mact Stories - The Copper & Blue
MacOmelette
And the seasons they go round and roundAnd the painted ponies go up and downWe're captive on the carousel of timeWe can't return we can only look behind from where we cameAnd go round and round and round in the circle game-- Buffy Sainte-Marie "The Circle Game"Any team featuring Craig MacTavish...
Anniversaries V: Bugsy's new shoes
November 20, 1980 was a Thursday of course, it being exactly one "solar cycle" ago (28 years = 7 leap cycles). It seems like a long time ago but what goes around comes around; there are some interesting parallels between Oiler teams then and now.In those days the Oilers played most of their midweek...
Stars at Oilers backstory
There's good news and there's good news, I'll let you decide which is which. The one is that I'm back from a rather more productive road trip than the Oilers had, and the other is that there are now officially rocks in my head.Better still, the hockey gods have finally answered my regular...
Oilers 7, Blue Jackets 2 -- player gradings
I have offered to assist in David Staples' latest project over at Cult of Hockey, namely to grade the Oilers' players on a game-by-game basis. This is a collective effort, I'm just one member of a team of markers. Last night's Columbus game was my first contribution to the cause. The scoring system...
Guest rant
Got a beauty email from a friend, let's call him "Dave", who has been a season ticket holder for a number of years. Other than his association with me, Dave doesn't frequent the Oilogosphere. It was interesting to read his independent conclusions, so much so that I asked and received his permission...
A room divided?
In 2006 the Oilers made a thrilling run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. It was a veteran group: 19 of the 25 players who dressed during the playoff run were aged 27 or older, the other 6 age 25 or younger.Fast forward three years, and just 6 players remain from that Cinderella crew. 5 of them...
The missing link
I know the pieces fit cuz I watched them tumble down No fault, none to blame it doesn't mean I don't desire to Point the finger, blame the other, watch the temple topple over To bring the pieces back together, rediscover communication Tool -- Schism *****I cited this tune over at Lowetide's...
Team Togetherness
Some interesting quotes in today's news cycle: "We need a new voice, we need a new start, we need new expectations, we need a new discipline, and it’s time to look forward here." Steve Tambellini, on expectations***"Mac really thought he couldn’t do any more with the group." Kevin...
The Old Boys Club is Dead. Long Live the Program of Excellence!
Steve Tambellini has returned to his roots, which seem to be as deeply entangled in Hockey Canada as in Vancouver. Yesterday's double-hiring of Pat Quinn and Tom Renney provides the Oilers with a fabulous wealth of coaching experience at both the NHL level and across the international spectrum.Ever...













