RE 13-14 DALLAS EAKINS: ASTRAL WEEKS

Dallas Eakins arrived amid much fanfare and the promise of a new tomorrow. The early promise bled out before we saw a November dawn. The season played on with with no rhyme, no reason. The question now: what on earth does he do for an encore?

1. What concerns you the most? The verbal at the end of the season about having turned a corner. There’s no corner. Just one giant free fall.
2. Was it horrible from go? No. The Oilers had some games where good things were happening on the shot differential front, but the goalies were blowing their brains out.
3. Why? Well, part of it was shoddy goaling and part of it was due to the swarm.
4. The Swarm! Almost forgot. The swarm cut down on chances but the chances given were pure dynamite. I can still remember the puck coming out to Joffrey Lupul and he had all day, friends.
5. MacT said he was unflappable. Hey, I agree. If Dallas Eakins can survive this, we should give him a really big project. Like Putin.
6. The Corgis were good early? Yes. Game One is an example. 49-42 via Parkatti and the Gordon and Arcobello lines were humming.
7. What happened after that? Well, the Corgi’s rolling out (this is Parkatti, so even strength) were 44.3 (VAN); 48.1 (NJD); 50.5 (MON); 46.1 (TOR); 50 (WAS); 46.9 (PIT); 41.1 (NYI); 27.7 (OTT); 44.2 (MON); 54.3 (WAS); 52.6 (PHX); 25.3 (LAK); 61.8 (TOR).
8. Was this blog trumpeting the 5 October games over 50%? No, I was trying to get the goalie traded. In fairness, MacTavish was way ahead of me.
9. Well good on you! Really? I’m not so sure. They eventually got the goaltending straightened out, but one of the things the Oilers did during this period was abandon the swarm. And I understand it, because the chances given were enormous.
10. BUT………? But it pointed out once again that MacT-Eakins were fumbling some very central items, losing the cadence, out of time. They spoke about possession in summer, and then Gagner gets mugged and suddenly it’s a different team. Then, the swarm gets FIVE Corgi’s during October (FIVE FIVE FIVE FIVE FIVE…HOW MANY IS FIVE???) but the swarm don’t swim and they move away from it.
11. How long was the Corgi  running? Tyler Dellow tweeted out after 38 games: Last year, the Oilers had 12/48 games in which they won or tied the Corsi% Close. This year, it’s 16/38. 25% vs. 42%.
12. That’s good! Yes, but they tweaked and brawned and didn’t have the courage of their possession convictions.
13. That’s your issue? The man is arrogant and spent the year telling everyone he is in charge! Rookie coach, didn’t have NHL experience, possibly felt he could treat NHL players like AHL players. That’s a five minute conversation from the GM, we’re good to go.
14. Jesus. Jesus. I don’t believe you! Hey, Eakins frustrated me too. How in God’s name he remained stubborn with that damn 1-3-1 power play is beyond me, and playing Nuge 28:20 fresh from an injury was mighty galling, too. Hall at center, punish the Russian kid for never having played Roger Nielson hockey, you bet, lots of irritants.
15. And he gets a free pass? No, but these are lessons he can learn. You don’t throw the coach away because of a poor rookie season, especially since the organization has been throwing away coaches annually since 2009.
16. Okay, what are your problems with him again? Dallas Eakins abandoned the plan. Swarm, possession, grititude, all that stuff.
17. And that shows weakness? No, it shows confusion and being overwhelmed and possibly lack of sleep.
18. LACK OF SLEEP? YOU’RE A FREAKING LOON!!! I don’t think Dallas Eakins got a good night’s sleep through Christmas. Seriously.
19. Give me an example of a terrible decision that could have been aided by more sleep. Arcobello sitting when Gagner came back. That was borderline horror, we’re talking Vincent Price stuff here.
20. NOW we’re getting to the good stuff. And for whatever reason, he didn’t like Laddy’s sideburns. You KNOW that I was never a Smid guy, but that trade, in my opinion, is a concern for both GM and coach.
21. Why? Well, Smid had signed a long term contract, and MacTavish was part of the management group when it got done. It stands to reason that MacTavish would have expressed concern if the contract was a worry. The Oilers signed the contract, so we can assume it was endorsed by him.
22. And then Eakins arrives and won’t play him? Smid played two minutes a night less on average as an Oiler (season over season) under Eakins, but he played regularly.
23. So, what’s your point? Craig MacTavish appears to have traded a bona fide top 4 NHL defenseman 17 games into Dallas Eakins NHL career. I’d prefer they take a more measured approach to that kind of tinkering.
24. Imagine this: Ladislav Smid is the hill you die on! No, I’d file this under rookie coach, he’ll learn. And I think he did, as Belov’s play fell off and the club didn’t replace Smid until Marincin. That’s going to remain in the memory banks.
25. So you don’t care? I think you have to allow for some learning on the job.
26. So you do care, but the big issue was not sticking to the plan? Yes. Dallas Eakins and Craig MacTavish altered course and believe the last 20 games showed progress. I think the Dellow quote above showed where the progress lies, not the last 20 games of the season.
27. To quote Indiana Jones, they’re digging in the wrong place? Yes. I think that’s a real concern.
28. Why this song? Van Morrison: “I remember reading about you having to die to be born. It’s one of those songs where you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and that’s basically what the song says.”
29. You love this song? It’s probably my favorite Van song. This or Madame George. The lyrics are sensational: “Could you find me? Would you kiss my eyes, Lay me down, In silence easy. To be born again.”
30. What does Dallas Eakins need to return with? A large dollop of good sense, and the courage of his convictions. Fresh from a good night’s sleep.