Wednesday, April 23, 2008

 

Lowe Refusing to Talk to Canucks?

“We haven't done many deals with Vancouver, although Dave Nonis and I had many conversations,” Lowe noted. “I suspect we won't be doing any in the future."
--Darren Dreger, TSN


So what is that, four teams the Oilers can't deal with now? Anaheim, Buffalo, Calgary, and now Vancouver?

While I understand Kevin Lowe's frustration, and the fact that the Oilers and Canucks don't often trade with each other, I also don't think it's wise to bump the number of teams in the league that you can't trade with up to 14%. Call me crazy, but that just doesn't make a ton of business sense. Which brings to mind the words Lowe had for Brian Burke earlier this season: it's a business. Let's hope Lowe keeps those words in mind, along with the fact that the Oilers narrowly escaped being stuck with Michael Nylander for four years, before he makes any more rash statements about the hiring of Mike Gillis.

Comments:

Just because the outcome was happy doesn't excuse Gillis's behaviour, or make it Lowe's fault that Vancouver hired a guy whose behaviour in the Nylander Affair can only be ascribed to incompetence or lousy ethics (assigned in whatever proportions you like). As for Anaheim and Buffalo I thought there was general agreement that the offer sheet was a fair weapon for Lowe to use. Plus the new quote about Gillis isn't really very categorical.

So why is it a Kevin Lowe issue that the Oilers now have difficult relationships with, gasp, FOUR TEAMS (OHHH SHIIIT)?
 


lowe's weird business stance notwithstanding, i suppose this unfolding of events is good for the oil re: gagne, since gillis can no longer be his agent, so lowe won't have to deal with him , making it more likely (not guaranteeing) the oil can resign him once (or twice)

/overly hopeful run-on
 


I seem to recall Lowe mentioning on deadline day that he had 28 pages of notes, the implication being that Anaheim was the only team he wasn't talking to.
 


As if the Oilers trade with Vancouver anyways. When was the last time they did? Anyone? It's rare so whatever!
 


How many teams have to get put into the, 'well, we don't talk to them' pile, before the problem stops being about the other teams and starts being about one Mr. Lowe?
 


How often do we trade with Vancouver anyways? A new rival team within the division doesn't strike me as much of a loss.
 


How many teams have to get put into the, 'well, we don't talk to them' pile, before the problem stops being about the other teams and starts being about one Mr. Lowe?

I don't know, but I imagine every GM is on the outs with some colleagues. In fact, I would guess a former agent hired as a GM is going to come into the game with a lot more front-office enemies than Lowe could ever acquire.
 


I would guess a former agent hired as a GM is going to come into the game with a lot more front-office enemies than Lowe could ever acquire.

But I thought it was just business? You mean some GMs let personality conflicts interfere with the orderly procession of making money and keeping the Maple Leafs cupless?
 


As if the Oilers trade with Vancouver anyways. When was the last time they did? Anyone? It's rare so whatever!

The Oilers traded Peter Sarno to the Canucks for Tyler Moss.
 


... and the Oilers traded B.J. MacDonald and the rights to Lars-Gunnar Pettersson to the Canucks for Garry Lariviere and Ken Berry in 1981. Of course in those days the league played a fully balanced schedule so there were no divisional rivals that meant anything.

But I can't remember a direct trade with Calgary at any time.
 


The Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames have never traded with each other.
 


True! Although Cowboy Bill Flett was sold to the WHA Oilers by the Atlanta Flames.
 

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