Complete Rebuild

It can be easy, when constantly following a team, to miss the sheer volume of change that occurs over a couple of seasons. Take 2005-06. The Oilers came out of the lockout with tons of cheap, young talent, and immediately made big moves to transform the team into a contender. Mike Peca and Chris Pronger were acquired via trades, and as the year went on, more pieces (headlined by Dwayne Roloson) were added to a team that ultimately went to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Few knew it then, but a massive overhaul of the roster was to take place the following summer that would launch a rebuild that so far has engulfed two seasons.
Here is what that 2005-06 team looked like (bolded players are still here):
Smyth - Horcoff - Dvorak
Samsonov – Stoll - Hemsky
Torres - Peca - Pisani
Moreau - Pouliot - Laraque
Murray – Harvey – Winchester
Pronger – Smith
Spacek - Staios
Tarnstrom - Bergeron
Greene
Roloson
Conklin
Markkanen
7 survivors of the 25 players who appeared in the most games and finished the year with Edmonton (note that Morrison, despite being pictured, wasnt one of them. I just felt that he deserved to be recognized based on a nice bounce-back season with Bridgeport of the AHL).
The rebuild is nearly over.
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Two servicable and impact players remain who have the chance to outperform their contracts once Horcoff's ends.
And yet, the management remains the same. Odd, usually takes a firing of the GM/coaches for a rebuild to take effect.
by doritogrande on Jul 7, 2008 7:05 PM MDT reply actions
Recchi signed today to put it at about 17, give or take, since Brad Richards went.
by doritogrande on Jul 7, 2008 7:08 PM MDT reply actions
by Traktor on Jul 7, 2008 9:16 PM MDT reply actions
Thats the most accurate analysis of Tampa Bay that I have heard to date.
by Jonathan Willis on Jul 7, 2008 9:41 PM MDT reply actions
Takes tough minutes. Handles clutch situations. Elite PKer. Scores at about a 20 goal a year pace. Helps out with shootouts. How is this not worth $2.5M per year?
He should be paid better than 21 year old kids who are still developing.
I call it the "3rd line" mentality.
Coach puts the lines in order of difficulty of opposition. I find that method to be a far better reflection of reality.
by spOILer on Jul 9, 2008 2:57 PM MDT reply actions

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