Getting rid of Chiarelli at this point won't turn their current situation around. A new coach very well could.
As I said earlier, it's still early and plenty of time to turn it around, but something has to change.
I don't agree.....if anyone should be on the hot seat, it's Chiarelli, but no changes will be made. After blowing though a coach per season for so many years, this team finally has some coaching stability. McLellan is a very good NHL coach, this team was fantastic at special teams last season. It's on the players for underachieving and not getting it done, as well as Chiarelli for his offseason.
Getting rid of Chiarelli at this point won't turn their current situation around. A new coach very well could.
As I said earlier, it's still early and plenty of time to turn it around, but something has to change.
10 Team, Points Only, Cash League
25 Man Roster (no position), top 20 point getters count at end of month
Keep 20/25 at seasons end, Cut 5 to FA for redrafting
Goalie points W=2pt L=-1pt SHO=2pt
Stamkos, Tavares, Eichel, Mercer, JRobertson, RThomas, Kucherov, Nugent-Hopkins, Tuch, KConnor, Necas, Point, Konecny, SJarvis, Cozenz, Morrissey, Bouchard, Josi, Novak, Tolvanen, Peterka, Brink
G- Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Oettinger
"Cleavage is like the sun. You can look, but dont stare.. Unless you're wearing sunglasses."
True, I guess I'm looking at the long game....I don't know of any coaches available that better/more proven options than McLellan, and don't think firing the coach to shake up the team and try to salvage this season is worth it long term. I'm not saying that a GM change is needed either, just that I think the state of this season falls on his lap more than McLellan's. Ultimately, it's the players themselves that have put us in this spot: Talbot off to a brutal start, and only 3-4 players consistently bringing their A-game. Doesn't matter who the coach is, can't win consistently if that is the case.
Sekera will make a significant difference, but I'm not sure Strome is capable of stepping up unless they put him on McDavid's line. He's getting even less quality ice time than he did with the Islanders and his numbers speak to that. He's not a rain maker - he's a complementary player that needs to be paired with a stud to be useful.
10 Team, Points Only, Cash League
25 Man Roster (no position), top 20 point getters count at end of month
Keep 20/25 at seasons end, Cut 5 to FA for redrafting
Goalie points W=2pt L=-1pt SHO=2pt
Stamkos, Tavares, Eichel, Mercer, JRobertson, RThomas, Kucherov, Nugent-Hopkins, Tuch, KConnor, Necas, Point, Konecny, SJarvis, Cozenz, Morrissey, Bouchard, Josi, Novak, Tolvanen, Peterka, Brink
G- Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Oettinger
"Cleavage is like the sun. You can look, but dont stare.. Unless you're wearing sunglasses."
You guys can't be serious.
If Sekera is the main reason for there terrible start, then you have to pay him the same as McDavid or Draisaitl at least or more. Is he really worth that much? I didn't realize this guy could kill penalties and quarterback the power play when only playing 21 minutes a game. He has been there for 2 years and all we have heard is how much they need a defenceman.
Sekera is a non issue. He won't make an ounce of difference if he plays or not in my opinion.
10 Team Roto Keeper League; 20 Keepers;
Stats: G,A,Pts,ppg,ppa,pims,+/- ; W,sv%,svs
C: Seguin, Panarin, Carter
LW: Benn, Hall, Buchnevich, Coyle, Zucker
RW: Kane, Simmonds, Stone, Nino, Gallagher
D: Subban, Doughty, Byfuglien, Jones, Mcdonagh, Fowler
G: Price, Holtby, Halak, Reimer
Have to disagree. He was on the 2nd PP unit. He is a 3-4 defenseman, not a top 2. It's not like Chicago missing Duncan Keith, LA missing Drew Doughty or Ottawa missing Erik Karlsson, (although they have and stepped it up without him), where a team could use that as an excuse. No not the main reason, nor A reason for where they are. It is way above that.
In Edmonton, he's a top 2 Dman. You may think he's a 3-4, but in Edmonton, that is not the case. Sure he doesnt play PP1, but he is a monster for them out there 5 on 5.
I respect your opinion on many things but you need to watch a few more Oilers games to realize his importance to the team.
10 Team, Points Only, Cash League
25 Man Roster (no position), top 20 point getters count at end of month
Keep 20/25 at seasons end, Cut 5 to FA for redrafting
Goalie points W=2pt L=-1pt SHO=2pt
Stamkos, Tavares, Eichel, Mercer, JRobertson, RThomas, Kucherov, Nugent-Hopkins, Tuch, KConnor, Necas, Point, Konecny, SJarvis, Cozenz, Morrissey, Bouchard, Josi, Novak, Tolvanen, Peterka, Brink
G- Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Oettinger
"Cleavage is like the sun. You can look, but dont stare.. Unless you're wearing sunglasses."
I dont think Sekera is some highly underrated dman, hes solid, but the mere fact that his return would remove Gryba from the lineup is a huge improvement to the team.
Cutting back Klefbom's minutes will help too. Sekera was the Oilers #1 PP guy for much of the year last season, Klefbom took over later on, there PP-TOI is almost identical.
By no means is Sekera's absence the main reason for the Oilers struggles, but to say it's a complete non-factor is just crazy. So crazy I dont know why im still talking about it.
10 Team Roto Keeper League; 20 Keepers;
Stats: G,A,Pts,ppg,ppa,pims,+/- ; W,sv%,svs
C: Seguin, Panarin, Carter
LW: Benn, Hall, Buchnevich, Coyle, Zucker
RW: Kane, Simmonds, Stone, Nino, Gallagher
D: Subban, Doughty, Byfuglien, Jones, Mcdonagh, Fowler
G: Price, Holtby, Halak, Reimer
What's interesting with Sekera returning is it will push Russell to be their #6 D-man because right now he's #5. And this is after they decided to give him $4M for 4 years. You just can't have your #6 D-man getting $4M. How much are they going to give to Nurse and Benning? Those two have a solid case that they should get more than $4M now.
The Oilers need to do something but I don't really know what that something could be. They can't make a big trade, they've already traded away enough players. They can't fire the head coach, they've already gone through enough of them. They can't take the 'C' from McDavid, and that's unlikely to help anyways. Firing the GM mid-season probably doesn't help either. Could they fire an assistant coach and would that be enough? I don't know but I'm not seeing too many options besides that.
Maybe they can add a couple of veteran players who provide more leadership in the locker room especially. I'm not sure if guys like Lucic and Larsson are very strong leaders. It's impossible to know without actually being in the locker room, so I'm just guessing here.
Changing out an asst coach is certainly an option. Maybe they can find one who can tighten up a special team.
10 Team, Points Only, Cash League
25 Man Roster (no position), top 20 point getters count at end of month
Keep 20/25 at seasons end, Cut 5 to FA for redrafting
Goalie points W=2pt L=-1pt SHO=2pt
Stamkos, Tavares, Eichel, Mercer, JRobertson, RThomas, Kucherov, Nugent-Hopkins, Tuch, KConnor, Necas, Point, Konecny, SJarvis, Cozenz, Morrissey, Bouchard, Josi, Novak, Tolvanen, Peterka, Brink
G- Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Oettinger
"Cleavage is like the sun. You can look, but dont stare.. Unless you're wearing sunglasses."
10 Team Roto Keeper League; 20 Keepers;
Stats: G,A,Pts,ppg,ppa,pims,+/- ; W,sv%,svs
C: Seguin, Panarin, Carter
LW: Benn, Hall, Buchnevich, Coyle, Zucker
RW: Kane, Simmonds, Stone, Nino, Gallagher
D: Subban, Doughty, Byfuglien, Jones, Mcdonagh, Fowler
G: Price, Holtby, Halak, Reimer
PC talk about a survivor. He's been living off the Kessel deal for years. And did he really win that deal if Kessel wins 2 cups and gets squat for Seguin????
Roster & League Details:
https://www.docdroid.net/D7q33mW/rostera.docx