3 Things For The Edmonton Oilers NOT To Do Now
As a fan of the Edmonton Oilers, it’s understandable to be frustrated with the team’s recent struggles. However, knee-jerk reactions can not only hurt the team now but affect the team in the coming years.
There are some things the team should look at doing right now to help, but there are also things that they shouldn’t think of doing. Here are my top 3 things that the Edmonton Oilers need to avoid doing.
Don’t Make a Knee-jerk Trade
It’s important to remember that hockey is a team sport. Blaming one player or line for the team’s struggles is not fair or accurate. The Oilers need to work on their overall team effort and strategy before considering a trade.
Making a trade could also potentially disrupt the team dynamic even further. Bringing in a new player, especially if they are not familiar with the team’s system, could cause more harm than good. It’s important to give the current players a chance to work together and improve before shaking things up.
Making a trade could also lead to the loss of valuable assets. The Oilers would have to give up a promising player or draft pick to make a trade. These assets could be crucial in building a stronger team in the long run.
The Oilers are a team in need and the other 31 teams can see it. So why would a team want to help them? I remember right before Peter Chiarelli got fired he made a few trades to try and save the season, but Caggiula for Brandan Manning did nothing. Nor did the Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner deal.
Overall, knee-jerk reactions like making a trade may seem like a quick fix, but they often do more harm than good. The Edmonton Oilers need to focus on improving their team effort and strategy before considering any drastic changes. Patience and perseverance are key in the long run.
Don’t Fire Jay Woodcroft
Of the three things on this list, I think this is the most likely to happen. Unfortunately, when a team has high expectations coming into a season and they struggle usually the coach is the first one that gets the bullet.
My concern with firing the coach is that it gives an excuse for the players that are the ones that are playing badly. Having watched almost every minute of Edmonton Oilers hockey so far this season I can honestly say that this is more of a player issue than it is a coaching issue.
I highly doubt that Woodcroft is telling Leon Draisaitl to take his time and preserve his energy in the defensive end. He isn’t telling the defenseman to pinch when there is no coverage behind them. It is the players on the ice just straight up playing badly.
That is why I don’t want to see this organization just fire the coach. I am sure that Woodcroft could manage his lines and players a bit better, but every coach makes those errors. That doesn’t mean fire him.
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I would like to see him play players who have earned their time though and vice-versa. When McLeod is playing soft, he doesn’t deserve to play with McDavid, and when Foegele is driving hard to the net and causing chaos he does.
Every player has games when they are feeling it and every player has games when they are struggling, the players themselves should know. Woodcroft needs to realize that and make an effort to switch his lines accordingly.
Same on the back end. If Bouchard makes a dumb pass or bad play, have the guy sit down for a few shifts. Or at least have him miss a powerplay opportunity once in a while. Woodcroft hasn’t rewarded good plays or punished bad plays. That is where I would like to see improvement, but aside from that firing him gains nothing.
Don’t Do Nothing
It doesn’t take a sports scientist to notice that there is something wrong with the Edmonton Oilers right now. The problem is figuring out what the problem is. Over the last couple of games, the Oilers haven’t tried to change much in their line-up.
Moving forward I think some changes need to be made. Whether that be swapping some NHL and AHL players around in hopes of getting new life on this team or just healthy scratching a player who is struggling.
The one thing the Oilers can do is nothing. Nothing isn’t working, why it isn’t working? I don’t know, but that honestly doesn’t matter. They need to win games and win games fast, so it is time to try almost everything.
Another move is firing the General Manager, Ken Holland. He doesn’t have a contract past this year, so you have to wonder if he is really in it. He is ultimately who is responsible for this team. Putting someone else in that role may see something differently and make a change for the better.
Next. 3 Takeaways as Oilers hit rock bottom with 3-2 loss to Sharks. dark
All That Matters For The Edmonton Oilers Now Is Winning
At the end of the day, I honestly don’t care what the Edmonton Oilers do to improve this team, as long as it starts to deliver wins. The loss last night to the San Jose Sharks just proved that there is something very wrong with this team today.
There are only 70 games left in the season and the Oilers are way behind the pack. They need to string together wins and fast or they will be playing meaningless hockey in January and will be sellers and no buyers at the trade deadline. Hopefully, Oilers fans are keeping up with top NHL prospects if that is the case.