Monday, March 05, 2007
Blast From The Past/Time To Go?
From TSN, November 22, 2004.
Point
• For two years, haven't had a farm team where they can train all the prospects they keep acquiring.
• Have faced major injuries troubles this year, in large part because of the refusal to re-sign Georges Laraque.
• Unneccessarily and foolishly traded away the face of the franchise (Ryan Smyth).
• Made a questionable to terrible trade of Chris Pronger to Anaheim for Ladislav Smid, Joffrey Lupul and draft picks.
• Failed to upgrade on defence all-season long, despite the need to do so since training camp.
• Continue to have an atrocious powerplay.
• Most importantly, are about to miss the playoffs for the third time in five years (not including the lockout).
Counter-Point
• Laraque wanted too much money, didn't fight when he needed to, and the rash of injuries is a fluke.
• Made significant trades over the past few years to improve the roster.
• Considering that Chris Pronger eliminated their leverage by taking his trade demand public, got back the best possible return.
• Fire Craig Simpson.
• Winning record in every season from 2000-2005 (excluding lockout).
• One win away from winning the Stanley Cup.
Since no one working in the media has even hinted at the idea, and I think it's a valid question (especially considering the failure to make the playoffs three times in the past five years), let me raise it right here and now: should Kevin Lowe continue to be general manager of the Edmonton Oilers?
# posted by andy grabia @ 12:07 pm 
Comments:
Can you really say the loss of Big Georges is the cause of all those injuries? I mean, really, he hasn't exactly been the most proactive enforcer since he assumed the mantle of Heavyweight Champion of the NHL.
Can you really say the loss of Big Georges is the cause of all those injuries?
Hence the counter-point.
My own take is that, despite the fact he wasn't a proactive fighter, he was a very strong deterrent. He didn't need to fight, and that fear factor is missing from the opponents who play us.
y'know, I think it says something when I saw that picture and I got momentarily excited. Till I saw the date underneith anyway.
I'm saying Lowe needs to make a hell of a move or two (or three) this summer to ensure his job past summer 2008. I mean, if I were Cal Nichols.
This might be blasphemous, but I think Kevin Lowe will be the GM as long as Cal wants him to be; which could be 3,5,10 years. The two are seemingly sympatico; KLo runs the team while Cal tries to get the Arena deal. There isn't going to be a big interest in rocking the boat until the Arena is approved and then built, or the Arena fails and then Cal Nicholls gets frustrated and resigns/retires.
This might be blasphemous, but I think Kevin Lowe will be the GM as long as Cal wants him to be; which could be 3,5,10 years. The two are seemingly sympatico; KLo runs the team while Cal tries to get the Arena deal. There isn't going to be a big interest in rocking the boat until the Arena is approved and then built, or the Arena fails and then Cal Nicholls gets frustrated and resigns/retires.
Sounds wise, not blasphemous.
The question is should he keep his job, right? Not, will he?
I would say he has a year's grace.
Because of what he did last year.
I think that he put a competitve team on the ice the last five years - even when they missed the playoffs they were always in the mix.
Then the system changed and last year he did a terrific job. Was he a bit lucky? Sure he was. But he got this team a bounce or two (or a Roloson injury) away from a Cup win.
One thing not noted from the HNIC interview - he admitted that he based this year's plan on last season's template - ie/ put together a team and then fill in the holes.
What worked last year failed this year miserably.
Now, if next season is as big a disaster as this one then I would say that he has to go.
The question is should he keep his job, right? Not, will he?
Correct. Nothing gets past you.
I agree with your assessment, even though I think they botched a lot of stuff this year.
Not trying to be an upstart, but I don't think there is a GM in the league who would willingly take Lowe's job, especially at his wage. Not sure on the exact figures but I'm pretty sure he works for a lot less than most other GMs.
Considering the Edmonton fanbase's ridiculous bipolar nature, the economic constraints (yes, there are still economic constraints, even though the EIG plays them up far beyond their actual magnitude), the undesirability of Edmonton based upon the previous two points as well as more difficult travel schedule and level of competition in the west, etc etc.
I'm not saying Lowe is the best GM in the league, he's obviously not, I'm saying we'd be damn hard pressed to find a better one who would work a tough gig on the cheap. If a hockey journalist were to ever tackle something this interesting, I'd wager that an anonymity-guaranteed interview process with 29 other GMs would garner far more negative responses than positive when asked if they'd be willing to take up the position.
I forgot to add, regardless of whether or not he should continue as Edmonton's GM, I think he will be gone in with the expiration of his contract. The team will by then either have been successful or on the verge of rebuilding again. Based on that result, Lowe will either not be offered an extension or will choose not to resign. Even if we're somewhere in between, Lowe will most definitely hand over the reigns to the team, as his comments in the past and the nature of the job will inevitably lead to his resignation.
Remember to be careful for what you wish for though. The nepotic nature of the franchise suggests someone in the organization will take over, and I can't really think of anyone we have right now I would prefer over Lowe.
I'm not saying Lowe is the best GM in the league, he's obviously not, I'm saying we'd be damn hard pressed to find a better one who would work a tough gig on the cheap.
There are plenty of people in plenty of sectors who would kill to have a chance at being an NHL GM. And many of them would do a very good job at it.
Natural progression:
Messier -> honorary chairman
Lowe -> President
MacT -> GM
Bucky -> Coach
Doug Weight -> PP Coach
Do we even know when his current deals runs out?
Anyways, I think he one more year before he comes under serious fire from every direction. The magical run last year is saving him and MacT right now (I think we need a new coaching staff too; no more hiring from within anymore).
Would a GM want to come here? I think yes. This team has some serious talent on it, and it's a challenge to put together a team that is on a budget. They've never gone outside before, but I think it could be done.
Hence the counter-point.
For some odd reason, I stopped reading that one after "too much money." Mea culpa.
You think he botched a lot of stuff, Andy?
I'm Mr. Positive.
And he botched pretty well everything.
Is that hindsight? Sure it is.
He gambled and lost.
There are plenty of people in plenty of sectors who would kill to have a chance at being an NHL GM.
Yeah, but how many of them are qualified and would actually do a better job? Hell, there are plenty of people who hang around here who would kill for the chance.
Lowe's a lackey of PocklEIGton. He's helping them make money. Why would they fire him? (see also: careers of Bob Pulford in Chicago and Harry Sinden in Boston, to name just two).
It's not "would" or "will", people. It's "should?"
His deal runs out at the end of next year, Scarlett.
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Can you really say the loss of Big Georges is the cause of all those injuries? I mean, really, he hasn't exactly been the most proactive enforcer since he assumed the mantle of Heavyweight Champion of the NHL.
Can you really say the loss of Big Georges is the cause of all those injuries?
Hence the counter-point.
My own take is that, despite the fact he wasn't a proactive fighter, he was a very strong deterrent. He didn't need to fight, and that fear factor is missing from the opponents who play us.
y'know, I think it says something when I saw that picture and I got momentarily excited. Till I saw the date underneith anyway.
I'm saying Lowe needs to make a hell of a move or two (or three) this summer to ensure his job past summer 2008. I mean, if I were Cal Nichols.
This might be blasphemous, but I think Kevin Lowe will be the GM as long as Cal wants him to be; which could be 3,5,10 years. The two are seemingly sympatico; KLo runs the team while Cal tries to get the Arena deal. There isn't going to be a big interest in rocking the boat until the Arena is approved and then built, or the Arena fails and then Cal Nicholls gets frustrated and resigns/retires.
# posted by 
: March 05, 2007 1:44 pm
: March 05, 2007 1:44 pm This might be blasphemous, but I think Kevin Lowe will be the GM as long as Cal wants him to be; which could be 3,5,10 years. The two are seemingly sympatico; KLo runs the team while Cal tries to get the Arena deal. There isn't going to be a big interest in rocking the boat until the Arena is approved and then built, or the Arena fails and then Cal Nicholls gets frustrated and resigns/retires.
Sounds wise, not blasphemous.
The question is should he keep his job, right? Not, will he?
I would say he has a year's grace.
Because of what he did last year.
I think that he put a competitve team on the ice the last five years - even when they missed the playoffs they were always in the mix.
Then the system changed and last year he did a terrific job. Was he a bit lucky? Sure he was. But he got this team a bounce or two (or a Roloson injury) away from a Cup win.
One thing not noted from the HNIC interview - he admitted that he based this year's plan on last season's template - ie/ put together a team and then fill in the holes.
What worked last year failed this year miserably.
Now, if next season is as big a disaster as this one then I would say that he has to go.
The question is should he keep his job, right? Not, will he?
Correct. Nothing gets past you.
I agree with your assessment, even though I think they botched a lot of stuff this year.
Not trying to be an upstart, but I don't think there is a GM in the league who would willingly take Lowe's job, especially at his wage. Not sure on the exact figures but I'm pretty sure he works for a lot less than most other GMs.
Considering the Edmonton fanbase's ridiculous bipolar nature, the economic constraints (yes, there are still economic constraints, even though the EIG plays them up far beyond their actual magnitude), the undesirability of Edmonton based upon the previous two points as well as more difficult travel schedule and level of competition in the west, etc etc.
I'm not saying Lowe is the best GM in the league, he's obviously not, I'm saying we'd be damn hard pressed to find a better one who would work a tough gig on the cheap. If a hockey journalist were to ever tackle something this interesting, I'd wager that an anonymity-guaranteed interview process with 29 other GMs would garner far more negative responses than positive when asked if they'd be willing to take up the position.
I forgot to add, regardless of whether or not he should continue as Edmonton's GM, I think he will be gone in with the expiration of his contract. The team will by then either have been successful or on the verge of rebuilding again. Based on that result, Lowe will either not be offered an extension or will choose not to resign. Even if we're somewhere in between, Lowe will most definitely hand over the reigns to the team, as his comments in the past and the nature of the job will inevitably lead to his resignation.
Remember to be careful for what you wish for though. The nepotic nature of the franchise suggests someone in the organization will take over, and I can't really think of anyone we have right now I would prefer over Lowe.
I'm not saying Lowe is the best GM in the league, he's obviously not, I'm saying we'd be damn hard pressed to find a better one who would work a tough gig on the cheap.
There are plenty of people in plenty of sectors who would kill to have a chance at being an NHL GM. And many of them would do a very good job at it.
Natural progression:
Messier -> honorary chairman
Lowe -> President
MacT -> GM
Bucky -> Coach
Doug Weight -> PP Coach
# posted by : March 05, 2007 3:22 pm
: March 05, 2007 3:22 pm Do we even know when his current deals runs out?
Anyways, I think he one more year before he comes under serious fire from every direction. The magical run last year is saving him and MacT right now (I think we need a new coaching staff too; no more hiring from within anymore).
Would a GM want to come here? I think yes. This team has some serious talent on it, and it's a challenge to put together a team that is on a budget. They've never gone outside before, but I think it could be done.
Hence the counter-point.
For some odd reason, I stopped reading that one after "too much money." Mea culpa.
You think he botched a lot of stuff, Andy?
I'm Mr. Positive.
And he botched pretty well everything.
Is that hindsight? Sure it is.
He gambled and lost.
There are plenty of people in plenty of sectors who would kill to have a chance at being an NHL GM.
Yeah, but how many of them are qualified and would actually do a better job? Hell, there are plenty of people who hang around here who would kill for the chance.
Lowe's a lackey of PocklEIGton. He's helping them make money. Why would they fire him? (see also: careers of Bob Pulford in Chicago and Harry Sinden in Boston, to name just two).
It's not "would" or "will", people. It's "should?"
His deal runs out at the end of next year, Scarlett.
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