Oilers Open Wounds

As the draft approaches I have been thinking about the oilers and their situation going into the next season, there are still some open wounds that have not healed from last season. One: Khabibulin, drank away his season by getting an extreme DUI in February. Two: The injuries it an ALL time high this season having 3-5 players out of the lineup at a time. Three: Compete level Four: Horcoff’s expensive under productive and invisibility Five: Players using the media as their soapbox to voice complaints about the team and the franchise Six: Finishing 30th in the NHL .

Alright so those are six things that have been lingering in my head about the oilers. You notice that I have left out getting the first overall pick because that is explored in my taylor vs. tyler debate.

One: Khabibulin, drank away his season by getting an extreme DUI in February.
If injury wasn't enough one february evening, Khabby our 4 million dollar goaltender decided to drink and drive thereby getting him an Extreme DUI for being double the alcohol limit. Luckily, he was pulled over and no one was seriously hurt. FOR REAL can this be happening.. Way to be a role model, and a respected individual. For oiler fans it added a box of salt to the already open wound of the season. The unfortunate thing is we did not just sign him for one or two years NOPE we signed an average goaltender who had one breakout season last year for FOUR years.. I thought bad contracts were done when KLowe moved out of GM... ie, Shawn Horcoff.. but i guess not. The future for the goaltender is uncertain and the court date is set for beginning of July and then the franchise will have decisions to make.

Two: The injuries it an ALL time high this season having 3-5 players out of the lineup at a time.

This season we lost 530 man games to injury!! that number still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. On a good day we could dress half of our actual club and relied heavily on our farm system calling up players it seemed every practice. I don't know that its luck or that our players were not fit enough or playing smart enough.. who knows..


Three: Compete level

Compete, Passion, drive and determination all things that were missing in the locker room for most of the season. I felt at times like asking the players to revisit what they love about playing for this city, this team and these fans... and if they can't think of anything then get the hell off my team... now i realize this is easier said then done but really... i mean you play for the Edmonton Oilers, you are going to play in front of a sold out, loud, supportive crowd all season.. why can't you have that passion in your play. As hockey players you preach about how you love to play hockey and its all you have dreamed about since you were little.. well then revisit that little 4 year old learning to skate or scoring your first goal or even being drafted by the NHL and bring that to the ice every night... i often wondered what happen to the pride and the resilency of this club... I thought we were a franchise that was TOUGH to play against and competed till the last horn sounded....


Four: Players using the media as their soapbox to voice complaints about the team and the franchise

One pet peeve i always have with NHL hockey players regardless of the city they play in is when they use the media as a way to voice their complaints and issues with the franchise or team.. If you have an issue talk to the people it involves going to the newspaper and doing a so called "expose" will get you put on the short list to get out of here because no one wants a winer on their team. Why can you be a professional or at most an adult when it comes to issues at your job. If I have an issue with my boss im not going to go to the internet and call them out that would get me fired...

Souray did it this season and hemsky did it last season.. YOU get paid millions of dollars so suck it up or deal with it behind closed doors...

Five: Finishing 30th in the NHL .

This happens when you are lacking the above things.. I love this team but i am beyond frustrated with their words and their lack of action.. The only thing i love right now is that we are going to "rebuild" right and that we have a fantastic coaching staff!!

What about you? what pissed you off the most about the oilers this season?