Author of the article:
David Staples • Edmonton Journal
Published Feb 18, 2015 • 2 minute read
Join the conversationBad news for the Edmonton Oilers, a report from ESPN’s Craig Custance, who asked ten agents which city their clients least wanted to play in. Edmontonton topped the list, followed by Winnipeg, Buffalo, Ottawa and Toronto.
Reported Custance: “The Oilers have three things working against them: climate, lack of success and being a Canadian team, which is one common characteristic on these lists. Given the choice, agents said, most players don’t necessarily want to play to play in Canada.”
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Of course, the piling on came immediately from Eastern hockey writers such as Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy, who wrote of the Oilers franchise:“A mismanaged collection of young stars who can’t burn hotter than the dumpster fire in which they’re consumed. But it’s the location of the dumpster that’s frequently the deal-breaker.”
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My take
A few thoughts:
1. No surprise here, not with the Oilers the worst team in the NHL since owner Daryl Katz took over.
2.Which came first: the losing or the players not want to play for losing Canadian teams?
3. When Edmonton was winning in the 1980s, plenty of players wanted to play here. The second Katz can get it together as an NHL owner and put together a winning management group, players will want to come here again.
4. A new downtown arena — as compared to the depressing, claustrophobic, cramped old barn that the Oilers now play in (and that’s exactly what Rexall Place has become) — will also help here.
5. A player’s coach like a Ralph Krueger or a Todd Nelson is also likely part of the solution for having players want to play here, though there’s no substitute for winning.
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6. The lack of progress in theshortEakins/MacTavish era — a time when the team needed to be and should have been trending up — has set back the Oilers franchise in a painful way. The Oilers simply had to have progress in 2013-14 and did not get it. It was the single most depressing year in the history of the franchise.
7. So long as the Oilers make major mistakes like investing in Nikita Nikitin as opposed to Jeff Petry, nothing changes.
8. Even with a poor reputation, the Oilers have been able to pick up some decent NHL unrestricted free agents in Benoit Pouliot and Boyd Gordon in recent years, and at not too huge of an over-pay.
This is bad news from Custance then, but it’s not terrible news. It can be fixed. All it takes is winning.
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As a seasoned hockey analyst and enthusiast, my extensive knowledge of the sport allows me to provide a comprehensive understanding of the concepts mentioned in the article by David Staples for the Edmonton Journal on February 18, 2015.
The central theme of the article revolves around the challenges faced by the Edmonton Oilers in attracting players to the team. This information is drawn from a report by ESPN's Craig Custance, who consulted ten agents to determine which city their clients least wanted to play in. According to the report, Edmonton emerged at the top of the list, with factors such as climate, lack of team success, and being a Canadian team cited as deterrents for potential players.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Edmonton Oilers' Challenges:
- The article highlights three main challenges faced by the Edmonton Oilers: climate, lack of success, and being a Canadian team. The combination of these factors contributes to the team's unfavorable standing among players.
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Player Preferences for Canadian Teams:
- The report suggests that, given the choice, most players do not necessarily want to play for Canadian teams. This sentiment is attributed to various reasons, including potential challenges related to climate and the perception of a lack of success.
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Comparison with Other Cities:
- The article lists other cities, such as Winnipeg, Buffalo, Ottawa, and Toronto, which also face challenges in attracting players. This creates a broader context for Edmonton's situation and highlights commonalities among these cities.
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Eastern Hockey Writers' Response:
- The article mentions the response from Eastern hockey writers, specifically quoting Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy. Wyshynski characterizes the Oilers franchise as a "mismanaged collection of young stars" and emphasizes the impact of the team's location on player recruitment.
-
Historical Context - Oilers' Success in the 1980s:
- The author reflects on the historical context, noting that during the Oilers' successful period in the 1980s, many players wanted to play for the team. This raises the question of whether the team's current struggles or the players' reluctance came first.
-
Factors for Improvement:
- The article suggests several factors that could contribute to improving the situation, including effective team management, a new downtown arena, and the influence of a player's coach. Winning is identified as a key driver for attracting players to the team.
-
Oilers' Recent Performance and Mistakes:
- The lack of progress during specific coaching eras, such as the Eakins/MacTavish era, is discussed as a setback for the franchise. The article also touches upon the impact of poor decisions, citing the example of investing in Nikita Nikitin over Jeff Petry.
-
Optimism for the Future:
- Despite the challenges, the article concludes on a relatively optimistic note, stating that the situation can be fixed with a focus on winning and addressing key issues within the organization.
In summary, the article provides a nuanced analysis of the Edmonton Oilers' challenges in attracting players, incorporating historical context, current issues, and potential solutions. The insights are derived from a combination of expert opinions, historical observations, and an understanding of the current dynamics in the world of hockey.
