Around the league (signings, RFAs injuries)

[ESQ]

Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) Chief Executive Officer & Vice Chair Bob Nicholson announced today significant changes to the management structure of the organization – both in hockey and business operations.

NOOOOOOOOO

[herb]

Yeah, shitty news for the rest of us. Good news for Oiler fans.

What happened to Mac-T? Not much mention of him in that press release.

[ukcanuck]

Just another reason to hate Edmonton.

There are so many....

[Rumsfeld]

The problem with Seguin was booze and girls.

Yeah, can't have those 19 year old athletes running around banging girls. Are you sure it wasn't a Torres situation where he made crude jokes in the locker room and the team just couldn't take it anymore?

[Hockey Widow]

The problem with Seguin was booze and girls.

Yeah, can't have those 19 year old athletes running around banging girls. Are you sure it wasn't a Torres situation where he made crude jokes in the locker room and the team just couldn't take it anymore?

Exactly Rummy. Pretty silly to give up on a kid with that much talent and skill all because he likes to booze it up, party and chase tail. Which is why Benning favoured the approach the Hawks took with Kane. Didn't hear anything about him being disliked in the dressing room ala Torres though. You hear something?

[Rumsfeld]

The problem with Seguin was booze and girls.

Yeah, can't have those 19 year old athletes running around banging girls. Are you sure it wasn't a Torres situation where he made crude jokes in the locker room and the team just couldn't take it anymore?

Exactly Rummy. Pretty silly to give up on a kid with that much talent and skill all because he likes to booze it up, party and chase tail. Which is why Benning favoured the approach the Hawks took with Kane. Didn't hear anything about him being disliked in the dressing room ala Torres though. You hear something?

Yeah Wids, I heard Seguin was making dick jokes during a locker room Oprah marathon and a lotta guys were pretty pissed about it. He also may have been a no-show at the weekly sewing circle Chara hosted.

[Blob Mckenzie]

It was a quilting bee for Pete sakes .

[Hockey Widow]

The problem with Seguin was booze and girls.

Yeah, can't have those 19 year old athletes running around banging girls. Are you sure it wasn't a Torres situation where he made crude jokes in the locker room and the team just couldn't take it anymore?

Exactly Rummy. Pretty silly to give up on a kid with that much talent and skill all because he likes to booze it up, party and chase tail. Which is why Benning favoured the approach the Hawks took with Kane. Didn't hear anything about him being disliked in the dressing room ala Torres though. You hear something?

Yeah Wids, I heard Seguin was making dick jokes during a locker room Oprah marathon and a lotta guys were pretty pissed about it. He also may have been a no-show at the weekly sewing circle Chara hosted.

Well that's just silly isn't it.

[Rumsfeld]

Well that's just silly isn't it.

I know, right? Like who would ruin an Oprah marathon like that?

What a pig.

[rats19]

Well that's just silly isn't it.

I know, right? Like who would ruin an Oprah marathon like that?

What a pig.

Probably threw his track suit in the shower..

[Island Nucklehead]

So apparently the Bruins are entitled to a 2nd round pick for the Oilers picking up Chiarelli. Even though he was fired, he was still under contract, that's a weired one. CBC saying it's unknown if Boston will take that compensation (there's no negotiation, either 2nd rounder or nothing), but I'm not sure why they would say no. 2nd round pick for a guy you just fired? OKAY!

I wonder why the leaves or Rangers aren't hiring every hockey mind out there as an "advisor to the GM" and then reaping 2nd round picks for everyone that finds a GM job.

[Hockey Widow]

Me thinks that might be the best 2nd rounder the Oilers have given up in a long time.

[Island Nucklehead]

Me thinks that might be the best 2nd rounder the Oilers have given up in a long time.

Yeah I'm just curious why the Bruins wouldn't have taken it already. Maybe they're worried of setting the precedent for when they go after Shero?

[Hockey Widow]

As disappointed/pissed we may be imagine the problems in Pittsburg, Boston, LA, SJS. Tampa may join the list along with Washington or NYI. All teams with much higher expectations than us. Tampa and NYI are on the rise, they will be ok. But the others, well let's just say they have some rebuilding to do to. Imagine if Ottaa upsets Montreal, Minny takes St. Louis. Only one team can win, the other 29 will be second guessing.

[Lancer]

As disappointed/pissed we may be imagine the problems in Pittsburg, Boston, LA, SJS. Tampa may join the list along with Washington or NYI. All teams with much higher expectations than us. Tampa and NYI are on the rise, they will be ok. But the others, well let's just say they have some rebuilding to do to. Imagine if Ottaa upsets Montreal, Minny takes St. Louis. Only one team can win, the other 29 will be second guessing.

^^^^
This.

Much as I try to ignore the predictable schtick from the Eastern media, with their combo of smugness and glee in shitting on Vancouver, when you hear it enough in the background it tends to seep in. When you lose to Calgary and you hear the shameless ball-licking of their young players day-in and day-out, coupled with the ever-glowing forecasts for Edmonton with Chiarelli and the advent season of McJesus' arrival you can get dragged into a pond of negativity looking ahead.

But.

This team was advertised as a rebuild-on-the-fly, with playoffs as the goal. They achieved it. Those other teams had higher expectations and paid up big at the deadline with those expectations in mind, while Benning traded a 2nd for Baertschi - who no one expected to contribute this Spring but may come on in the years to come.

I just hope Benning is able to take advantage of teams like Boston and Pittsburgh or St. Louis while they're looking to change the complexion of their rosters. Couple that with some teams in cap trouble and who knows what Benning will be able to unearth?

I don't expect anything to dramatically improve next year, but even if they tread water next year while bringing in the youth I can see the team getting upstream in the next couple years until the Twins retire.