MacT Shown The Door

((HT: Edmonton Journal))

Joanne Ireland got a front row seat to the ejection of Oilers now-former head coach Craig MacTavish Wednesday. ((Steve Staios, pictured answering questions Wednesday- thanks Shaughn Butts, Edmton Journal))

And it was no surprise...

Change was inevitable, given that the Edmonton Oilers are playing spectator for the third straight post-season, so when Steve Staios heard head coach Craig MacTavish was leaving, he was not startled by the news.

“When you think of the lack of success we’ve had over the last few years, you know there’s going to be changes — and it’s usually the coach who goes first,” said Staios.

“There will be more changes to follow. It’s just the nature of the business.”

Staios has played only for MacTavish during his tenure as an Oiler.

“It was a good relationship,” Staios said, “and I feel we were so close to accomplishing some great things. That’s the disappointing thing.”

Captain Ethan Moreau also spent his whole Oilers career with MacTavish as coach.

“I don’t think anybody’s terribly surprised. We knew changes had to be made and this is the first one,” Moreau said. “We have to get better in a lot of areas and it starts with the players. We fully accept that challenge and that responsibility.”
MacTavish coached his first game in the 2000-01 season and won 301 games before he and the organization parted ways.

“We’ve been through a lot, almost won a Stanley Cup. We just wish him the best. We should recognize the contributions he’s made to this organization. It was a great run,” Moreau continued.

“But things need to happen. We need to change the culture and change the environment. We have to get back that pride we had in the organization. And win. Win games. Make the playoffs. Win playoff series.”

Coverage from Lynda Steele and Global TV Edmonton is in black...
EJ Hradek and Matthew Barnaby from the four-letter continue...