Oilers 3 the Stars 1

[Kev]

I think this year they were really impacted by losing Todd Marchant and by the whole Comrie debacle. Oates was a disappointment since he didn't exactly help light up the lamp as he should. The money they paid him could have been better spent on someone else.

Yes wolverine you are right, but every year with Edmonton its always something. For one reason or another starting with Gretsky down to the present day Comrie the revolving door that exists in Edmonton is to overwhelming. If the GM could just plunk down some cash on the players who they had to let go. I feel the Oiler staff and players could just focus on the game of hockey. There is no other club in the NHL that has let players go like the Oilers. --- Kev

 

[wolverine]

I think the difference in previous years is that they were able to acquire other players to fill in for the departing ones.

- Jason Arnott was flipped for Bill Guerin who was flipped for Anson Carter who was flipped for Radek Dvorak
- Comrie took over from Doug Weight who took over from Messier
- Marchant was acquired for MacTavish and fulfilled the same defensive forward duties
- Fuhr -> Ranford -> Cujo -> Salo

This year, there were no adequate replacements for Comrie nor Marchant until they acquired Nedved.

 

[wolverine]

As for who to root for: any of the Canadian teams except Toronto.

One first-round matchup is Vancouver vs. Calgary. Tough choice here - the Canucks have never won the Cup and can grab that prize this year; Calgary hasn't been in the playoffs for so many years, is the other Alberta team, and has local E-town star Iginla.

Anyone got a quarter?