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So, it really was all McLellan's fault

"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

"There's no greater springboard to development than failure." - Craig MacTavish, April 13/15.

5-14-6-1

"Sabres think the suck is their ally? They merely adopted the suck. The Oilers were born in it...molded by it."

#firebob #screwitjustselltheteam #ownerisacreep

"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

Take me home, country road
to the place where I belong
to Alberta, to see the Oilers
take me home, country road

"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

Take me home, country road
to the place where I belong
to Alberta, to see the Oilers
take me home, country road

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,

"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

Take me home, country road
to the place where I belong
to Alberta, to see the Oilers
take me home, country road

"Bah Gawd! Would somebody stop the damn draft!"

- Jim Ross calling the NHL Draft Lotto 2015 as the Oilers win

"There's no greater springboard to development than failure." - Craig MacTavish, April 13/15.

5-14-6-1

"Sabres think the suck is their ally? They merely adopted the suck. The Oilers were born in it...molded by it."

[Updated on: Wed, 21 November 2018 09:52]

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,

"Bah Gawd! Would somebody stop the damn draft!"

- Jim Ross calling the NHL Draft Lotto 2015 as the Oilers win

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

Generally Disappointed.

[Updated on: Wed, 21 November 2018 10:45]

2015/2016 - This Kool-Aid tastes like McDavid flavoured Drain-O.
2016/2017 - This Kool-Aid is starting to taste like juice.
2017/2018 - I'm drinking this Kool-Aid, in hopes that it's Drain-O.
2018/2019 - Another round of Drain-O, good sir!

2015/2016 - This Kool-Aid tastes like McDavid flavoured Drain-O.
2016/2017 - This Kool-Aid is starting to taste like juice.
2017/2018 - I'm drinking this Kool-Aid, in hopes that it's Drain-O.
2018/2019 - Another round of Drain-O, good sir!

[Updated on: Wed, 21 November 2018 14:49]

"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

RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 16:11

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 14:45 overdue wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 13:34 RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 10:41 I don't give a crap who coaches the team or how old he is, just win some bloody games. They had the nice, pat them on the back, supportive Dad figure in McLellan and they rewarded him by being crappy. Now the roster isn't good enough and McLellan made mistakes too but at the same time not many of the Oilers players played up to their potential other than McDavid. So there is plenty of blame to go around. So maybe these guys need the crusty, blunt, tell it like it is, grandpa figure to get these guys going. I heard a text from someone on the Nielsen show this morning and maybe there is something to it. Kids don't always listen or do what their parents say but they usually listen and do what their grand parents tell them. I have 2 boys and overall they are good, well behaved kids but at times, it's a struggle to get them to listen and do what they are supposed to. Yet when they are at their grandparents, they are perfect angels and are work their ass off doing whatever their grandparents ask. Didn't watch the whole game but enough to see that as a team they actually looked like they knew what they were doing most of the time and their goaltender did a great job of keeping them in it when the sharks got hot. The grandfather analogy is a good one although I can't help but remember Mclellan throwing players under the bus in media interviews. Is that what supportive, caring Dad's do? It seemed that relationship had soured a lot and was one of the reasons he had to be replaced. Be interesting to see where this goes in the next few games. Hitchcock's record speaks for itself. I think McLellan may have been dad to guys like McDavid, Drai, Lucic, Nuge, and I guess Letestu and guys that were true believers in everything he was selling. But, he did throw other guys under the bus a lot. He pretty much told Schultz to get the hell off the team in his interview after a game. I wonder if he really did confront players that much personally, maybe he didn't. Maybe the media stuff was actually how he talked to them. Then there was practice and video time going over mistakes as a group, and woodcroft's custom mistakes videos for individuals, and if players couldn't learn all they need from that, then they might find themselves sitting out (unless they were Lucic, Letestu or whatever other favourites he had). I didn't view him as a teacher really at all. He let his elite guys free wheel, he had system ideas that never really seemed to ever stick or be consistently used in an effective way with all the non-elite guys that he just hoped could tread water while the elite guys were resting. After 3+ years, I still don't feel our players were going out there looking like they knew what their job was, which to me is the real measure of a coach. You can lose games still with good coaching because of a lack of talent and ability to score, but at the least, your players should look like they know what the hell they're supposed to be doing. Ah well. I guess we'll find out soon how coach-able this team really is. If these guys don't start all looking like they understand what their job is under this coach, I won't know what to think anymore. I can agree that it looks like McLellen wasn't able to be a good enough teacher for these young guys. You kept seeing a lot of the young guys doing the same mistake year after year. One thing I will say, is Hitch seems to be a good teacher because he is known for structure and making your teams overall defense better. Every team he has went too, their goals against dropped a lot. So maybe if Hitch can come in, teach some structure to these guys including McDavid, the guy that takes over next year will have a much better collection of hockey players.

Probably 2 different approaches to teaching. From witnessing, seems like Todd was the kind of teacher that walks into the class, tosses stuff up on the board, and leaves. Next time you see him will be the exam (game time). And if you fail and aren't on his favourite list, you'll know with less ice time or you'll be watching next game.

Hitch seems to enjoy the 1 on 1 stuff a lot more, what we all hoped Eakins was going to do, what Krueger and Nelson actually did.

Some more hitch comments from today from Spector:



Think this is something we've seen from lots of players on this team. Cheating to the defensive side of the puck, playing scared. I never understood why Lucic is always bailing from the net. Wonder if Hitch is actually going to get him to screen goalies properly haha.

"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, 21 November 2018 15:30

RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 16:11 Kr55 wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 14:45 overdue wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 13:34 RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 10:41 I don't give a crap who coaches the team or how old he is, just win some bloody games. They had the nice, pat them on the back, supportive Dad figure in McLellan and they rewarded him by being crappy. Now the roster isn't good enough and McLellan made mistakes too but at the same time not many of the Oilers players played up to their potential other than McDavid. So there is plenty of blame to go around. So maybe these guys need the crusty, blunt, tell it like it is, grandpa figure to get these guys going. I heard a text from someone on the Nielsen show this morning and maybe there is something to it. Kids don't always listen or do what their parents say but they usually listen and do what their grand parents tell them. I have 2 boys and overall they are good, well behaved kids but at times, it's a struggle to get them to listen and do what they are supposed to. Yet when they are at their grandparents, they are perfect angels and are work their ass off doing whatever their grandparents ask. Didn't watch the whole game but enough to see that as a team they actually looked like they knew what they were doing most of the time and their goaltender did a great job of keeping them in it when the sharks got hot. The grandfather analogy is a good one although I can't help but remember Mclellan throwing players under the bus in media interviews. Is that what supportive, caring Dad's do? It seemed that relationship had soured a lot and was one of the reasons he had to be replaced. Be interesting to see where this goes in the next few games. Hitchcock's record speaks for itself. I think McLellan may have been dad to guys like McDavid, Drai, Lucic, Nuge, and I guess Letestu and guys that were true believers in everything he was selling. But, he did throw other guys under the bus a lot. He pretty much told Schultz to get the hell off the team in his interview after a game. I wonder if he really did confront players that much personally, maybe he didn't. Maybe the media stuff was actually how he talked to them. Then there was practice and video time going over mistakes as a group, and woodcroft's custom mistakes videos for individuals, and if players couldn't learn all they need from that, then they might find themselves sitting out (unless they were Lucic, Letestu or whatever other favourites he had). I didn't view him as a teacher really at all. He let his elite guys free wheel, he had system ideas that never really seemed to ever stick or be consistently used in an effective way with all the non-elite guys that he just hoped could tread water while the elite guys were resting. After 3+ years, I still don't feel our players were going out there looking like they knew what their job was, which to me is the real measure of a coach. You can lose games still with good coaching because of a lack of talent and ability to score, but at the least, your players should look like they know what the hell they're supposed to be doing. Ah well. I guess we'll find out soon how coach-able this team really is. If these guys don't start all looking like they understand what their job is under this coach, I won't know what to think anymore. I can agree that it looks like McLellen wasn't able to be a good enough teacher for these young guys. You kept seeing a lot of the young guys doing the same mistake year after year. One thing I will say, is Hitch seems to be a good teacher because he is known for structure and making your teams overall defense better. Every team he has went too, their goals against dropped a lot. So maybe if Hitch can come in, teach some structure to these guys including McDavid, the guy that takes over next year will have a much better collection of hockey players. Probably 2 different approaches to teaching. From witnessing, seems like Todd was the kind of teacher that walks into the class, tosses stuff up on the board, and leaves. Next time you see him will be the exam (game time). And if you fail and aren't on his favourite list, you'll know with less ice time or you'll be watching next game. Hitch seems to enjoy the 1 on 1 stuff a lot more, what we all hoped Eakins was going to do, what Krueger and Nelson actually did. Some more hitch comments from today from Spector: Think this is something we've seen from lots of players on this team. Cheating to the defensive side of the puck, playing scared. I never understood why Lucic is always bailing from the net. Wonder if Hitch is actually going to get him to screen goalies properly haha.

Totally agree about the teaching aspect. I saw more heart out of this team last night, more battle from the middling players then I have in the past 2 years. Todd was tuned out. Great players will play great regardless of the system or coach. Thats what sets them apart. Good players need the structure and the direction. Todd could not provide that. Anyone who argues that, please put your arguments forward. He had favourites and it was evident. Much less of a team system. It seemed like it was Connor, Leon and Milan and then everyone else. Despite what a lot of people say, I think we have more talented players then are given credit, they have lacked structure and an actual system. Under Todd it was get the puck to Connor then scramble around until you can change. The fact that Hitchcock has already started a 'heavy', 'identity' line speaks volumes. Much less square peg in a round hole approach then Todd showed. This team came back from goal deficits more then once and personally I'd attribute that to simply asking players to play to their strengths. The Lucic line played the best as a group and as individuals that I've sen in a long time. They hemmed the Sharks in their zone and for the first time in a long time, another team was playing scared of the Oilers with the exception of Connor. It was a very refreshing and welcomed sight.

I'm not going to absolve Pistol Pete of his own ineptitude in managing the roster or the OBC for their constant back patting and smugness about the 'solution', because the upper management has shackled some very good and one great player with a roster that is not up to par.

They key here for me is that without a practice and only a couple hours of face time, Hitchcock has managed to slot some players into appropriate roles, inject some structure into a nebulous group and get players to believe in themselves. It remains to be seen if they buy in long term, but what I saw impressed me like no other game this season. It reminds me of some late 90's and early 2000's teams that had so little collective talent outside of Weight and Guerin, but still made the playoffs because they everyone played a role and bought in.

Just my 2 cents.

"Make the Oilers great again" - Donny Tramp

Kr55 wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 16:30

RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 16:11 Kr55 wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 14:45 overdue wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 13:34 RDOilerfan wrote on Wed, 21 November 2018 10:41 I don't give a crap who coaches the team or how old he is, just win some bloody games. They had the nice, pat them on the back, supportive Dad figure in McLellan and they rewarded him by being crappy. Now the roster isn't good enough and McLellan made mistakes too but at the same time not many of the Oilers players played up to their potential other than McDavid. So there is plenty of blame to go around. So maybe these guys need the crusty, blunt, tell it like it is, grandpa figure to get these guys going. I heard a text from someone on the Nielsen show this morning and maybe there is something to it. Kids don't always listen or do what their parents say but they usually listen and do what their grand parents tell them. I have 2 boys and overall they are good, well behaved kids but at times, it's a struggle to get them to listen and do what they are supposed to. Yet when they are at their grandparents, they are perfect angels and are work their ass off doing whatever their grandparents ask. Didn't watch the whole game but enough to see that as a team they actually looked like they knew what they were doing most of the time and their goaltender did a great job of keeping them in it when the sharks got hot. The grandfather analogy is a good one although I can't help but remember Mclellan throwing players under the bus in media interviews. Is that what supportive, caring Dad's do? It seemed that relationship had soured a lot and was one of the reasons he had to be replaced. Be interesting to see where this goes in the next few games. Hitchcock's record speaks for itself. I think McLellan may have been dad to guys like McDavid, Drai, Lucic, Nuge, and I guess Letestu and guys that were true believers in everything he was selling. But, he did throw other guys under the bus a lot. He pretty much told Schultz to get the hell off the team in his interview after a game. I wonder if he really did confront players that much personally, maybe he didn't. Maybe the media stuff was actually how he talked to them. Then there was practice and video time going over mistakes as a group, and woodcroft's custom mistakes videos for individuals, and if players couldn't learn all they need from that, then they might find themselves sitting out (unless they were Lucic, Letestu or whatever other favourites he had). I didn't view him as a teacher really at all. He let his elite guys free wheel, he had system ideas that never really seemed to ever stick or be consistently used in an effective way with all the non-elite guys that he just hoped could tread water while the elite guys were resting. After 3+ years, I still don't feel our players were going out there looking like they knew what their job was, which to me is the real measure of a coach. You can lose games still with good coaching because of a lack of talent and ability to score, but at the least, your players should look like they know what the hell they're supposed to be doing. Ah well. I guess we'll find out soon how coach-able this team really is. If these guys don't start all looking like they understand what their job is under this coach, I won't know what to think anymore. I can agree that it looks like McLellen wasn't able to be a good enough teacher for these young guys. You kept seeing a lot of the young guys doing the same mistake year after year. One thing I will say, is Hitch seems to be a good teacher because he is known for structure and making your teams overall defense better. Every team he has went too, their goals against dropped a lot. So maybe if Hitch can come in, teach some structure to these guys including McDavid, the guy that takes over next year will have a much better collection of hockey players. Probably 2 different approaches to teaching. From witnessing, seems like Todd was the kind of teacher that walks into the class, tosses stuff up on the board, and leaves. Next time you see him will be the exam (game time). And if you fail and aren't on his favourite list, you'll know with less ice time or you'll be watching next game. Hitch seems to enjoy the 1 on 1 stuff a lot more, what we all hoped Eakins was going to do, what Krueger and Nelson actually did. Some more hitch comments from today from Spector: Think this is something we've seen from lots of players on this team. Cheating to the defensive side of the puck, playing scared. I never understood why Lucic is always bailing from the net. Wonder if Hitch is actually going to get him to screen goalies properly haha.

I don't think Hitch is a long term solution for the Oilers. The fact that he is only signed until the end of the season says that as well. But one of the things that could be a real positive with this situation is Hitch really has nothing to lose or worry about. He doesn't have to make friends with any of the players. He doesn't have to worry about long term relationships. He's just coaching for this season and to do as well as he possibly can. So if he has to get in a guys face and piss him off a little to make him do the right thing finally, he can do it. If he has to grind on these guys a little harder to get them to finish a play properly instead of only doing 3/4, to not cheat for offense like they all still do, to do push a little harder, grind in the corner that extra bit to win a puck battle, battling a little harder to get a puck out, change lines at the proper time (looking at you Puljujarvi) or what should be soooo simple but get a bloody puck in deep when you are supposed too, he can do all that with no worry on the future relationship. I am thinking about the Couture goal where Klefbom has the puck and he doesn't get it in deep like he is supposed too on a line change and 15 seconds later, it's in the net. All those little things that the Oilers younger guys, McDavid included at times, don't do all the time that make ALL the difference in a game.

McLellan was supposed to be more of a players coach. I am sure he wanted and tried to get all his players to do all the little things they were supposed too including some of the things I listed but he probably didn't grind on the players or rip a strip off them when they don't do it like Hitch will. They tried the nice guy for a while and he got the players probably 3/4 of the way, it might be time to bring in the task master to get that critical last 1/4 that McLellan couldn't get.

[Updated on: Thu, 22 November 2018 08:31]