - Pat Quinn, Jan 18, 2010

"...the Oilers have been rebuilding for so long that it’s hard not to be cynical." - NBC's Ryan Dadoun Jan 2, 2015

Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 11:04

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 07:25 Oscargasm wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 08:05 Skookum Jim wrote on Wed, 26 May 2021 00:35 Here's that knee by Demelo on the best player in the world in game 4.. no call.. NOTHING!!! Clowns on the Sportsnet panel totally ignored it.. total BS.. https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1397035474124894215 Guy hasn't drawn ONE penalty in 2 playoff series.. that's statistically impossible unless the decision to make a call has a built in bias. Nothing to see here Just gotta battle through it like everyone else. Couple penalties I saw last night. Marner gets a slight slash on the side of his butt that doesn't affect the play at all. Matthews gets a microscopic crosscheck. The refs can't get their hands up fast enough in some places of the world. Maybe a difference in gravitation force out east. Its all part of the NHL's script. There is a script.

Honestly though, I don't disagree. It's not conspiratorial either (I loathe to use that specific word for how frequently it gets tossed around, in a variety of contexts, for a variety of purposes), but rooted in facts, as evidenced by all sorts of scandals and revelations in the recent history of sport.

There's a great podcast I recommend people listen to called "The Whistleblower". It's about the NBA, and covers some of the more contentious, close playoff series of the past 20-30 years, and takes a deep dive into officiating. Reffing has always been a major issue in the NBA. It investigates specific incidents in certain games and series that are suspicious if not downright obvious and inexcusable. David Stern and the league most certainly had—and still have, under Silver—an agenda and the majority of people turn a blind eye, because we get caught up with literally everything else. Every so often you get a team like the Raptors who, once in a blue moon, have everything go right ("the stars align") and who can break the mold, overcome. In the NBA it is particularly egregious and obvious. But the networks and the league control the platforms, the narratives, the flow of information and much of what happens across the league, and they work together to make it all work in their favour(s). The refs are agents of the league. They (league executives, media outlets, advertisers and league officials) are not necessarily all 'in cahoots' with each other, coordinating through some grand clandestine communications system, but they all have a the same goal: make lots money (by favouring certain teams and markets over others). They do so by covering (or omitting) who and what gets discussed, who gets the calls in crucial moments, etc.

The same issues apply to the NHL. These are tightly controlled, private, opaque, old boys organizations where the bottom line is money. On top of money (eyeballs, attendance, marketing, exposure), NHL officials most certainly are biased (apart from their fallibility), probably more so than in any other sport. The Colin Campbell scandal from a few years ago was absolutely absurd, and confirmed much of what we already know – that executives and officials from the league are friends with people in the media; and that they share informations, thoughts and opinions about stuff with each other. That was one of the most ridiculous, most blatant scandals in recent memory and it came and went like it was nothing. The media barely recognized it.

It's not rocket science. The Oilers are pretty much powerless in a situation like this. So yes, we need to get better as a squad top to bottom (I'm MUCH more hopeful and optimistic than others here), but the officiating—as a result of quiet, perhaps even unspoken *wink wink* orders—has an mega impact and in many ways can control the fate of an organization. A team like Edmonton has to overcome the sun, the moon, the stars, the zebras, the league... it's no joke man!

[Updated on: Fri, 28 May 2021 11:33]

"Thinking that a bad team's best players are the reason the team is bad is the "Tambellini re-signing Lennart Petrell" of sports opinions." @Woodguy55
#FireLowe #FireBobbyNicks #FireKenHolland #FireKeithGretzky

[Updated on: Sat, 29 May 2021 10:53]

McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!!
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
P. Chiarelli math.. T. Hall = A. Larsson, Yak= bag o'pucks (OK he got one right...) K. Russell = $4.1 M+NMC, G. Reinhart= M. Barzal + A. Beauvillier, J. Eberle = R. Spooner,

Survivor CHAMP S52 | S66
OG's #MUSTWIN Scale
Category 1 - Lightly Musty
Category 2 - Moderately Musty
Category 3 - Considerably Musty
Category 4 - Severely Musty
Category 5 - Incredibly Musty

[Updated on: Sat, 29 May 2021 11:55]

McDAVID! Oh YEAH Baby!!
Tic-Tac-Tao!
Keep on Rockin' in the Free World
P. Chiarelli math.. T. Hall = A. Larsson, Yak= bag o'pucks (OK he got one right...) K. Russell = $4.1 M+NMC, G. Reinhart= M. Barzal + A. Beauvillier, J. Eberle = R. Spooner,