Tanking?

Unfortunately we live in a city where the fans of the local hockey team don't think about what they're saying. There are some myths floating around that don't make much sense at the best and are flat out wrong at the worst. Are Oilers fans really this delusional? Most of the time the answer is yes. Yes, Mcavid and Eichel are both good players, but why do we have to cheer for losses?

Cheering for draft picks is a favourite past time of Oilers fans. It's a sad, sad reality. Yes I know McDavid and Eichel are two really good players and "generational talents" and frankly I don't care. Remember when Taylor Hall was going to turn this team around? Remember when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was going to turn this team around? Remember when Nail Yakupov was going to turn this team around? Remember when Jordan Eberle coming up was going to turn this team around? Remember when Omark and Paajarvi were going to at least help turn this team around? Haven't Oilers fans learned a lesson about draft picks and prospects? They aren't always what they're made out to be, and if they are, you need more than just that player. If you think Connor McDavid is coming here and turning the Oilers into a dynasty than I laugh at you. The Oilers will likely need at least one other centre, two defensemen, and a starting goalie, and that's just the basic shopping list. A top centre will not take this current group and make it completely turn around. Also since when did cheering for losses become the cool thing to do?

You really want to see this team lose? You honestly want to watch a mediocre or worse on ice product? And you want to do this to potentially get something that is nowhere near a guarantee. I can't think of any other scenario where such a thing is viewed as a positive. Don't you at least want to see the team play with pride, retain some form of dignity, at least try not to be the NHL laughing stock (seriously, leave that for  Toronto)? Potentially gain some confidence in themselves in the process? Like I said before a draft pick isn't a guarantee, Sure the Oilers are likely picking 2nd at worst, but there's a chance they find themselves picking third, and then what was the attempted taking for? Not the player most of you want. Or maybe you get the draft pick and the player's a bust, or suffers a career ending or altering injury. Sure both guys are having good seasons, but there's always that slight chance they can't translate to the NHL. So to summarize: you hope the team loses in order to get something that could potentially happen, but there's no guarantee of it happening, but even if it does happen that player won't be turning the team around.

Speaking of which can I show you some other teams with "generational talents" and their ability to make the playoffs and have post season success? I can? Great.

Washington Capitals, Alex Ovechkin, 05/06-present
Ovechkin played his rookie season in 05/06 and has become arguably the best pure scorer in the league. However, success for the Capitals has been far from guaranteed. In fact, the Capitals missed the playoffs in both the 05/06, and 06/07 seasons. Then they made the playoffs for six straight seasons. However, the conference semi-finals were as far as they went, and then last season they once again missed the playoffs.

Philadelphia Flyers, Claude Giroux, 08/09- present
08/09 was the first season Giroux played a significant amount of games, and in that season they lost the conference quarter-finals. The next season they did made the Cup Finals. However, this would be the last of any significant playoff success the Flyers would have. They would lose in the conference semis the next two years in a row, before completely missing the playoffs the next season and bowing out in the quarterfinals next year.

Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos, 08/09- present
The lightning missed the playoffs in both Stamkos' rookie season and the year after. They lost in the quarterfinals for two years in a row before missing the playoffs for another three seasons. They lost the conference finals once, and then missed the playoffs twice more before losing in the conference finals last year.

All of these teams have a generational talent player, and yet they aren't necessarily guaranteed the playoffs and aren't at all guaranteed post season success. Oilers fans do you really want to be a fringe team that sometimes makes the playoffs and never does anything when you get there? Drafting McDavid won't solve all of this teams' problems. In fact, drafting McDavid with minimal additions elsewhere puts you closer to being Tampa Bay than it does Chicago. Personally I'd rather be like Chicago. Yes McDavid is a good player, but don't think he is going to bring this team out of despair on his own. More major parts are needed for that to happen. Which brings us to the next "saviour theory." Coaching.

In conclusion drafting either McDavid or Eichel is in no way a guarantee. If we do get to draft one of them there's no guarantee they're as good as advertised. And even if they are as good as advertised there's no guarantee that it turns the team around. So you still want to lose just to get something that comes with a lot of ifs and question marks? I sure don't.


-Darren


-What do you think of tanking? Let me know by either commenting below or finding me on twitter @thewildman111


-photo taken from cbssports.com