Will going "off the board" with new coaches cause the Edmonton Oilers to hit or miss their ultimate target

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2 days ago

The Edmonton Oilers have re-vamped their coaching staff.
The Cult of Hockey's David Staples writes about the breaking news from this (Monday) morning as well as some reaction to it, here.
In addition to David's work, here are some more basics along with context and quotes from Head Coach Kris Knoblauch:
Paul Coffey is not returning as Defence coach, returning instead to his previous role upstairs.
'We'll still have conversations with Paul, and Paul will still give us his insight on how the team is playing and what we could be doing'.
Assistant Coach Mark Stuart had his contract extended and his duties expanded to include the Defence corps in addition to the Penalty Kill. Kris Knoblauch spoke to the fact that in between good runs the kill struggled mightily at times this past season:
'There will be changes to our system, (and) we will be doing things a little bit differently'.
Paul McFarland will join Knoblauch behind the bench, help coach the forwards and be responsible for the much-vaunted Oilers Power Play:
'Just the fact that he has been running an NHL power play for many years, started in Toronto, Florida and then Seattle'.
McFarland coached the WHL's Calgary Hitmen last year. He had previous OHL experience in Kingston and Oshawa, where he and Knoblauch coached against one another. They also briefly coached together for Hockey Canada.
And a new Goalie Coach also arrives in the person of Peter Aubry from Omaha and Division I College. Aubry also has eight years of experience in the Chicago organization as a developmental coach. Obviously, G.M. Stan Bowman has a take on his abilities. Here is Knoblauch's:
'He'll be able to push those guys and uh…you know, bring a different perspective and hopefully you know elevate them to get those to play at their best more often'.
Finally, Connor Allen is the new Team Skills coach.
Some big picture thoughts:
-It is highly appropriate for Kris Knoblauch to put his own stamp on his coaching staff. He had inherited practically everyone. But having coached the club to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals appearances, he has earned the right.
-Having one less coach on the bench is significant. One less set of eyes, yes, but also one less voice that might complicate communication, between the staff yes but also between staff and players. I think this point may be a hidden benefit. There is an old saying 'nothing kills greatness like consensus'.
-I believe Glen Gulutzan would have been back had he not gotten the Dallas job. A loss for the organization, but you have to be happy for Gulutzan. His are easily the biggest shoes (or skates, I guess) to fill. McFarland's advantage is that the same elite players are available to deploy. His enthusiasm should be a plus. His record while guiding Seattle's Man Advantage was not great, in the mid-twenties in terms of Expected Goals. To be fair, it was also with talent much inferior to Edmonton's.
-The 'loudest' position being filled today is undoubtably with the goaltending. I saw no meaningful improvements available in free agency. Getting the promise you already possess in Stuart Skinner to be more consistent is now job one. The organization has decided against 'tried and true' NHL experience. Aubry has worked with the likes of Anton Forsberg, Kevin Lankinen and Arvid Soderbloom. So, let's see how it goes for him here.
-Paul Coffey's contribution in terms of experience and the freeing effect he had on the D-corps to make plays and move the puck more consistently were big pluses. But I also feel a different voice and approach is the correct next step. The mere lack of Coffey's physical presence on the bench and in the room is meaningful.
-But I do not mind how 'fresh' these selections are. These are not 'been there, done that' guys that just keep being recycled from team to team. McFarland is not yet forty. It is Aubry's first mainstream NHL gig (after lots of AHL time). Maybe he can come at this with fresh eyes and ideas. All these guys should be hungry and motivated.
-One reservation I do have is that there will not be a man on the bench in addition to Knoblauch that has NHL Head Coaching experience. Not that Kris needs it, specifically. I just tend to think that all coaches find it helpful.
Will these changes get the Oilers over the top, in terms of their Stanley Cup aspirations? Only time will tell.
But we all know what the definition of insanity is…right?
Now on Bluesky @kurtleavins.bsky.social. Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at [e-mail].
This article is not AI generated.
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