Edmonton Oilers Need More Than Skill to Rebuild

Rebuild.

It is something that the Edmonton Oilers have been trying to do for the last nine years. Now, it seems like the Oilers will miss the playoffs for the 10th year in a row.

This can only lead us to question this: what’s the next step? They’ve had four first-overall draft picks, built an offensive arsenal and went through multiple coaches and general managers.

The front office issues seem to be coming under control, but they’ve been left with a terrifying mess. They have “Norris-worthy” Justin Schultz taking up $3.9 million on cap space, and all of their “core” players are signed to huge $6 million deals.

However, there is a way out of this mess. And you are going to hate hearing this, but moves need to happen. Trades need to happen.

A huge tear-down and rebuild needs to happen to get this team back on track.

“Don’t trade our talented core!”

Like Kris said in his recent Sunday Ramblings, the “core” isn’t getting the job done. Their talent and skill isn’t leading our team to wins.

Let me tell you how you get wins. You need more than just skill, or a couple of “star” players. You need effort, you need determination, you need grit, you need speed, you need size and you need teamwork.

This team is not united. When I look at that team head out onto the ice, I don’t see them standing up for each other, or sticking up for one another. Not only that, I don’t see them ever really bonding or working together as a team.

There are so many communications and turnovers that this team should not be committing. Some of these players have played in the leagues for years, and they are still committing these turnovers and they are still playing poor games. By now, these players should know how to play smart hockey, and they should practice over and over so that they never make another costly play.

Do you know what the biggest lack of teamwork is? It’s their inability to generate opportunity, as well as the most tell-tale sign of all: their laziness.

Not one player today (maybe Connor McDavid) stormed out onto the rink, ready to bounce back after a tough loss the day before. They went out, skated lousy and when the going got tough, they let the tough keep rolling.

There is no excuse. It doesn’t matter that “it was an afternoon game.”

It’s a game. It matters, and it counts toward their standings. If they go out and don’t play to their full potential for 60 minutes game in and game out, then there is no teamwork there. There is no care for the game there. There is no passion.

What this team needs is to dump those players who don’t give their full effort and either trade for players or sign players that do. Not only that, they have to have character, ability and size.

So, if the Oilers plan to rebuild, they can never show a lazy outing again. They need to show some spirit, some passion and some love for each other, as well as build a bond so that they play for each other.

It is not fair to the fans, it is not fair to Todd McLellan, it is not fair to McDavid and it is not fair to any member of that team if every guy is not out there giving 100 percent.

There’s two ways that someone can view a situation. One of my favorite coaches said that you can either look at the situation and say that the glass is half empty, or you can say that the glass is half full. The Oilers need to have optimism and motivation to fill that glass. That is something they lack.

Teamwork, love and dedication is what wins ice hockey games. It’s not all just stats and skills, but it’s size, speed and strategy as well. And if you don’t put in the effort, you’re going to be a team that loses. Not one that wins.