Ethan Moreau Throws Teammates Under the Bus. Again.

by Derek Zona on Dec 27, 2009 1:38 PM MST

"It's our inability to kill a penalty and our inability to score a goal on the power play when we have the chances that cost us."

--Ethan Moreau, on the Oilers troubles.

"We have to do a much better job killing penalties and our power play has to be better. We contribute our loss to special teams and that's about it. That's why guys get paid a lot of money, is to kill penalties, that's their job. We're not executing well enough. We have some of our best players, veteran players on the penalty kill and the power play and we're not executing like we should. It's unfortunate because we're wasting some really good efforts."

--More from Moreau on the Oilers.

Notice there isn't a single word from Moreau on the bad penalties that certain Oilers are taking. Nary a mention of a player that has nine offensive zone penalties (out of eleven) this season, many of them committed on the goalie-side of the slot. Not a single mention of the worst veteran penalty killer on the team bleeding goals at a rookie-like rate.

Just like last season, the captain has stepped to the microphone and pointed fingers around the room.

I've been calling for a new captain for awhile now - going on a year. I've also received resistance from those that feel it would "embarrass" the player. He's not able to lead by example on the ice. He's blaming teammates and not mentioning his own problems. Given his on-ice performance this year, it's time for him to go. If he can't be moved and the owner refuses to pay him to play in the AHL, given his abilities to shiv all of his teammates when given the chance, he should be stripped of the C. Since he's used the media to repeatedly stab his teammates in the back, he should be demoted in front of the media.

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Another outrageous statement from thecaptain

I suppose that it’s OK to sling arrows at the PK when he’s technically not involved, being the box and all.

You’re right that the absolutely void of personal accountability in this guy is beyond the pale. I still feel the best way to strip him of the C is to strip him of the entire jersey and ship his ass out of town. A removal of just the letter, however justified, is disruptive and embarrassing to the franchise. Just trade his ass. The sooner the better AFAIC.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 27, 2009 3:52 PM MST reply actions

“being in the box and all”

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 27, 2009 3:55 PM MST up reply actions

Somehow, Patrick Marleau has survived the shame.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Dec 27, 2009 3:57 PM MST up reply actions

Well, Marleau was decaptained for reasons gentler than “fuck we miss Shayne Corson”.

by Benjamin Massey on Dec 27, 2009 4:02 PM MST up reply actions

Although fuck I miss Shayne Corson.

by Benjamin Massey on Dec 27, 2009 4:08 PM MST up reply actions

Never, ever say that

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 27, 2009 4:26 PM MST up reply actions

Come to think of it, have you ever seen Corson and Moreau in the same place at the same time? Like, did they ever play against each other?

I may have a chilling theory.

by Benjamin Massey on Dec 27, 2009 4:30 PM MST up reply actions

The point stands. The organization felt they needed to change the leadership in the room, and Marleau has responded not only by not falling further down the toilet, but rebounding and playing like he’s had the weight of the world taken off his shoulders (playing with Thornton helps, too, though IIRC, he didn’t start the year there, he earned it).

I’m not saying Moreau would necessarily take fewer shitty penalties without the “C” (though if that’s the side benefit, I’ll take it), but suggesting that he should keep it simply because giving it to Souray or Horcoff would hurt his poor widdwe feewings is fucking absurd. He’s a man, not an eight-year-old boy.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Dec 27, 2009 4:09 PM MST up reply actions

Mike Modano too.

I’d

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 27, 2009 4:27 PM MST up reply actions

I’d still prefer to decommission him by the traditional route.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 27, 2009 4:28 PM MST up reply actions

Bruce has some burr in his saddle about this. The man isn’t fit to be captain, but Bruce would prefer to spare his feelings.

Unless it’s all a ruse to make sure that they get a #2 pick.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Dec 27, 2009 4:31 PM MST up reply actions

I’d prefer to ship his ass right on out of town, “C” and all. Get rid of his contract, his stupid fucking penalties, his questionable attitude towards his teammates, and the whole Mendelbaum culture. Get something, anything, in return, and clear the air in the room.

If that’s sparing his feelings, fine. I actually think he might be of some use on a better team (one with a good powerplay and a great PK) where he can just go back to being a role player and not be expected to do more than he’s capable.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 27, 2009 5:11 PM MST up reply actions

Consider the trade market, or rather the lack of one, and what you need to do is to take the C away as soon as possible. Really nothing much else to say.

by rsm on Dec 27, 2009 7:06 PM MST up reply actions

I disagree. Such an action would only reduce Moreau’s trade value. I’m convinced there’s a market for him, he’s one of those cases where the myth is more than the man. A team like say Boston might see <1.5 years salary = <$ 3MM for 2 playoff runs to be a worthwhile investment, whereas for a team outside the playoff picture that contract has a lower return in almost every sense of the word.

There’s a lot of positives in Ethan Moreau the hockey player for someone who tends to see the glass as half full — size, speed, mean streak, experience, a reputation for leadership (note the careful choice of words :). For the Oilers to sully that reputation from within would be a foolish move in my view. So what if he’s captain for another month or two and continues to lead the Dive for Five? Isn’t that what almost everybody wants anyway?

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 28, 2009 1:54 AM MST up reply actions

I can understand that logic.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Dec 28, 2009 11:21 AM MST up reply actions

Do words like us and our not mean anything?

I’m pretty sure he’s lumping himself right in there with all the statements about the PK. I’m pretty sure when he mentions veteran players, he includes himself in that mix.

This witch hunt is rather unnecessary isn’t it?

by dawgbone98 on Dec 28, 2009 9:17 AM MST reply actions

That occurred to me as well, but I neglected to say anything. He is as much a part of the PK as anything else. I think everyone’s just frustrated with the stupid penalties and overall shittiness of the team. Plus, everyone remembers him laying into the PP last year, and I think that’s colouring their interpretations of this event, myself included.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Dec 28, 2009 11:20 AM MST up reply actions

If he was interested in taking any blame for the events he would: a) stop bringing up the power play at every turn; b) suggest his shortcoming are an actual problem for the first time in two years. He’s a captain, plenty of other captains fall on swords, even unnecessarily so.

Given his reticence to take blame last year, and the blame he laid off on everyone buy him, at this point, he should consider a verbal hara-kiri.

One other thing that really sticks in my craw regarding his statements is the “That’s why guys get paid a lot of money, is to kill penalties, that’s their job.” statement. Seems like he’s casting aspersions a couple of guys that aren’t him.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Dec 28, 2009 11:39 AM MST up reply actions

1. He mentioned power play twice and penalty kill three times. This is basically his 2nd year as captain of this team (not even through the 2nd season). Seems unfair to chastize him for taking so long to suggest shortcomings.

2. Who exactly was he blaming last year?

3. Given he’s the 5 highest paid forward currently in the lineup and plays alot on the PK, I’m pretty sure he’s including himself in that listing of players who get paid a lot to kill penalties.

I hate the Moreau offensive zone penalties as much as everyone, but this witch hunt has gone on far too long. Unless he slices his own throat and the sound bite is gurgling, no one will be happy with anything he says.

He’s putting himself as much under the bus as anyone else on the team… I don’t see how that isn’t obvious when he refers to we, us, our and specifically mentions the area of the game he plays a key part in.

Does anyone disagree with anything he wrote there? I sure don’t.

by dawgbone98 on Dec 28, 2009 3:34 PM MST up reply actions

Do you remember his quotes from last year at the end of the season? He’s never once said to the media that he has any problems with his play or his level of play. He’s had no problems blaming others all along.

Unless he slices his own throat and the sound bite is gurgling, no one will be happy with anything he says.

How about a single mea culpa? Just once? Like other captains do?

I hate the Moreau offensive zone penalties as much as everyone, but this witch hunt has gone on far too long.

Oh stop saying “witch hunt” like it’s meaningful in some way as to the words we’ve written. I counter your “witch hunt” statement with ‘This lack of personal accountability has gone on far too long.’

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Dec 28, 2009 4:12 PM MST up reply actions

Well it is a witch hunt.

When you write an article about a guy not taking responsibility for his own play (and deflecting it on to others) when he’s clearly lumped himself into that group, it’s a witch hunt.

When he talks about the PK (of which he is a major part of) needing to be better and talking about guys getting paid a lot of money to kill penalties (again, which he is a part of), how much more of a mea culpa do you want?

Sure he took a bad penalty 200 feet from his own net… but then Ryan Potulny has all kinds of time and space and fires the puck into the crowd to put the team down 2 men.

As for his quotes from last year, which one do you oppose? The one where he talks about being able to motivate yourself (in response to the nonsense that it’s the coaches job to motivate players), or the one where he talks about his play (without the context of what was asked)?

Here is the list of Ethan Moreau Offensive zone penalties (because those seem to be the main gripe), with the date, opponent and infraction. Also included is the goal number and final score if the Oilers gave up a goal on one of the penalties:

Oct 03 vs Calgary High Sticking, 4-3 loss

OCt 08 vs Calgary Interference, 4-3 loss (SO)

Oct 12 vs Nashville Holding, 6-1 win

Oct 22 vs Columbus Roughing, 6-4 win

Nov 5 vs NY Rangers Interference, 4-2 loss

Nov 15 vs Atlanta Hooking – 2nd goal, 3-2 loss

Nov 16 vs Columbus Tripping – 1st goal, 3-2 loss (SO)

Nov 21 vs Chicago Goaltender Interference – 5th goal, 5-2 Loss

Nov 28 vs Vancouver High Sticking – 7-3 Loss

Dec 21 vs St. Louis Cross Checking – 7th goal, 7-2 Loss

Dec 26 vs Vancouver Goaltender Interference – 1st goal, 4-1 Loss

Out of all those bad penalties, 5 resulted in goals against of which 2 were the last goal against in a loss of 3 or more goals. So that’s 3 goals against that arguably hurt this team (I agree fully on the 2 costly ones in Atlanta and Columbus on back to back nights, less so about the Vancouver one).

In all, he’s put the Oilers shorthanded 13 times this season (well off last years pace). They’ve given up 5 goals out of those 13 SH opportunities (the 5 mentioned above).

So really, 3 goals is what Moreau has cost the Oilers this year via his penalties. He was full marks for the stupid and constant penalty criticism last year. This year it’s been unfairly lumped on him. Does he still take too many? Yes. Has he killed the Oilers? No.

His reduced the number of penalties he’s taken greatly and the ones that he has taken haven’t hurt them nearly as bad as being let on.

by dawgbone98 on Dec 30, 2009 9:47 AM MST up reply actions

That list should read:

Oct 03 vs Calgary High Sticking, 4-3 loss

OCt 08 vs Calgary Interference, 4-3 loss (SO)

Oct 12 vs Nashville Holding, 6-1 win

Oct 22 vs Columbus Roughing, 6-4 win

Nov 5 vs NY Rangers Interference, 4-2 loss

Nov 15 vs Atlanta Hooking – 2nd goal, 3-2 loss

Nov 16 vs Columbus Tripping – 1st goal, 3-2 loss (SO)

Nov 21 vs Chicago Goaltender Interference – 5th goal, 5-2 Loss

Nov 28 vs Vancouver High Sticking – 7-3 Loss

Dec 21 vs St. Louis Cross Checking – 7th goal, 7-2 Loss

Dec 26 vs Vancouver Goaltender Interference – 1st goal, 4-1 Loss

by dawgbone98 on Dec 30, 2009 9:48 AM MST up reply actions

That makes the team 61.5% on the PK with Moreau in the box. That seems kind of low, but I honestly don’t know what’s “normal” for a regular PKer in the box.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Dec 30, 2009 7:54 PM MST up reply actions

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