MacT lost the lockerroom. People stopped playing for him. Hemsky did get in a slump but you can't expect him to keep putting up numbers while he never knows who his linemates will be that night because MacT juggles **** around so much. He also doesn't have a real first line center. Horcoff is at best a second line center.
I don't think they will miss Pitkanen as much as they do Lupul and Smyth. Pitkanen just didn't want to be a team player. Faking injuries, being soft in his own zone. He just wasn't a good fit. Lupul had an off year and then rebounded in Philly. Out of all the players gone, I think Pronger will be missed the most. He was a huge physical presense and could play over 30 minutes every game. I hate him for cheating on his wife and then her demanding a trade while he made it public.
They did rely way to much on their sophomores, but they also put it on themselves. Those 3 forwards wouldn't be that great of checkers so they had to be a stopgap between the first line and the checking line and the Oilers for some reason wanted 2 checking lines which was retarded.
I would love to see Kotalik resign. He and Hemsky work well together especially since they have chemistry at the international level. I don't think they'll go after Hossa again. They can't afford to with the high price of our backend. They need to get rid of a high priced defenseman before going after a top6 forward.
|