Oilers: slackers not allowed; Really?!?

I just read a piece tonight on The Sporting News' Canadian site about the state of the Oilers. I didn't need to read the piece to get that answer; all I needed to do was take a quick glance at the NHL standings to get a quick assessment of how big of a failure this campaign has been. The worst one in years.

Disaster.

I'm really trying not to dwell on it, though; I don't intend to write much about the Oilers until training camp, but it's hard this time of the year to not have your hockey team to root for. They lost to Calgary, their arch-rivals, on Saturday, and I never even turned on the game. Those of you who know me or who have read CMB know that's a pretty big deal.

But, this season's train wreck has had a pretty dramatic, disheartening effect on me sports-wise. I can't help but repeat it for the millionth time - they were 60 minutes away from the Cup.

Anyway, the bottom line and tone of the story was that Edmonton Head Coach Craig MacTavish (above) won't put up with any slacking from players during the team's final 16 meaningless games.

Wow - great news! The Oilers aren't going to put up with any players taking shifts/nights off on the nice!

No better time than the present, fellas.

This is a dangerous time for the Oilers. A few bad seasons, and the franchise is in jeopardy again and could move to a hockey hotbed like Las Vegas or Portland, Oregon.

I do support MacTavish and GM Kevin Lowe - these guys, both former Oiler greats as players, have both done a reasonably good job the last four years. But, it's going to be a critical offseason for them. They need to restore confidence in the city, the players, and maybe themselves, too.

I just want to be excited about my hockey team again. Sixteen years and counting since the last Oiler Stanley Cup. I sit, brood and wait, but it could be worse - I could be a Philly fan - 24 years and counting since the city has seen a championship in any of its four major professional sports teams, and 32 since the Flyers last hoisted the silver mug.

It's just one season, but I sure can't take another one like this one.