Deep Thoughts VII: sick and tired
Robin Brownlee
February 27 2009 01:17PM
I was going to go out to Millennium Place today and watch the Edmonton Oilers, but I've come down with whatever's laid the rest of my family low and decided to stay home. Besides, cold sweats, aching joints, fever and the urge to puke or crap myself is more appealing.
With Thursday's uninspired 1-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the books, the NHL trade deadline looming and my fat head thicker than usual, I've got to admit I don't have any answers.
Not for what ails the Oilers. Not for GM Steve Tambellini. Not for fans still shaking their heads after watching their heroes get outclassed at every turn by the Blue Jackets. I did, however, have a retort for the adult-proof cap on the medicine bottle containing the drugs I hope will lessen the urge I have to establish a new record for projectile vomiting. It's called a pair of vice-grips.
No, all I've got are questions, observations and complaints, each tainted by nausea and torqued by a ring of fire that makes it difficult to be the positive, care-free guy I usually am.
Still, I'd rather be me than Tambellini.
Just asking...
- What does it say about the character of the Oilers when a 39-year-old goaltender, who was pegged by many to be kicked to the curb when the season began, is your best player against Columbus? And where would this team, the one that was supposed to be a Northwest Division contender, be without Dwayne Roloson?
- Anybody who bought the load of bologna offered by Craig MacTavish in pre-season -- when he talked about finishing atop the Northwest Division and feeling the need to quell all the optimism he felt -- into self-loathing now like a rube roped into a pyramid scheme?
- Between bloated contracts for the likes of Shawn Horcoff and Dustin Penner and being saddled with under-achievers like Erik Cole and Robert Nilsson, does Tambellini have a player over the age of 22 not named Ales Hemsky who anybody would want at the deadline?
- Anybody with a functioning brain steam who thinks tweaking this line-up, even with a rental forward good enough to play top six minutes, will be enough to get the Oilers into the playoffs and past Detroit or San Jose in the first round?
Getting here
- I know this is heresy, but is there anybody from the group of Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Nilsson, Ladislav Smid and Theo Peckham a lock to be more than a good player? Is there a franchise building block in there?
- Do the Oilers have as much young talent in the above group as Columbus? How about Chicago? Or Anaheim? Phoenix? Nashville? So, is the future, say the next three or four years, really that rosy?
- How do the Oilers five best players -- let's go with Hemsky, Sheldon Souray, Horcoff, Lubomir Visnovsky and Tom Gilbert -- stack up against the top five in San Jose and Detroit? How about Vancouver? Calgary? So, how promising is the immediate future?
- If Hemsky's contract is Kevin Lowe's finest moment, does his offer-sheet to Penner and the stack of dough thrown at Horcoff rate as his biggest gaffes? I know, it's a rhetorical question...
- Criticized as a tool, an oaf and a mouth-breathing stooge in his war of words with Lowe, and with reason in terms of STFU Quotient, is bombastic Brian Burke looking a little smarter now? How's that Bobby Ryan kid?
And another thing...
- How much, if any, will past moves by Lowe affect Tambellini in trying to make trades? Will Darcy Regier answer Tambellini's calls? Will Burke, his old boss in Vancouver, talk trade with the Oilers?
- With the deadline approaching and Marc Pouliot (not to mention JF Jacques and Nilsson) available as a sweetener in deals to anybody who wants them, do you ever imagine Zach Parise in Edmonton silks? And how does someone NOT get fired over that?
- How much help is on the way when you look at Springfield and prospects still in major junior or college hockey? And, while you're answering that, are you among the 90 per cent of fans who overvalue the Oilers young talent? Oh, you just wait until Jordan Eberle gets here, Buster. It'll be different.
- Is a playoff spot and five-and-out against the Red Wings or the Sharks really enough to make you shrug at the answers to the above questions? Good luck with that.
-- Listen to Robin Brownlee every Thursday from 4 to 6pm on Just A Game with Jason Gregor on TEAM 1260.
@ Cam:
I think the pessimism comes from having to watch a the Oilers play a must win playoff type game, and they didn't show up.
The amount of times that they haven't shown up this season has been frustrating.
I would rather have a team try their asses off and lose every night than have to watch this heartless trainwreck for much longer.
Moreau says what's important is how the team plays when it matteres... there was your answer.
Jasmine wrote:
Notice a trend. The team has also been crap since 2000 and they too have gotten worse.
As for the players not wanting to come to EDM - Hossa's the best example - said no to crap load of cash for the next 8 years because he wanted to WIN! Now if that hasn't spoke volumes to ya, nothing will. I love the Oil, but I hate losing! Is that such a crime?
@Robin:
Try drinking rosewater for the upset stomach. Seriously...it works.
Fiveandagame wrote:
here here. clap. clap
Hey is that GREGOR in the riddler costume?
Fiveandagame wrote:
I can't argue against that. I just don't think the team needs to be blown up. They need a new coach and a couple of savvy trades. If Hossa had signed here I bet we wouldn't be having this conversation.
@ All people that get mad about the Oil bashing:
You people really need to open your eyes. It's not us fans that are complaining about team that are the problem. It is you few who accept this constant mediocrity. That was fine when we were a small market but it is no longer an excuse. There are far too many players on this team that do not represent what Oiler hockey is. Does anybody even remember what Oiler hockey is? It used to mean something. Something other teams wanted to be. I'm so sick of hearing things like "this team is still in striking distance of fifth and sixth place." They've been there for 18 friggin years! How can you find it acceptable to just squeek in only to be killed by the Sharks or Wings. They put on a hockey clinck the last few times they played. We pay huge money to support this team and I really expect more. Look at Chicago, Columbus, hell, even LA. Those teams are doing it right and they will be better, way sooner than the Oilers unless something major changes.
Start by dropping the delusions of a playoff spot... Trade Cole for a pick or two. Moreau and Staios for a third line center Penner can go for a third string Goalie and you can give Nilsson, and, Pouliot away.
After last night, this team has shown it's true colours. FMNF:
@ Cam: I bet we would cause MacT would find a way to bring Hossa down to a 3rd line player and turn him into a shot blocking monster. FMNF and HAOCWGAATCDIWWASTBAC (Hire An Offensive Coach Who Gets Angry And Throws Chairs During Intermissions When We Are S***ing The Bed Against Columbus)
@ Jasmine: You exceeded the "bash limit" on one post. Are you having one over on us for fun or are you the person from another, ahem, website who can't put five words or a coherent thought together without writing "bash?"
Fiveandagame wrote:
That, and, as somebody who has covered the team for many years, getting the feeling that nothing is going to change -- despite the promises fans heard during the lockout -- as long as this management and coaching group is calling the shots.
It's mediocrity personified.
There are a number of good reasons that players don't want to come to Edmonton. First, the Oilers have become a crappy organization that is always on the cusp of the playoffs, just not good enough. Poor drafts, bad decisions on FAs. They have built a small team (forwards) that is soft and not strong on the puck. The coaching is now highly questionable as to their ability to get the maximum out of the players in a tough division. The Oil is at the northern edge of the Western Conference, making travel difficult compared to most teams in the Eastern Conference. Millionaire hockey players don't want to live in Edmonton. Even Calgary has a better organization, look at their results compared to the Oil.
Robin B wrote:
Take that Dennis! HA
DonDon wrote:
Woah Woah Woah there pal! Don't get me started on results. Calgary has and always will be Edmontons wanna be little brother. Sometimes the little brother may hit a growth spurt but in the end, the first born always wins out. Now get your crazy talking ass outta here! haha.
Robin B wrote:
Sounds like LOWES stubborness costs him respect, money and dollars - case in point - the public temper tantrum of comrie
I love the "it's the fans fault" line. For the record:
The Edmonton Oilers are owned by Daryl Katz. Prior to that they were owned by a group of local businessmen called the EIG.
Kevin Lowe was first the General Manager and then the President of the team under these successive ownerships.
In other words, any blame for the performance of this team rests on one guy - the guy who has been calling the shots since the summer of 2000.
Blaming the fans is just about as asinine as you can get - sure, on an individual level, they provide the money that this team lives on, but they have no say in the decisions made by the organization.
To suggest otherwise is fairly stupid.
@ Travis Dakin: I've commented on the mediocrity angle for years. Between archival systems at SLAM that require people to pay for internet stories once they're past a few months old, and the fact that people, including me, don't retain or recall anywhere near everything they read -- outside, it seems puff pieces that sneak into copy on the beat -- I'm not surprised it seems a revelation. It's not.
Although I am sick and tired . . .
Travis Dakin wrote:
when was the last time the oil played a home game and the chatter before the game was confidence, kick some butt and we have this W - it has been a very long time, our barn is a brothel for visiting players - oilers get screwed
DK0 wrote:
sorry tambo didnt have the aurthority to hire torts as a scout aka chicago - now he's gone - could we hire a celebrity coach with motivational tendencies such as bobbie knight ?
RyanD wrote:
With much respect Robin - are you chastized on two levels - just curious as you seem to be a more free spirited writer than main stream media protecting their press pass...... so do the oilers give you grief for writing negative comments for all to read, and second how has the blogger tag combined with your other affiliates played out this year - are you second class coompared to a journal or sun writer - just curious with much respect.......
Travis Dakin wrote:
has this organization forgot how to win or just doesnt want to win - like a cancer patient that refuses chemo and just wants the fight (season) to end for better pastures (heaven - or golf courses for nhl players).... this is a severe motivation problem combined with self ego confidence...... that's what my doctors tell me here at the institution......
Robin B wrote:
APE - FMNF wrote:
simple one - copper and blue
You know who i'd want to see in oil blue and i know i'm just dreaming cause i'd trade 2/3 of the team for these two guys... Frolov and Kopitar. there i said... maybe just Kopitar then.
Peter Pan wrote:
kinda mild in comparison to ripping warrior a new orface
TEMNF - FMNF
(Trade Ethan Moreau Now F@#kers)
Hey remember when the Oilers cared about hockey? Insert picture of Doug Weight here....
@ Robin B:
Is it just me or has MacTavish lost his fire? The Spark and wit he used to have seems to be replaced with the same frustration that many of the fans feel.
If he wants his team fired up, shouldn't he get a little fired up?
Just a question.
and seriously is that Gregor as the riddler in the photo?
Rogue wrote:
Call Jake Daniels - he will set you straight 426 TEAM monday morning - until then do not be left alone - the voices will get you - trust me.
Fiveandagame wrote:
No but Will Fraser should get a hold of his figure skating outfit photo from the 80's - it would change perception - maybe for the better.... really.
Deep Oil wrote:
Yes sir... that was a classic.
Robin what is the cap issue when a player leaves his contract and plays in another league..... (Radulov)...
We could pray reall hard that 2/3 of this team leaves for Russia and KLOWE would be given a do over.....
Cheers, DEEP
Fiveandagame wrote:
At least we aren't New York Islander fans. They are not very good now and there rookie crop isn't exactly a thing of beauty. Ottawa is beginning to look similar. While the Oilers don't have a lot of grade 'A' talent, there are players coming through the system that will be players. Admittedly, most of it is on defence or down the middle. Linus Omark is shooting out the lights in the SEL.(which isn't exactly a slouch league)
All I'm saying is there are teams out there drafting worse than the Oilers even though they have higher picks.
Jasmine wrote:
Jasmine, or should I say, AKA "Hemsky83", please try & refrain from spamming this good site with your constant rhetoric.
We get it, You HATE Oiler fans, (even though you are 1 yourself) now how about actually trying to make a comment regarding a puck issue for once? You might even get a decent reply from someone if you got off the path of hate for 6 seconds a day...
x6
Travis: as I said before, I am liking the sick Brownlee;)
@ Peter Pan:
*sighs with fond memories of Doug Weight*
Sorry to here you have the ebola flu Mr. Brownlee.
Get well Soon, we're going to need your piss and vinegar for the stretch drive.
M.M. wrote:
in a true form of racism - it is the last group that is picked on by the OTHERS..... stating the argument that we are better than the islanders, sens, is like saying that we are remedial students repeating the same grade.... and the special kids need to take this class 2 or 3 more years - not impressed with this comparison to other non winners - how about comparing yourself to Detroit, San Jose where the model of reverse engineering would pay benefits...... the last time I checked - saying your better than the losers next to is very small and trumpeting what if's is very shallow - the class of 09 has to pull themselves up, look in the mirror and address their problems either individually or collectively as a group - maybe a locker ass kicking instead of a team meeting would establish some heart, soul and substance - to which, is invisible - just like lowe's accountability and katz' commitment / presence.
Fiveandagame wrote:
yes - dougie left here for a bag of cash in st. louis i think he has made over $50million - not bad for kid from detroit that kept his lunch money in his shoes
when we were a small team sucking on nhl welfare....
how times have changed and the results have basically stayed the same........ is it fair to state the obvious and expect a stanley cup every 30 years..... right now the law of averages seem better than the circus can put up
Peter Pan wrote:
sorry oilers can lose a portion of funds as long as the nj accountants approve the cross branding of the conglomerate - when you have a company called rexall that is profitable and is paying corporate tax - rexall sports is the ying to the yang and sometimes the expenses of an entertainment entity are positive to have in the term of checks and balances - making money is not primary - capturing the brand name and association with non taxable benefit is KEY - you can hide a lot of cash in a hockey team with losses - great tax avoidance vehicle.... really
@ deepoil: How many teams would you say draft better than the oilers. They missed the boat on one year and everyone will point at that year forever.(2003) But if you look at our talent pool coming through the system is a lot better than most teams. I would say top half of the league and we didn't spend year after year as a lottery team to get there.
keep in mind, being above 50% is better than average
Teams I think that have better prospects:
St. Louis Columbus(I take Howson over KLowe any day) Los Angeles Phoenix(if any team's fans have the right to get rid of their coach it's this one, imo) Boston Chicago Washington Atlanta Tampa Bay
Maybe Florida
all of those teams have veen bottom feeding for a while now.
Detroit Montreal Philadelphia has done a good job despite being competitive most of the time( minus 06-07 )
These are the teams that do fairly good every year and I think have a better pool than us.
I admit, there's no gamebreakers, but there are lots of players in our system, IMO. Philidelphia(Who I thin
Had an interesting phone call today from the Oilers Robin... they are getting a feel if I'm going to renew my season tickets and buy playoff tickets. The price for my $94. per seat regular season seat will go to approx. $450. per seat for the 4th round of the playoffs!!! Glad I won't have to worry about that... but after much thought over the last couple weeks I told them: a) I would not be buying my playoff tickets this year and b) If there are not signicant changes made to coaching and management staffs that I would let my (5) season seats that we've had for 21 years. I've had enough of this B.S. I'm done...
Clarkenstein wrote:
wow clark - I did the same this year - groundhog year got to you...... can you imagine if more people thought this way..... at some point there has to be an equilibrium of accountability and success or the protest becomes too successful and the team looks at leaving eventually - but your disgust for your cash going down the drain is understandable...... can you imagine if the oilers had a feedback email or rant voicemail number (Allan Watt would have call display) to let loose after this professional organization has gone off the rails....... don't you think they should learn how to run a hockey team first before expanding its customer demo to semi pro ball - what is the focus here......
M.M. wrote:
Three teams off the top of my head - san jose, detroit and boston..... I am giving the kids a break here - drafting is a crap shoot.... I am holding LOWE accountable for $15mm in mistakes for just one year....
Penner - failure (spector - hockeycentral) Horcoff - under performing Cole - better in in NC - gone $15mm that is hossa and player x
but the problem here is that players have free flipping will unless you are traded like cole - and hossa told batman thanks but no thanks........
Thanks for the vine in regards to drafts - Gags and Cogs are works in progress - most teams can add a player to the draft once in two years - but I am disappointed in the lack of performance of LOWE's boys that he trumpeted on the team and made himself look like King Lear (look at me look at me) give me a break... in reality this was a pissing match between two egos with problems (burke and lowe) - I dont want problems - I want solutions and if you cross that line LOWE again - may the villagers string you up to show who YOU serve - go home to your riverbend mansion - think what you have done - think hard and have a drink as you will need it after you sober up and fix this train wreck
RB: we're up to 24 players tomorrow when 37 comes off the IR. Any idea who's the odd man out? We have waiver rights on both 49 and 85 so the easiest call would be to farm one of them out.
DO: I enjoy your posts, sir:)
@ Dennis: I'd guess it'll be Peckham with the ticket to Springfield, but I wasn't at the rink this morning to ask.
hey deep oil quit thread crapping every 2 minutes we don't need to hear your drivel that frequently, god it's irritating.
Can we get a 1/10 min post limit in all non GDB threads? maybe Oil nation contributers could be immune(since they respond to questions and the like), but it would save everyone else from having to slog through pages of deep oil or WT drivel.
Robin B wrote:
Any chance they'll keep Peckham up and put Strudwick in Reddox's spot instead?
W.T. just turned the wheel in for the night. W.T. is a huge NHL fan and had to pull over this morning when listening to Bob MacKenzie on the 1260 show. Did you all hear him talk about the Oilers and trade deadline day and the bad contracts the Oilers have. He said Horcoff would be a third line center on the Flyers. But W.T. says the best line MacKenize said was why would the Oilers throw good money after bad. Hey KLowe, what you think that means???? Or for that matter,any you defenders of the Oiler mismanagement want to take a stab at that one.
Just another hard lesson for you Oiler fans to accept.
RB: Thanks.
Dennis wrote:
Rain Barrel?
W.T. wrote:
Oiler fans will go crazy afera a win on Saturday, MacT's Quote: YAH YAH they were great. Grab me some touch of grey. YAH YAH
Wow the pitchforks and torchs are out. Enough with all this BS about how you will stop being a fan if the Oilers dont make "signicant changes " to the managment/roster/Mark Shultz. I still want the Oilers to make the playoffs and I still think that they will. I know alot of fans want to blow this whole thing up (myself included) but dont delude yourself into thinking that you dont want to see the Oilers in the playoffs. Even if they get shitrolled by SJ in 4, it will be a blast to experience playoff hockey in Edmonton. It's fun to play arm chair GM and agrue w/ other fans, but regardless of what changes are made we will still be die hard Oilers fans. Look at the brightside, we have Katz as the owner not Harrold Ballard. This team is committed to winning in a market where hockey demand is high and supply is small. Yah Im dissapionted w/ the season too but dont question the Oiler's managments desire to win. No matter how many sellouts in a row the organization is still commited to winning.
@ROBIN
IT"S TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE IN THE OFFICE AND BEHIND THE BENCH!!! This team has a complete disconnect with the fans. They believe because the building is full than they are are successful. I argue the notion, they are only full because of the playoff run in 2006. Those 2 months created a rush for even the average fan, the Oilers will always have the die-hard fans that read the threads and post on blogs like this and buy their season tickets. They energized a city BUT, they are losing those same fans that jumped on the wagon during that magical run. Walk into a sports lounge now during an Oilers game and see how many people are there. The in thing isn't to watch an Oiler game anymore for that average fan, they now choose to spend there money somewhere else. If they didn't have that run than how many empty seats do you think would be in the building!!! I had 2 out of my 5 season tickets left for Blackhawks game and i was going to sell them to a scalper for a third of the price, he looked at me and said i was crazy as he couldn't even sell the 30 or so tickets that he had for less than face value. He said "no one wants to watch this team anymore, i have trouble selling tickets every game unless it's the habs, leafs or flames. The only reason they have so many season ticket holders is they all are scared to lose the seats they already occupy if they don't renew. They don't renew because of value they renew because of fear!! If you ask the Fan's if they percieve value in the tickets they have, i bet almost all would definitely say awful entertainment for what we pay. I also own season tickets and i can tell you on one hand how many games were worth the price of the ticket and sadly one of them was the beating the Oilers took from Chicago!!! One more thing, we were all told that we needed the lockout for cost certainty. The Oilers always operated on a budget of approx 30 million for players salaries because they told us they couldn't afford anymore. The players stated that the owners were all hiding revenues to be able to get the salary cap. We all believed the owners and sided with them during the lockout. I do believe we needed the lockout to create an even playing field among all the teams. My question is, how can the Oilers operate on a Budget of 54 million for salaries and also help the so-called non-profit teams(Phoenix, Nashville, etc.)with payments from their revenues. HOW CAN THIS TEAM SPEND AN EXTRA 20 MILLION PLUS IN SALARIES AND STILL TURN A TIDY PROFIT LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR!! My season tickets have gone up a total of 9 dollars per ticket from 2004 and I also don't think they generated an extra 20 million in advertising since the lockout either. WHERE HAS ALL THIS MONEY COME FROM TO PAY SALARIES and MONEY LOSING TEAMS IN THE U.S.????