Edmonton Oilers learn how to have fun again
The Edmonton Oilers’ dressing room was once a sombre and desolate place. The players didn’t speak much, and the overall morale level was very low. The reason for the sombre mood had much to do with the Oilers missing the playoffs for the past four seasons.
In addition, they had found themselves at or near the bottom of the Western Conference standings in the National Hockey League.
But after a whirlwind offseason, things changed drastically in the Oilers’ dressing room. The changes began when the team drafted left-winger Taylor Hall with the first overall pick at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Hall is an exciting young player who has a
knack for scoring big goals. He was joined by fellow rookies Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi. All three youngsters impressed during Edmonton’s pre-season games, earning roster spots.
The offseason also saw the departure of veterans Sheldon Souray, who was placed on waivers, and former captain Ethan Moreau, who was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Centre Shawn Horcoff was named the new captain just before the start of the regular
season, and he reports that the Oilers’ dressing room seems like an entirely different place now.
“We've got a completely new team here,” Horcoff said. “Listen, the older guys who were here were great leaders and great teammates. Last year, we were in 30th place. It’s going to miserable, and it should be. If people are content and happy in 30th, you
don't have the right people.”
Despite the loss of some veteran voices, the Oilers’ dressing room has become a fun place again. A ping-pong table was recently installed, and the players are chatting animatedly amongst each other again. They are also smiling, and they have every reason
to do so. After a successful string of exhibition games, the Oilers have begun the 2010-11 NHL season with two straight wins, one of which was a 4-0 shutout win over their provincial arch rivals, the Calgary Flames.
Another player who is happy with the changed dressing room atmosphere is centre Sam Gagner, who admits that there are some differences.
"It’s obviously different," Gagner said. “It’s something where we want to create a positive atmosphere in here and make it a place where guys want to be.”
One of the other noticeable changes occurred behind the Oilers’ bench. The team replaced head coach Pat Quinn with Tom Renney, who served as one of Quinn’s assistant coaches last season. Renney’s vision of the ideal NHL dressing room is a place where all
players feel welcome, regardless of their status.
“The most important thing is that they (the players) know they’re coming to work,” Renney said. “They know they have to put in a good, honest effort with that time. They have to allow themselves to be coached. They have to take care of themselves and each
other.”
Renney added that if the players are able to buy into that strategy, “...then the rink should be a destination. If they choose not to participate in any of those things, then it becomes a little tougher. Right now, it’s all-in.”
Defenceman Jason Strudwick was able to identify the primary reason why the Oilers’ dressing room was not a happy place over the past few seasons.
“To be honest, I thought [it was] the older guys who’d been here a long time-they had a lot of pride in the way they played. They took losing very hard and very personally. That was amplified a little bit.”
Now that things have changed for the better, Strudwick believes that players who usually didn’t have a voice in the dressing room will emerge and come into their own as vocal contributors.
“I get a sense that a lot of guys who didn’t have a voice, or didn’t want to use their voice, have a voice,” Strudwick said. “I’m not talking about rah-rah before the game or Vince Lombardi speeches, I’m talking about interacting every day. Hanging out before
practice, after practice. That’s how you build a team.”
Clearly, the unity and camaraderie in the Oilers’ dressing has been restored. If the collective positive attitude continues, there’s no telling how far this talented team will go.
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