Why the Edmonton Oilers should seriously consider making a coaching change
This should be a summer of change for the Edmonton Oilers organization.
A first-round playoff exit to the Anaheim Ducks should come with some real consequences, and that starts with the coaching staff. Head coach Kris Knoblauch and assistants Paul Coffey, Mark Stuart, and Paul McFarland did not get the job done despite both finishing ahead of Anaheim in the standings and being the much more experienced team.
From the start of the series, Edmonton looked both overwhelmed and unable to keep up with the Ducks’ speed and tenacity on the forecheck. Injuries played a factor, but it is on the coaching staff to prepare their team for battle, and the Oilers were not close to ready.
If the organization is serious about competing for a Stanley Cup while McDavid is still wearing an Oilers uniform, they will have to seriously consider some coaching changes.
The urgency and disappointment of the playoff loss were felt over the weekend. GM Stan Bowman refused to give Knoblauch a clear vote of confidence on returning next season, and superstar Leon Draisaitl called out the entire organization, including the coaching staff, for taking a massive step back.
It’s easy to forget that Knoblauch was brought in by Bowman, as he was hired by ex-Oilers GM Ken Holland. Usually, every GM gets the opportunity to make at least one coaching change in any given tenure with a team. If the Oilers are going to stick with Bowman, it may be time for him to use that silver bullet.
You could point to a number of reasons why it’s time to make a coaching change. The defensive struggles have been consistent over the last two years, with little to no improvement, and the penalty kill has been atrocious over that span as well.
It also feels like the team may be tuning out the coaching staff at times, with players adopting a more passive, survival-based game when they have a lead, despite objections from Knoblauch. Edmonton doesn’t have time for a coach to figure things out; they need results, and they need them while McDavid is still here.
In essence, it feels like this Oilers team hasn’t materially improved under Knoblauch. Their offence has continued to hum, but they were doing that before Knoblauch was hired. The defensive side of the puck seems to have taken a dive under his watch.
There are veteran, proven coaching options out there for Bowman to consider. Bruce Cassidy is among the very best of those options, and there is a small possibility a guy like Jon Cooper could shake loose if the Tampa Bay Lightning opt for a different direction.
If you’re the Oilers, you have to be cutthroat and pounce on those types of options while you can. It’s up to Bowman to do whatever it takes to get Edmonton to the promised land, because if he doesn’t, he’ll be next up on the chopping block.