Craig MacTavish Delivers Message for Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers’ general manager Craig MacTavish stepped to the podium Friday morning in a much-hyped conference that fans hoped would provide some change and direction for the woefully-run organization.

And much like the actual Edmonton Oilers on the ice, it failed to live up to the hype.  For a team that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2006 and has selected in the top-10 of the draft six consecutive years, it shouldn’t be this bad in Edmonton.  Unfortunately for Oiler fans, all they can do is ride it out.

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There’s no point in re-hashing why the Oilers have been bad.  So instead here we are going to take some of MacTavish’s more memorable quotes from his press conference and give you our take.  Warning: the following will contain a fair amount of sarcasm.  I don’t apologize up front.  Also, while you can watch the press conference all over the web, the quotes below were taken directly from Global News.

"Quote 1: “The accountability of the players to execute has to improve. Visually to me we’re a better hockey team. [But] there isn’t any tangible evidence of any of that improvement, and that’s what’s so difficult for everybody to swallow.”"

The accountability has to improve?  What does that even mean?  Yes, we know they need to play better Craig.  They’ve lost 11 in a row, have scored the fourth fewest goals in the league and allowed the third most.  You’ve helped build a fantasy hockey team and a team that is fun to use in video games where the individual players are highly skilled.  But an actual NHL team?  Not even close.

"Quote 2: “As painful as this process is, we feel that it’s a necessary step to get us to the next level.”"

I legitimately feel bad for the Edmonton Oilers’ fans for this quote. The team hasn’t been good in nearly a decade, and you have the audacity to stress more patience?  Yes, the team isn’t going anywhere this season, but this is what, like year 8 of a 5-year rebuild plan?  Rome was built faster.

"Quote 3: “Is it time to punt out the core of these players at 23 and 24 years old as they’re developing? I’ve switched out 14 or 15 players in the 18 months that I’ve been on the job, and what I think I have now is a group that is capable of growth.”"

Well Craig, this “core” has finished last four out of the last five seasons, under .500 and playoffless in eight years.  Their record has regressed in recent seasons and are currently last in the NHL with 17 points and on pace to finish with 54 points for the season.  Well, actually 53.62, but we rounded up.

That “core” of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Nail Yakupov, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins runs the gamut from wildly talented to severely disappointing.  Unfortunately they’ve been sprayed with the Edmonton Oilers’ stink and it’s going to take a heck of a lot more than a tomato juice bath to get rid of it.

So while no one is saying they all need to get the boot, I wouldn’t exactly be touting my young core as the recipe to get the team out of this rut.  Oh, and you’ve switched 14 players in 18 months?  Yes, that also includes you signing Mark Fayne, Benoit Pouliot, and Nikita Nikitin to mind-numbingly bad deals.  Don’t worry though, your goalie duo of Viktor Fasth and Ben Scrivens has put up a cool .889 save percentage this year.  In a 30-team league there are about 40 quality goaltenders and the Oilers have exactly zero of them on their roster.  I guess keep shuffling those deck chairs until something works Craig.

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"Quote 4: “He’s [Dallas Eakins] evolving. [But] we’ve changed assistant coaches. We’ve brought in co-coaches. We’ve brought in former head coaches. [We’ve had] four coaching changes (since 2009).”"

I get it.  MacTavish hired Eakins, and once Eakins gets canned, then more people will start calling for MacTavish’s head.  But maybe Craig, Eakins and all these other wonderful coaches your brought it, just flat out stink?  This is Eakins first NHL gig.  Sure, he had some success in the AHL.  But a 35-59-14 record so far is just embarrassing.  But hey, maybe more co-coaches is the answer!

"Quote 5: “Don’t lop me in to a situation of [previous] power and influence in the management level of this organization.  I’ve been on the job for 18 months.”"

Translation: the guys before me left me with nothing, so I’m trying my best.  Yes, my best did include overpaying for mediocre talent.  Also, I’m a ginormous weasel for blaming someone else because my team is terrible again.

"Quote 6: “I would characterize the owner as upset. He’s like a lot of our fans times 10.”"

Interesting observation Craig.  You mean the guy writing the checks doesn’t like being a perennial doormat?  Who would have thought that?

Overall it was a worthless press conference and another depressing day for the Edmonton Oilers.  Everyone knows the team is garbage and no one’s job, coach or player, should be safe.  But what fans really want to know now Craig is how do you plan on fixing it?