ESPN, from an Edmonton Oilers Fan, Improve NHL Coverage

Dear ESPN,

My name is Sammi Silber, and I am the editor of Oil on Whyte. I am calling on you today to PLEASE, PLEASE improve your coverage of the National Hockey League, especially the Edmonton Oilers, on ESPN.

As a writer, and admitting sometimes that I will slip up and get my facts wrong, I understand that we all make mistakes. However, throughout the past years, you and your company have become notorious for your humiliating coverage of NHL hockey. And yes, I am only 18 years old, but boy, I feel as if I could write better quality articles for your site then some of your writers are currently providing.

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Reading your article today “Previewing the Pacific Division,” I could not even follow half of the things that were said. For instance, Cam Talbot is not currently “battling” Ben Scrivens for a starting spot on the Oilers. In fact, Scrivens is competing with Anders Nilsson to even make the team this season.

It annoys me how a huge sports corporation such as yourself, completely ignores the entire National Hockey League, Oilers included, with your coverage of the sport. Of course, to you, football is the most important sport on the planet and we as citizens must always read the latest breaking news in the NFL. It is irritating how a true sport such as hockey, one with so much history behind it, is shunned by your network.

Now I’m not whining for attention. I am asking, I am calling on you, to improve your coverage and overall knowledge of hockey. It’s not just about the “goals and assists,” let alone just about the stars. It’s about the intensity, the rivalry, the passion, the blood, the sport of hockey itself. It is not just a battle for a starting position; it is a battle to make the team out of training camp, after a hard nine years of missing the playoffs.

Next, I would like to disagree with how you describe Andrej Sekera, and while I’m add it, I’ll let you know more about why the team signed him. It is not to peg an “offensive” defender to have on the power play. It was solely a deal that will improve our overall defense that has been struggling to put up quality numbers, let alone protect the blue line. We aren’t exactly looking for quality defenders to put up minutes on the power play, but instead, we’re looking for quality defenders period. We need defensemen who can PLAY DEFENSE.

In addition, in your little narrative about finding another winger for Connor McDavid and Taylor Hall, Anton Slepyshev is not mentioned once. However, Teddy Purcell is thrown in there, and so is Nail Yakupov. Leon Draisaitl is a “rookie option.” Clearly, ESPN, you have been ignorant of the entire situation surrounding the Oilers wingers. Slepyshev is making a huge push, and Draisaitl has been outstanding. To throw around big names, ones that haven’t even performed over expectations, is embarrassing. The team is currently showcasing way more than just the big name players.

To keep going for a second, let’s go to your thoughts on Justin Schultz. Saying he “regressed” last season is an understatement. Schultz was not a good performer at all, and he knows now that he needs training to get better. Putting him on a power play unit with McDavid and Hall is not the answer, but instead, it relies on the coaching of Todd McLellan to help him develop and improve. Adding in names like Hall and McDavid will not help him bounce back. He will bounce back by learning a new defensive style.

Lastly, Jordan Eberle‘s situation should not cause you to advise fans to draft him for fantasy knowing that he’s injured. That’s just a killer move in Fantasy. That could kill a team.

Thank you, and please advise if this gets to you.

Sammi

Next: Anders Nilsson Giving Talbot a Run for His Money?

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