Roughly a quarter of the way through the season and Edmonton Oiler fans, including myself, are quickly evolving from being optimistic to finding that fuzzy and dangerous zone personified by Michael Douglas in Falling Down. In summary, the team sucks, and nothing illustrated that more than a pathetic effort Wednesday night against a Kings team that was curb-stomped by the Flames the previous evening. That the Kings played the night before is just one part of the equation; the Oil had five days of rest heading into the game, so the loss was a particularly stinging junk-punch to fans and perhaps an indicator that the players are starting to tune out Craig MacTavish.
The long and largely mediocre run of MacT as the head coach in Edmonton is usually justified by MacT supporters by the miracle Cup run of 2006; what people seem to forget is that the club lost, and the next year was an absolute fucking atrocity. Still, I have some sympathy for MacT, as Kevin Lowe wasn’t exactly flawless with his roster management this off-season. Questionable decisions include:
a) The three-headed goalie monster. This is a clusterfuck, and has frustrated the goalies, fans, and most likely, every player in the locker room. I’m sure even Joey Moss has had enough.
b) Letting Curtis Glencross walk while getting cockteased by Hossa and Jagr in the summer free agent frenzy. The 3rd and 4th lines have clearly lacked any jam or sense of urgency. Perhaps they didn’t like the whopping $1.2 million a year he was asking for, but he clearly fit last year. Considering MA Pouliot is making $1 million this season to fill a locker and Zach “Totally Fucking Useless” Stortini received a 2 year deal, I think signing Glencross was an easy decision. I guess when you’re not a 1st round draft pick bust or a coach’s pet project, your contributions can be overlooked.
c) The lack of balance in the forward lines. Trading for Erik Cole was a good idea. Playing him out of position and then trying to make a consistent 25 goal scorer a 3rd line checker is not. I’m guessing he won’t be clamoring to resign when his free agent number comes up on July 1st. The Kid Line was magic in a bottle last year, but it is readily apparent teams are better prepared for them this year. Perhaps juggling the lines and playing a rugged veteran on the exceedingly soft 2nd line might help.
Now, this doesn’t excuse MacT’s perpetual line blender, the undeserved promotion of Kelly Buchberger from his unsuccessful AHL coaching gig, his insistence on playing guys out of position, or the ridiculous double standards he holds for “safe players” who contribute nothing but don’t make mistakes. I just think it shows that there are many cooks in this smelly, rotting kitchen, and that another playoff miss requires the new owner to take a hard look at the organizational structure of the franchise.
Clearly, shit is just not right with this club.
2 comments:
I've said for many years that MacT is an over-rated coach. He seems like a nice enough guy, but a head coach he is not. Where else can your performance outcomes be mediocre year after year (flukey cup run aside) with no sign of progress and still keep your job? Like him or loathe him, MacT just hasn't got the job done ...
Shit dude, Carolina just shit-canned Peter Laviolette and he won the freaking cup in 2006 before missing the playoffs 2 straight years. If the winners of that unlikely Cup final are making a change after the Canes just missed the playoffs the last 2 years, what excuse do the Oil have for MacT's continued employment?
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