MacT sticks to the script
The message had not changed much from the message that Edmonton Oilers Craig MacTavish delivered on trade deadline day.
For that matter, it had not changed much from the message delivered last April after the Oilers were similarly situated in 28th place in the National Hockey League standings.
During his wrap-up address on Monday, MacTavish restated the need to secure a defenceman and a goaltender, a process that will start at the NHL draft in June.
“Drafting players and developing players is like putting money in the bank,” he said. It doesn’t necessarily do you any good in terms of improving your lifestyle immediately, but long term it is a very savvy and smart strategy.
“I don’t expect our draft choices to come in and move the dial for us. A lot of that growth will be internal, and maybe with a few pieces, we can add.
“We need some critical pieces, no question. I’m not going to sit here and say that we don’t. We need improvement in some pretty vital areas, but some of those pieces may be in our organization already.”
Here’s a rundown on the more pertinent points out of MacTavish’s gathering:
head coach
While MacTavish did acknowledge the work that Todd Nelson did after he was brought up from Oklahoma City in mid-December to replace Dallas Eakins, he reiterated that he wanted to see what the landscape looked like in the days to come.
“It’s not a wide net, and I’m not saying we won’t catch Todd in that net ultimately, but there’s no downside to me taking some time to make this decision. I’ve had that dialogue with Todd.
“I’ve communicated very clearly to Todd that I’ve admired the job and respected the job that he’s done. There has been an improvement in the on-ice performance. Todd gets the lion’s share of the credit for that ... His messaging has really resonated with this team, but having said all that, I still want to give myself some time to see exactly what the landscape is going forward.”
The upcoming draft
The Oilers have two firstround picks and, unlike last June, have selections in the second and third rounds as well.
“All our resources right now, from a hockey operations standpoint, are committed to the amateur draft.
“I’m very confident we have it right in terms of the communication with our field scouts and our overall decision-makers.
“If you’re going to do one thing right in this business, it’s the amateur draft.
“We haven’t been as good as we’ve needed to be over the last number of years, and I think that, in a large way, has put us in the situation that we’re in.”
The team’ s goals against
Edmonton gave up a leaguehigh average of 3.37 goals a game — even worse than the league-high average of 3.26 goals a game in 2013-14.
“Our collective defensive ability has to improve. We’re last in goals against, and I think a lot is laid at the feet of the goaltenders ... but it is a much deeper problem than that.”
On finding some defensive help
“For me, it gets to how much we’re going to pay in terms of developing assets for proven assets that are potentially declining assets.
“The minute that developing asset intersects with a declining asset, that’s when you regret it. That’s really the crux of our decision-making ... because make no mistake, we have the assets. We could go out and acquire more proven players, but these players are going to be, in all likelihood, declining players, and is that going to be the best strategy for our hockey club?”
On finding a goal tender
MacTavish says there are two possible avenues to pursue in respect to rustling up a goaltender: trading for a goaltender who has spent much of his time in a backup role or signing a more seasoned veteran who is out on the free-agent market.
“I think both strategies are possible. There’s a certain number of unrestricted free-agent goalies who have some attractiveness to us, and there’s a certain number of situations around the league where the goalie depth is good, and we have assets in terms of draft choices.
“We know that’s an area we have to have intense focus on.”
Hi s bott om line
“The team that we’re trying to build is going to be a highly entertaining hockey team. The team we’re trying to build is going to be a threeline team that can play offence (with) a very good dependable fourth line. We’re going to play a puck possession style.
“I think the fans have seen and appreciated the fact that we can make six or seven passes now and still have the puck. I know I’m losing credibility, but I see a very entertaining, very impactful, very successful era of hockey on the horizon.” jireland@edmontonjournal.com @jirelandEJ