Eakins to Oilers fans: "Like it not, you need to be patient"

Dallas Eakins spoke with the media on Tuesday morning.

On his message to Oilers fans:

“My message to the people here and to the fans is – I can speak freely now. And like it or not, you need to be patient. With Nelly coming in, Craig MacTavish took over this job 18-20 months ago. And I understand being out of the playoffs for a long time. But the situation is the situation. It’s kind of like losing all of your money. You don’t get all your money back the next day. You have to start working again. And working at it. And this organization is where it’s at. It’s where it’s at. And all of this past – is it painful for everyone that’s been through it? Absolutely. The fans of this organization – you’ve suffered greatly. But I’m going to tell you, you need to be patient. That’s the way it goes. You need to be patient.

"And if anybody is going to find the solution, it’s going to be Craig MacTavish. I know that for sure. His commitment to this organization. His pain that he goes through every day. Looking. Trying to make this organization better. He will get it done. He will. I know he will.

"And if a new GM came in here today, you know what he’d say to you? Five years. Five years. That’s what they all say. That’s what I need. Craig’s been here for 20 months. Everybody breathe. Let him go about his business. Show some patience. And let him get this sorted out. Then, let Nelly get it sorted out.

"I've let this organization know I am here at their service. I want nothing more than tonight for this thing to turn around. This team has been on the wrong side of so many one-goal games, and I am still confident and hopeful that the pieces are in place and once this lineup gets healthy, that it will turn. And suddenly there will be five or six games in a row where the Oilers are on the good side of it."

Source: Eakins presser/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey

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Nichols on Hockey

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