Trade Deadline Analysis
2 big trades, same big problem in Oil Country
As has been mentioned far to many times, it has been clearly stated the Oilers were, at the deadline, looking for a winger to play with Ales Hemsky. GM Steve Tambellini not only did that, but in acquiring Ales Kotalik from the Buffalo Sabres, found what appears to be a clone of the slick winger. Same name. Same homeland. same style of play as they attempt to mesh their styles on the top line tonight in a clash with the Ottawa Senators (7:30 pm ET). Tambellini also dipped further into the trade waters nabbing Patrick O'Sullivan from the L.A. Kings for disgruntled forward Erik Cole.
Though these moves improve the team as a whole, it will not give the team a legitimate shot for the Stanley Cup. Slipping into 8th spot
Tambellini let everyone know that he wouldn't part with his youth core...which begs me to question, how do you justify three second line quality players who have combined for 29 goals this season?.
Sam Gagner, considered to be one of the most up and coming players in the game has taken a hard fall, amassing 23 points in 57 games. While the horridly low numbers speak for themselves Coach Craig MacTavish has given a vote of confidence to the 19 year old, saying he is happy with the way he is playing. If this is what Oil Country's future is, we're in deep trouble. After all, isnt the object of the game to score goals?
Robert Nilsson, a crafty winger who, next to Hemsky is considered the Oilers most skilled forward is hard pressed to beat out enforcer Zach Stortini in goal output. Looking at his stats, you'd wonder if you were checking the stat sheet for a 4th line grinder. Pointless in his last 7 games, Nilsson has been shown to the press box the last couple of games and it seems pointless to continue to hold onto hope that this kid will break out.
Dustin Penner, who was looked at to be the answer to Hemsky's problems has been nothing short of a problem in Oil country, coming to camp out of shape, having been called out twice in the media by his coach while showing a lacklustre work ethic. One embarrassing call-out by the coach should have been enough, but when Penner's play started to diminish a second time all the coach did was call him out a second time and leave it at that.
Not all the fault can go to the coach, and the point of this is not to make this a blame game but it is with this standard of mediocrity that has the Oilers in a mediocre position fighting for their playoff lives season after season. The player personnel can change and improve 'on paper' all it wants but so long as the 'good enough' attitude exists the copper and blue aren't going anywhere
"If we can get on a 4 or 5 game winning streak and then go .500 the rest of the way we should get in"MacTavish mused as he pondered 1-0 loss to the Blue Jackets, which had its share of puthetic effort.
If MacTavish, or anyone in the NHL had this theory on their way up to the NHL ranks, they would not have had a chance to be where they are today. These kinds of goals set by the coach will only result in a bevy of underachieving players looking to cut corners left right and centre. The expectations have been met. The results are just as everyone had envisioned they would be.
Hovering around .500, head above water. Just happy to have a chance.
At the end of the day one player was shown the door when many others should have also been given their walking papers. If things don't change, the pink slip will be handed to the man who didn't have a notion to hand it to his peers in the first place.
BleacherBuff
- Oilers trade underachieving forward Erik Cole to Carolina, acquire Kotalik, O'Sullivan but are too content where they are to be taken seriously as cup contenders
As has been mentioned far to many times, it has been clearly stated the Oilers were, at the deadline, looking for a winger to play with Ales Hemsky. GM Steve Tambellini not only did that, but in acquiring Ales Kotalik from the Buffalo Sabres, found what appears to be a clone of the slick winger. Same name. Same homeland. same style of play as they attempt to mesh their styles on the top line tonight in a clash with the Ottawa Senators (7:30 pm ET). Tambellini also dipped further into the trade waters nabbing Patrick O'Sullivan from the L.A. Kings for disgruntled forward Erik Cole.
Though these moves improve the team as a whole, it will not give the team a legitimate shot for the Stanley Cup. Slipping into 8th spot
Tambellini let everyone know that he wouldn't part with his youth core...which begs me to question, how do you justify three second line quality players who have combined for 29 goals this season?.
Sam Gagner, considered to be one of the most up and coming players in the game has taken a hard fall, amassing 23 points in 57 games. While the horridly low numbers speak for themselves Coach Craig MacTavish has given a vote of confidence to the 19 year old, saying he is happy with the way he is playing. If this is what Oil Country's future is, we're in deep trouble. After all, isnt the object of the game to score goals?
Robert Nilsson, a crafty winger who, next to Hemsky is considered the Oilers most skilled forward is hard pressed to beat out enforcer Zach Stortini in goal output. Looking at his stats, you'd wonder if you were checking the stat sheet for a 4th line grinder. Pointless in his last 7 games, Nilsson has been shown to the press box the last couple of games and it seems pointless to continue to hold onto hope that this kid will break out.
Dustin Penner, who was looked at to be the answer to Hemsky's problems has been nothing short of a problem in Oil country, coming to camp out of shape, having been called out twice in the media by his coach while showing a lacklustre work ethic. One embarrassing call-out by the coach should have been enough, but when Penner's play started to diminish a second time all the coach did was call him out a second time and leave it at that.
Not all the fault can go to the coach, and the point of this is not to make this a blame game but it is with this standard of mediocrity that has the Oilers in a mediocre position fighting for their playoff lives season after season. The player personnel can change and improve 'on paper' all it wants but so long as the 'good enough' attitude exists the copper and blue aren't going anywhere
"If we can get on a 4 or 5 game winning streak and then go .500 the rest of the way we should get in"MacTavish mused as he pondered 1-0 loss to the Blue Jackets, which had its share of puthetic effort.
If MacTavish, or anyone in the NHL had this theory on their way up to the NHL ranks, they would not have had a chance to be where they are today. These kinds of goals set by the coach will only result in a bevy of underachieving players looking to cut corners left right and centre. The expectations have been met. The results are just as everyone had envisioned they would be.
Hovering around .500, head above water. Just happy to have a chance.
At the end of the day one player was shown the door when many others should have also been given their walking papers. If things don't change, the pink slip will be handed to the man who didn't have a notion to hand it to his peers in the first place.
BleacherBuff
posted by BleacherBuff @ 9:50 AM
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