In an interview with Sportsnet over the weekend, current VP of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers Craig MacTavish believes that loyalty is what defines the franchise. Unfortunately, it’s nepotism that might be the demise for this team.
There have been a lot of articles, opinion pieces, and editorials regarding the Edmonton Oilers throughout the holidays and into the new year. It’s been mostly a variety of subjects but it all circles back on the lack of progress of this team — the uncertainty surrounding the future of the franchise and the injuries that are slowly stacking up month by month.
This season was supposed to be different, but it feels like deja-vu, even though some of the faces are different. Ken Hitchcock might have taken over after Todd McLellan was fired back in late November, but the progress of this team is not where it needs to be.
Peter Chiarelli should get most of the blame on how this team has fared since he joined the organization many years ago. But the fact is it’s about time we also look at ownership as well. Oilers Entertainment Group should have a lot of scrutinies when it comes to how this franchise has faired under its umbrella.
They have owned the Edmonton Oilers since the 2008-09 season, and all they can show for it were one playoff series win two years ago. Drafting horribly and hiring personnel to management position they don’t deserve is why this team is where it’s at right now.
Hearing Craig MacTavish talk with Ron Maclean on Sportsnet’s Hometown Hockey of how he defines the Edmonton Oilers with the word loyalty is sad and pathetic. I don’t blame MacTavish on his answer because he was asked the question with that specific word, but it clearly defines Oilers ownership quite reasonably.
Guys like MacTavish and Kevin Lowe have been around this franchise longer than their playing careers, which has been a detriment to this team. Think about it, Lowe was the general manager of this team while MacTavish was coaching this team in the early to mid-2000s, and now they are part of the same management group that has stayed pat and allowed this mess to fester.
Getting rid of Peter Chiarelli is only a fix in the short term, it’s time to look at the ownership group and start analyzing the mess they’ve created.