I remember having a conversation that was “one-way in nature” with my mom after I broke a window in our house playing street hockey in the driveway with a puck instead of the tennis ball she insisted I use. I was 12. I still haven’t forgotten that conversation. I’m guessing that many of you can relate.
So, I couldn’t help but smile when, after watching his team get outscored 20-3 in back-to-back games on the way to 11 straight losses and a 0-10-1 record, San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier had a conversation with his players that he characterized as “one-way in nature.” The Sharks ended their skid with a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday. Coincidence?
The Edmonton Oilers are next up for the Sharks when they visit the SAP Center tonight after getting spanked <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2023/11/06/gdb-11-0-wrap-up-frustrations-boil-over-as-oilers-get-dropped-in-vancouver/">6-2 by the Canucks</a> Monday &#8212; a loss that has them sitting at 2-8-1 and with a fan base that’s rightfully pissed off. When coach Jay Woodcroft was asked what response he wanted from his team after a skate at UBC, <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/practice-forward-leaning-6340768334112">he characterized</a> what he and his coaching staff expected as “well-meaning and forward-leaning.” 
Pardon? You’ve got to listen to the full interview for context, but what does “well-meaning and forward-leaning” even mean? I can understand that carving your players a new one isn’t a tactic a coach like Woodcroft or a general manager like Grier can use on a whim because players will tune it out if it’s done too often.
That said, the timing of Grier’s “one-way in nature” conversation behind closed doors played into the win over Philadelphia – I’m betting he didn’t even use the term “grounded forever.” We’ll see how the Oilers respond to Woodcroft’s softer sell tonight.
<h1 class="p1">WHAT HE SAID</h1>
<figure id="attachment_141485" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-141485" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-141485" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Edmonton-Oilers-Connor-McDavid-hits-Vancouver-Canucks-Suter-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Edmonton-Oilers-Connor-McDavid-hits-Vancouver-Canucks-Suter-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Edmonton-Oilers-Connor-McDavid-hits-Vancouver-Canucks-Suter-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Edmonton-Oilers-Connor-McDavid-hits-Vancouver-Canucks-Suter-768x512.jpg 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Edmonton-Oilers-Connor-McDavid-hits-Vancouver-Canucks-Suter-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Edmonton-Oilers-Connor-McDavid-hits-Vancouver-Canucks-Suter-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-141485" class="wp-caption-text">Nov 6, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) collides with Vancouver Canucks forward Pius Suter (24) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure>
“I just felt they needed to hear from me what I’m seeing and what I expect from them,” <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/11/06/san-jose-sharks-gm-meets-with-players-promises-changes-if-no-improvement/">Grier told</a> the San Jose Mercury News. “To let them know what’s happening was not acceptable from my end. There are certain things I won’t tolerate and some of that stuff has been happening, and I kind of let them know that. We’ll kind of go from there,
“If I don’t see what I want to see, we’ll be evaluating everything and looking at everything. I mean, this can’t go on for much longer. The fans deserve more. The owner has been supportive and backing me and the team forever . . . if the response isn’t there and I’m not seeing what I need to see, everything will be evaluated and I’m sure there’ll be some changes made.”
My sense is many Oilers’ fans feel Woodcroft doesn’t hold his players accountable often enough. I don’t know if that’s true or not because I don’t know what’s said behind closed doors. I don’t know how many one-way conversations take place and neither do you. What’s obvious is frustration grows as the losses mount.
“I think there is accountability within the room,” Connor McDavid <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/a-healthy-enough-connor-mcdavid-vows-to-be-better-for-struggling-oilers/">told Mark Spector</a> of Sportsnet in Vancouver. “Obviously, we&#8217;re not lighting guys up in front of fans or media, but within the group there&#8217;s lots of talk going on. All I can speak to is the players’ side of things. We’re having lots of conversations.”
<h1 class="p1">THE BOTTOM LINE</h1>
Lots of talk. Lots of conversations. OK. We’ll see if that plays out any better against the Sharks tonight than it has through this 2-8-1 start to the season. 
<h2>THE #NATIONVACATION TO ARIZONA</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-141135" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Arizona_Article_1-1024x568.png" alt="" width="1024" height="568" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Arizona_Article_1-1024x568.png 1024w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Arizona_Article_1-300x167.png 300w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Arizona_Article_1-768x426.png 768w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Arizona_Article_1-1536x853.png 1536w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Arizona_Article_1-2048x1137.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
Oilersnation is headed to the desert! Escape to Arizona on our next Oilersnation Vacation presented by Alberta Blue Cross from Feb 18-20th, 2024! Join the party for just $1,999/person (double occupancy rooms). Your ticket includes roundtrip flights from Edmonton, two-night stay in a popular hotel, transportation to the airport and premium hockey game tickets! <a href="https://nationgear.ca/products/2024-arizona-oilersnation-vacation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Limited spots are available so don’t hesitate to get your ticket now!</a>

I remember having a conversation that was “one-way in nature” with my mom after I broke a window in our house playing street hockey in the driveway with a puck instead of the tennis ball she insisted I use. I was 12. I still haven’t forgotten that conversation. I’m guessing that many of you can relate.
So, I couldn’t help but smile when, after watching his team get outscored 20-3 in back-to-back games on the way to 11 straight losses and a 0-10-1 record, San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier had a conversation with his players that he characterized as “one-way in nature.” The Sharks ended their skid with a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday. Coincidence?
The Edmonton Oilers are next up for the Sharks when they visit the SAP Center tonight after getting spanked <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2023/11/06/gdb-11-0-wrap-up-frustrations-boil-over-as-oilers-get-dropped-in-vancouver/">6-2 by the Canucks</a> Monday -- a loss that has them sitting at 2-8-1 and with a fan base that’s rightfully pissed off. When coach Jay Woodcroft was asked what response he wanted from his team after a skate at UBC, <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/video/practice-forward-leaning-6340768334112">he characterized</a> what he and his coaching staff expected as “well-meaning and forward-leaning.” 
Pardon? You’ve got to listen to the full interview for context, but what does “well-meaning and forward-leaning” even mean? I can understand that carving your players a new one isn’t a tactic a coach like Woodcroft or a general manager like Grier can use on a whim because players will tune it out if it’s done too often.
That said, the timing of Grier’s “one-way in nature” conversation behind closed doors played into the win over Philadelphia – I’m betting he didn’t even use the term “grounded forever.” We’ll see how the Oilers respond to Woodcroft’s softer sell tonight.

<h1 class="p1">WHAT HE SAID</h1>
[caption id="attachment_141485" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="size-large wp-image-141485" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Edmonton-Oilers-Connor-McDavid-hits-Vancouver-Canucks-Suter-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /> Nov 6, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) collides with Vancouver Canucks forward Pius Suter (24) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
“I just felt they needed to hear from me what I’m seeing and what I expect from them,” <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/11/06/san-jose-sharks-gm-meets-with-players-promises-changes-if-no-improvement/">Grier told</a> the San Jose Mercury News. “To let them know what’s happening was not acceptable from my end. There are certain things I won’t tolerate and some of that stuff has been happening, and I kind of let them know that. We’ll kind of go from there,
“If I don’t see what I want to see, we’ll be evaluating everything and looking at everything. I mean, this can’t go on for much longer. The fans deserve more. The owner has been supportive and backing me and the team forever . . . if the response isn’t there and I’m not seeing what I need to see, everything will be evaluated and I’m sure there’ll be some changes made.”
My sense is many Oilers’ fans feel Woodcroft doesn’t hold his players accountable often enough. I don’t know if that’s true or not because I don’t know what’s said behind closed doors. I don’t know how many one-way conversations take place and neither do you. What’s obvious is frustration grows as the losses mount.
“I think there is accountability within the room,” Connor McDavid <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/a-healthy-enough-connor-mcdavid-vows-to-be-better-for-struggling-oilers/">told Mark Spector</a> of Sportsnet in Vancouver. “Obviously, we're not lighting guys up in front of fans or media, but within the group there's lots of talk going on. All I can speak to is the players’ side of things. We’re having lots of conversations.”

<h1 class="p1">THE BOTTOM LINE</h1>
Lots of talk. Lots of conversations. OK. We’ll see if that plays out any better against the Sharks tonight than it has through this 2-8-1 start to the season. 

<h2>THE #NATIONVACATION TO ARIZONA</h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-141135" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Arizona_Article_1-1024x568.png" alt="" width="1024" height="568" />

Oilersnation is headed to the desert! Escape to Arizona on our next Oilersnation Vacation presented by Alberta Blue Cross from Feb 18-20th, 2024! Join the party for just $1,999/person (double occupancy rooms). Your ticket includes roundtrip flights from Edmonton, two-night stay in a popular hotel, transportation to the airport and premium hockey game tickets! <a href="https://nationgear.ca/products/2024-arizona-oilersnation-vacation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Limited spots are available so don’t hesitate to get your ticket now!</a>

Time for a “One-Way in Nature” conversation?

Recent articles from Robin Brownlee

Breaking News