Puck Daddy's Summer of Disappointment: Edmonton Oilers Edition
(Ed. Note: There’s entirely too much sunshine in the summer. So your friends at Puck Daddy are offering a month of thrown shade and perpetual gloom. Behold, our Summer of Disappointment series, in which we ask fans of all 30 teams to recall the biggest bummer moments, teams and players in franchise history! Please wade into their misery like a freezing resort pool, and add your own choices in the comments!)
Written by Lowetide of Lowetide.ca
Most Disappointing Team: 1992-1993 Edmonton Oilers
The club won Stanley in 1990, and were still a strong contender in the spring of 1991 and 1992, losing in the third round each season.
In 1992-93, Edmonton missed the playoffs for the first time—and were ghastly. They traded Esa Tikkanen that season, and after all of the exits that one hurt because there was so little still left in the city. Craig Simpson, Craig MacTavish, Kelly Buchberger and Bill Ranford were still there, but the results were not and it was a very difficult time. It would get worse, but the fall from the top in 1992-93 was pronounced because of the success 1984-1992.
Most Disappointing Oiler: Shayne Corson
God it was awful.
The Oilers had traded away their dynasty, and with Corson they were now trading the good players they received with the dynasty transactions. Edmonton dealt Vincent Damphousse for Corson, and that was a bad damn deal. Plus, after Corson was named captain he acted like something other than the captain—including a run-in with teammate (and rookie) Jason Arnott that is literally too stupid for words. You can read more about it here if you wish. Awful. Dammit.
Most Disappointing Moment in Oilers History: Game 1 versus the Hurricanes in 2006
Because Ty Conklin. Aw, dammit. This is an awful memory. The Oilers entered game one looking good and mid-game things were rocking. Edmonton had a lead and things were going well, but Dwayne Roloson was not himself (soft first goal sent off alarms) and then M-A Bergeron decided to throw Andrew Ladd onto Roloson just to make it interesting.
Ty Conklin blew game one with indecision behind the net. Kill me. Kill me now. WHY are you making me remember this!?!!?! Anyway, he got a major case of vapor lock with 34 seconds left and that's all she wrote. What a beautiful team that nobody remembers. I'm actually tearing up remembering that moment.
Most Disappointing Oilers Transaction: Trading Mark Messier to the New York Rangers
Because it was the end, you know? It's like a relationship that isn't really healthy but you convince yourself Paul Coffey never wanted to stay and that Moog would never have been happy behind Grant Fuhr. And hell Gretzky WAS an icon by 1988 and then the fifth Stanley comes along and maybe it'll happen forever because Moose is a flat out killer and he's going to be a monster for another decade.
And then the trade happens, and you can't claim jack about your team. Your team just traded the toughest, meanest, strongest, ugliest, most beautiful hockey player on the planet for a bunch of pretenders and also-rans. That was a tough damn day in Edmonton.
Most Disappointing Oilers Coach/Executive: Steve Tambellini
Lots of reasons.
He spent too long in middle management, I think. That's not a crime, hell it's a good thing but he lacked the vision to make creative signings and trades and transactions. Tambellini was wooden as a manager, it was difficult because disappointments came so often.
Most Disappointing Oilers Fashion Choice: That photo of Messier with Gary Coleman
I mean, what the hell? Seriously. What the hell?
See, THIS is normal.
• • •
Other disappointments (in order of appearance): New York Rangers • Calgary Flames • St. Louis Blues • New York Islanders • Dallas Stars • Boston Bruins • Colorado Avalanche • Washington Capitals • Ottawa Senators • Arizona Coyotes • Minnesota Wild • San Jose Sharks • Winnipeg Jets • New Jersey Devils • Los Angeles Kings • Florida Panthers • Carolina Hurricanes • Buffalo Sabres • Montreal Canadiens • Tampa Bay Lightning • Chicago Blackhawks • Columbus Blue Jackets • Nashville Predators • Detroit Red Wings • Anaheim Ducks • Philadelphia Flyers • Pittsburgh Penguins • Vancouver Canucks • Toronto Maple Leafs
