So Does Anyone Doubt that MacT Doesn't Like Schremp Now?

I've been saying this for some time. He has not given him the same opportunities as he has afforded to numerous other players. He still whines about the same deficiencies, and while I can agree with the curly haired blunder about the fact that Schremp could use more speed, the rest is a out and out load of shit.

He's improved defensively, he's gotten stronger on his skates, he's battled more in the corners, he's throwing hits now, he is passable in these areas. Weak on his skates? Send out Gagner some more coach, too slow? send out Gagner and Strudwick while you're at it. Not gritty enough? Have you met 3/4's of your team Mr. Mactavish? I suppose they should know better since their Captain is really playing a rough and tumble style of hockey and showing the way, what? He isn't? Oh, never mind.

I heard from someone that what Chimera went through was eerily similar, "work on this, no, now this, no, now go back to doing what you were doing before". Year after year, the same old shit. No wonder Chimera despises him so. I said it when Schremp was sent down, it's him or the coach. Schremp's potential departure alone isn't enough to force a coaching change, but what else does MacT have to fuck up to force Lowe to pull his thumb out of his ass so that he can sign MacT's pink slip?

This guy has more lives than 30 cats on Science Diet. I for one would love to see MacT canned, and then Schremp get his game on track at the AHL and then for him to get a REAL opportunity to stick with the big club. However I am already conceding that he will be dealt while MacT will remain coach here for all eternity. I would not stop cheering for the Oilers because any 1 player or prospect is dealt away, however it is inhumane to expect fans to put up with this asshole for any longer.

MacT wants a 3rd line center that can help him on the PK. Maybe if he stopped dragging players through the mud long enough they can have enough value that your GM doesn't have to get bent over and done dry in every single deal that he makes.

At this point, why do we even cheer this team on? It costs us time and $, and it's supposed to be entertainment. It'd be like going to a Metallica concert and the ban tells you that they're playing the B sides of their shittiest albums and you have to fork out mega bucks for it.

The fans pay the bills, maybe it's time to remind these arrogant bastards of that fact.

Poor AHL Play or Not, Schremp Deserves to Be in Edmonton

The Anti-Schremp crowd likes pointing at his craptacular numbers since his return from Edmonton. Quite frankly, said player must feel jaded by the team, they told him what to work on, he did it, they told him to stay up he had to create more than he gave up. Well guess what? He was faster, stronger, grittier, better defensively, and for the first time in his VERY small NHL career, he translated his offense to the NHL.

And oh yeah, he created more than he gave up. Enter Robert Nilsson, last season Craig MacTavish had him sent down because he wasn't living up to his "expectations". Nilsson had 2 very good games and then went MIA, he was a HS at the AHL level. Schremp is probably on the verge of that same punishment. It is my opinion that he flat out doesn't give a crap anymore.

He's played 3 years in the AHL, he knows where he stacks up among his peers. He sees lesser players get better opportunities than he does, after likely beating himself up over what he has to do to be an Oiler, he is probably looking to get as far away from Edmonton as humanly possible.

My point is that if Nilsson can pout and then be rewarded, it would be wrong to treat Schremp differently. It's time to throw the freaking kid a bone or get rid of him as soon as possible. The fact that Liam Reddox and Gilbert Brule are getting longer looks than Schremp has while producing far less is enough to make you question the method to the madness.

Schremp has been broken of the player that he was when he was drafted, he has been morphed into a completely different player, yet he's still not welcome on the team. They knew what they were getting when they drafted him, they've asked him to change and he has. Why even draft and develop a player if you're not willing to see the development through?

Ryan Potulny deserves a chance even though he is an inferior player and Guillaume Lefebvre would be a logical choice to replace Stortini. But for crying out loud, give the kid a chance and for once treat players equally and give them ALL the same chance.

Surprise, Surprise, Schremp Back to Springfield

The moment that he was benched late in San Jose, I knew that it was inevitable. MacT is still far from a fan of Schremp. He's even less of a fan of a 3 scoring line approach. Rob Schremp's days as Oilers property is probably running on fumes at this point.

He's ready to be an NHL player, but under this coaching staff and with the kid line getting the push ahead of him, there is little for Schremp to gain by staying in the organization, and by sending him back to Springfield it takes away playing time from Brule, Trukhno, and Lerg.

Unless the Oilers are fixing to open up a spot for #88, he's as good as gone. Schremp's patience is likely spent, and managements patience for MacT is immeasurable. Without a coaching change, Schremp will be seen as nothing more than a bargaining token to get our beloved coach another grinder to compliment our $4, $2.5, and $2.25(?) million grinders.

Lowe, the scouting department, and MacT are on completely different pages. Lowe and the scouting staff are looking to add as much skill as possible, the coach is looking to add as much grit, jam, and defensively reliable players as possible.

Playing Pisani out of position because Lowe "robbed him" of Sakic Jr. and Stoll, MacT needs a reality check. He needs to change his gameplan to the players that he has been dealt with. Instead he keeps changing players into what he'd like to have seen acquired.

It's too bad that Kevin Lowe doesn't have the balls to tell MacT to either make the best of what he's been given and change his style, or hit the high road.

Oh well, at least we can look forward to Eberle getting the shaft if he's still coach in 2-3 years.

Since, I've been pretty bang-on predicting what happens with Schremp, I'll call it right now. The next injury in the top 6 will see Brule and not Schremp getting the call. Nothing against Jillbear, but it's how the Oilers roll in regards to #88.