The Edmonton Oilers could be thinking about changing their coach soon after losing to the Calgary Flames, according to NHL experts.
This week, Coach Knoblauch and the Oilers’ coaching team have faced a lot of pressure because several problems with the team have become serious. The penalty kill is really bad, the defense isn’t performing well, and players who aren’t starters are having a hard time finding their role.
Several sources believe the coaching staff for the Oilers might be in jeopardy. On the latest episode of the Barn Burner Podcast, TSN expert Darren Dreger mentioned that Coach Knoblauch is facing more doubts about his job security.
I think the pressure on Knoblauch will get stronger in the coming days.
There’s been some discussion about this, but I’m not saying a change is definitely going to happen. Still, given the break and how the Oilers are performing in the standings, I believe this talk will become more frequent.
– Darren Dreger
During the radio show, insider Bob Stauffer pointed out that tonight’s game might be more crucial than it seems and harshly criticized how the Oilers manage their penalty kill.
With these problems getting worse, one possible change that could help is swapping out Coach Mark Stuart. He is in charge of the defense and penalty kill, which are both struggling.
Now that Leon Draisaitl is also voicing concerns about the coaching staff, there may be even more pressure to make changes.
It’s worth mentioning that Coach Knoblauch wasn’t picked by the current general manager, Stan Bowman. General managers in the NHL usually prefer to work with coaches they have hired rather than sticking with the existing ones.
Knoblauch is likely in a good position right now because he has a strong record in the playoffs for the past two years and is about to sign a new contract.
However, everything could change if things don’t go well in the playoffs. Plus, the Oilers’ coaching team is now officially under review. They will either need to make changes or adjustments.
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