BANDWAGON JUMPERS

THE BANDWAGON...


I am a little disappointed in the fans here in Edmonton. We are the biggest Bandwagon Jumpers known to mankind. It's 4 games into the season and already, after 2 losses, I am reading that "Taylor Hall should be sent back to junior!" and we need to get a face-off guy.


On the flip side to the above, on the night Pjaarvi scored a hat trick in the pre-season, I heard "we're going to the cup!" being yelled by inebriated fans walking down the concourse at Rexall Place. And after 4 straight wins in pre-season, the radio call in shows were preaching restraint. The hosts of the various shows knew that Edmonton fans are so on again / off again, that they were trying to instill a little realistic expectation to the callers.


I am guilty of this myself at times. I was pretty excited during pre-season watching the kids and some of the veterans free wheel the way they did. i was fully on-board with planning the parade route down Jasper Ave in July! And this after going into this season knowing we are rebuilding and hoping we finish last to get another blue chip prospect at the draft.


Bandwagon Jumping is as common here as eating an Alberta grade AAA steak. we do it on a regular basis. And if we didn't, being an Oilers fan wouldn't be the same roller coaster ride that we all know and love.


ON TO THE SPECIAL TEAMS...


I have written here that we are struggling in the face off dot. And we struggled again in Calgary on this past Saturday. We went 18-45 in 63 attempts. That is abysmal! But, you don't hear me calling for a trade for a good face-off man (although I wouldn't mind that) and you don't hear me stating that Hall needs to be sent down, etc...


I will say that we need to focus only on face-offs and special teams play. Our powerplay looked horrible again against the Flames on Saturday night. I am not sure which of the new coaches are responsible for special teams play, or if the power play and penalty kill is split with different guys at the helm, but whatever the circumstances are for coaching, I hope that they get this squared away quickly.


COMMENTS PLEASE...


I know that you guys, my faithful readers are reading my posts. I see the stats as to page hits etc.. please let me know if you like this blog, if you hate it, if you would like me to write about anything specific, or whatever. I would just like to hear your opinions as well.


Go Oilers GO!