One year ago, the Edmonton Oilers announced a new coaching staff, a new way of evaluating roles, and eventually a total clear out of players who had hung on too long. One year and one last place finish later, the Oilers are about one word.
Rebuilding.
For most fans, this year is about optimism. Not necessarily optimism from a perspective of the right now, but for the still to come.
The Oilers are a team which are looking to regain momentum. Key injuries stole some of the momentum last season, which created frustration and eventually a disconnect from the coaching staff, players, and management. Things became so dysfunctional that most of the older players have been moved out of the team, leaving only Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff as the remaining hold overs from the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.
The team this year still has major holes on defence and in goal where the signing of Nicolai Khabibulin has been seen as a major mistake, one the team will live with for three more years. The prison sentence for drinking and driving only adds to the sense of a bad deal.
The new additions on ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Jonathan Williams