Timing is often crucial in professional sports, influencing success and perception. This is particularly relevant to an article published by The Athletic on Tuesday, which impacts the Edmonton Oilers.
The Athletic released the results of their ninth annual fan polls (subscription required), ranking the confidence levels of all 32 NHL front offices. Fans graded teams in six categories: roster building, cap management, drafting and development, trading, free agency, and vision.
For context, Dom Luszczyszyn noted that this year’s poll garnered nearly 10,000 responses from fans grading their favorite teams. There were 250 responses that graded every team, with the results presented both individually and collectively for the 32 NHL front offices, forming the final rankings.
How did the Oilers fare?
The Oilers were ranked 25th overall, which is surprising given their recent season and their strong start in free agency. This low ranking circles back to the issue of timing.
The Athletic included comments from Oilers fans who participated in the poll. The general sentiment was that any positive momentum gained during the summer was negated by the controversial decision to hire Stan Bowman as general manager and vice president of hockey operations.
The backlash and frustration over this decision are understandable, but it seems to have disproportionately affected how fans graded some of the six categories.
Objectivity versus subjectivity
For instance, the Oilers are widely considered to have one of the best rosters in the NHL, yet fans ranked them 27th in roster building. Similarly, despite a successful free agency period, the front office was only ranked 19th, the highest ranking from the Oilers fan base in the six categories.
Cap management was ranked 30th, despite CEO Jeff Jackson securing team-friendly deals. However, the limited cap space the Oilers had to begin with does suggest poor cap management.
Vision, tied to the Bowman controversy, was ranked 29th. Despite Jackson’s claims of thorough due diligence, the hire’s negativity was inevitable, reflecting a disregard for public perception. The Oilers have previously faced criticism for bringing in controversial players like Evander Kane and Corey Perry, suggesting they believe continued success will keep fans loyal and financially supportive.
A more positive perspective from the general NHL public
Feedback from the 250 public responses was more favorable towards the Oilers, ranking them third in free agency. While the front office was ranked 28th in Draft and Develop (31st by the fan base), the other categories ranged from 12th to 18th.
Last year, the Oilers were ranked 20th among the 32 NHL front offices. Luszczyszyn commented, “It all just seemed like a misstep for a team that was already well-positioned to win it all next season. Why anger an entire fan base with that kind of hire?”
Overall, fans are passionate and loyal, particularly Oilers supporters. As long as the team continues to win, the controversy surrounding the Bowman hire is likely to subside.
General notes
The Florida Panthers were ranked first, and the New York Islanders last. The Vancouver Canucks ranked highest among Canadian NHL teams at fifth, while the Toronto Maple Leafs were the lowest at 30th.
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