This Is The Man In Charge

If there is one thing that frustrates me to no end when interviewing someone, it's when they avoid answering the questions asked. Yes, there are occasionally some tough questions that are asked, but you often get a good sense of the person's character depending on how one answers. Bob Nicholson, CEO of the Edmonton Oilers, was on CBC radio this morning in Edmonton with Mark Connolly, and I'm not sure that this interview portrays Nicholson in a positive light after Connolly asked a few tough questions.

If you recall, Nicholson was the man who brought in both Peter Chiarelli and Todd McLellan to the Oilers before relieving both of them of their duties this year. Nicholson has been guiding the Oilers from a business standpoint for the last few years, and Connolly asked him about some of the struggles that the Oilers have seen in recent years.

I won't go into detail about any of Nicholson's answers, but here is the audio of Mark Connolly interviewing Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson this morning on CBC radio's Edmonton AM.

That wordsmithing and tip-toeing is what most interviewers would categorize as "avoiding to give direct answers to direct questions". It's frustrating to hear because if anyone can restore hope in Oilers Nation, the man holding the CEO's office is the last vestige of where hope may be found. I'm not sure Bob Nicholson did anything to foster hope, let alone restore it.

Kudos to CBC's Mark Connolly for not being afraid of asking the tough question or going after Bob Nicholson with those questions. Some would worry about losing a possibility of a second appearance by Nicholson, but I commend Connolly for asking the questions that a lot of Oilers fans likely have.

If this franchise is ever going to find its way back to respectability, that has to start at the top. You haven't sold me that you have any sort of plan, Bob Nicholson. That's not a good start.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!