It's pathetic that I have to write a post to address questions about whether an organization cares about winning or not. It's ludicrous to even think it. For a variety of reasons the management of the Oilers obviously cares about winning, as does any organization.
First of all, the Oilers executives are members of the Oilers that were so dominant. I think these guys know a thing or two about winning. Don't the recent draft picks show that? Hall's a stud, Nugent-Hopkins looks like he will be a good centre, and say what you want about Yakupov, but the skill set is there for him to become something special. Aside from draft picks, don't the recent acquisitions also show a desire to win?
What was the Oilers biggest problem last season? Defense. So what does Craig MacTavish do this off-season? Acquires solid veteran defensemen. What did they need so badly at the start of last season? Goaltending. So he goes and gets two goalies with a lot of promise. Also lets not forget about trades like Paajarvi for Perron. You see, a team that didn't want to win wouldn't care about filling the teams needs and making good trades, and the Oilers GM has done that. Now, people will point to a lack of centre depth.
People, it was one off season. A GM can't always fill everything in one off season, especially with what was a fairly weak free agent market at centre. Any trade would likely mean giving up an arm and a leg. Is that what you want? To overpay at another position to get depth at another? This would also likely set back the Oilers playoff hopes even longer. Great idea. You see, putting this team together will take more time than you would like. That's the truth. MacTavish wasn't going to be able to accomplish everything in one offseason, but he got a lot of it done. Then these people will say "What about the hiring of Eakins?"
Okay, a rookie head coach might not have been the best decision, but remember this. Other NHL teams were after him. This wasn't an Oilers thing that they had their hearts set on a random nobody. Other teams also thought he was NHL ready and were after him at the same time. Remember, a lot of Oilers fans were actually happy about this signing. At the time, no one thought that hiring Eakins was "management not caring." Yes Eakins has and likely will take more time to figure out the NHL, however at the time we liked the signing, and like it or not he's the coach now. Management really truly was and is trying. Well what about Kevin Lowe staying?
NO NO NO NO NO. Kevin Lowe has nothing to do with the Oilers success or failure. MacTavish is clearly allowed to make the moves that he wants and Lowe is more of a behind the scenes guy. If Kevin Lowe were to be fired there would be no immediate impact on the ice one way or another. He's not playing, he's not coaching, he's not even deciding on trades or signings. What would be different if he left? Of course, people fail to see this logic and seem to think that firing Lowe is a magic gateway to success. The seats are already paid for. Management doesn't need to care.
Another big misconception. Yes, a large portion of the seats have already been paid for that much is true. However, if the team isn't winning and fans finally do decide not to show up a half empty arena won't look good on TV and then serious questions about management would start. Also, the seats might be paid for, but concessions aren't. If there's no one in the stadium then there is no one to buy ridiculously over priced drink and food. There is no one to buy jerseys. You see, for a variety of reasons the arena does need to be full, and if for no other reason other than this one, management does need to care.
-Darren
Do you think the Oilers management cares? Either comment below this blog, or find me on twitter @thewildman111
photo taken from oilers.nhl.com
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