Atta boy Taylor! Long overdue.

I would love to resurrect my VD73 Heritage Classic jersey (and maybe get it signed this time!). It's worth mentioning that Vinny was playing over 18 minutes a night for SJS, so he's had quite a bit more experience since he was last here. 7 in that role too. He's still an exceptional penalty killer and shut down D. If the Oilers do in fact manage to get him for a reasonable cost, I think he would bring some elements this team badly will need after the seemingly-inevitable Nurse trade.

Coaches debated! Managers blamed! Ownership doubted! Changes Suggested! Clouds yelled at! Dad Jokes told! Food crushed! Beers drunk! Still no solutions found, but fear not, we'll keep at it! @oilerslive @dashinthepark @KevinMcCurdy @OilersFanaticYT @bobgoalie1 @HeavyHockeyNet

With Eric Tulsky leading the way, Carolina is one win away from the Cup. At his side as assistant GM is long-time Oilers fan and Oilogsphephere contributor Tyler Dellow. Farther down the chain is longtime Oilers blogger, Dennis King who was hired as a pro scout just last summer. With one more win, they will join an ever increasing list of former Oilogosphere contributors that have gone on to help the off-ice effort to win cups for other teams. Sometimes you have to look in your own back yard for talent, you never know what you might find. I'm not sure if you could pry Dellow or Tulsky out of Carolina, but what about Dennis? I know I've missed having him around here this year.

Frank, does the leadership of the PHWA have a duty, or feel an obligation, to reach out to someone that would vote for Landeskog, a clear non-candidate, to hear their rational and, presumably, strip future voting privileges?

Oilers need to make smart decision when trading Nurse. Always available. Has only missed 18 games the past 9 seasons. Can log big minutes. Skates well. Is physical. Can chip in offensively at 5x5. He is 40th in EV goals and points among Dmen the past three seasons. He's not a #1 Dman, but he has value. Oilers can't afford another trade similar to Stuart Skinner.

Darnell Nurse, @EdmontonOilers defensemen, definitely took a step back this past season. A $9M AAV for 4 more years isn’t something to gloss over… but for a team with an abundance of cap space and a need for defensemen, adding Nurse could be a solid bet. #NHL

It's revealing regardless of fanbase. His contract is overvalued by $2-3M, and that's basically it. If he was paid Ekholm money (when he was $6M) nobody would be saying anything and frankly he'd be an Oiler for life.

Having had a bit of time to think about it, I really like the idea of Darryl Sutter for the Oilers. If you're looking for a coach to fix the leaks in their PK and 5v5 game, that's exactly what he's been great at doing.

Darnell Nurse is a good NHL D. He got put in unfair spots early in his career. It impacted his development. He still had quality play with the likes of Ceci/Stetcher. His contract was an anchor not of his doing. If another team pairs him with a good RHD, I expect plus results.

Darnell Nurse is a warrior and a damn capable NHL defender. The team chose to bridge him short-term twice instead of obtaining earlier/cheaper cost certainty before the huge deal he was given. Most years, was asked to play above where he should have. I wish him great success.

Thank you, EST!!!

I have four things to say about this situation: 1. It is time, no question. And more importantly it's time for Darnell to get a fresh look somewhere else where he won't have quite so many preconceptions about him. 2. Every single one of you would have signed the contract Darnell did. His contract is not a reflection on him, nobody ever wants less money. It's a reflection of a team that backed themselves into a corner and panicked. That lesson could be important again this week. 3. Darnell Nurse is a leader both on and off the ice. He has been nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy 4 times and a finalist twice. He's been a loyal soldier to this team for 12 seasons, despite some of the most egregious hate I've ever seen a player experience. 4. Be careful what you wish for, this could very well turn into a "one does not simply" situation. I wish Darnell the best wherever he lands, and I'm grateful for his contributions to the team through significant injuries and unrelenting pressure from an often turbulent fanbase. I have offered my own share of criticism of him over the years, but that was always with the perspective that there were good things he brought every single night.

I know this is going to get mocked. I get why. I'm tempted to join in. Devil's advocate: the year Sutter got fired in Calgary, the Flames were 12, had a 55 xGF% at 5v5, barely missed the playoffs thanks to terrible goaltending, and haven't looked anywhere near as good since.

I don't need to give my head a shake, Woodcroft was by all measures an excellent coach who got shanked in the middle of a massive goaltending and PDO slump. Jay Woodcroft's 23-24 Oilers had league-leading 57% expected goal share and unimaginable 38% actual goal share at evens. Anybody with a brain could see it would regress, it was just a matter of time. Woodcroft may have been stubborn or even arrogant at times, but he was not a bad coach by any measure.

He never lost the room.

Not related to BM's QT, but Groundhog Day was @BruceMcCurdy's all time favorite movie. Between this scene and the toaster, man I have memories.

You know who can be a taskmaster not an idiot? Jay Woodcroft

Maybe that's the point? I can't decide if this is stupid, reckless, or intentional at this point.

This is just cinema at this point. A Greek tragedy in 5 parts.