Oilers hit the greasy slide

A once great hockey team from a great city is now wallowing in last place. The Edmonton Oilers fired their head coach a few games ago, but not much changed. Eakins is one of the elite coaches in the sport of hockey. Even he had to realize once he had a chance to evaluate the team that the roster was filled with poorly developed hockey players. Loads of talent. Lacking in skill.
... Typical. The Oilers overrate their players. One really has to wonder where the management derives its plan. McT probably issued the funniest assessment about his inability to forge a meaningful trade.
... He said that he doesn't want to trade away his core players. Worse. He said it with an absolutely straight face.
... The Oilers management has bungled their player development so badly that it is totally believable that every player would likely pass through recallable waivers. And if there was interest, none could attract a value trade of better than a 6th round draft pick.
... Every other team in the league recognizes that there isn't a single player on the Oilers who would not benefit from doing a year or two in the AHL. If the Oilers manage to get another first, or second pick in the first draft round put them into a year in the AHL. And throw away the key.
... The NHL is no place to develop players. Too focused on winning. Too little practice time. Too many games. Very little time for meaningful long term one on one coaching.