Tom Renney drops the 'P' word when talking about his expectations for his young Oilers team this season.
You almost had to be there to believe it when Edmonton Oilers head coach Tom Renney said he would be surprised if his team didn't make the playoffs.
Sorry, Tom; can you run that by me again?
I almost thought I heard him say he would be surprised if the Oilers didn't make the playoffs. Oilers … playoffs … this year? All those words in the same sentence?
Yes, as sure as Ricky Martin won't marry a woman Tom Renney won't marry himself to the idea that his team isn't good enough to get into the post-season.
Renney doesn't do anything by accident and this was a prime example of that. He wasn't even asked about Edmonton's playoff hopes. In fact, the question was whether anything rookies Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall would do this year might surprise him. He said no and spun it into a Mark Messier-like near guarantee that the kids and company would be playing hockey after the regular season was done.
It was very bold on the part of the Oilers head coach, especially because it was unsolicited but maybe not unnecessary. There has been no shortage of discussion on what the Oilers should be doing this year. One of the possibilities is losing so that they get another lottery pick. I believe Renney clearly answered how he feels about that option.
I don't know if he's been so clear to make the same statement in the room. If he did, the secret's now out and everyone knows what the coach expects.
As an employee, it never hurts to know what the boss wants and that he has the faith in you to do it.
