The Edmonton Oilers, having come agonizingly close to claiming the Stanley Cup in consecutive seasons, are implementing significant changes behind the bench. Under Head Coach Kris Knoblauch, the team has announced a restructuring of its coaching staff, bringing in new personnel while shifting roles for familiar faces, all in an apparent effort to fine-tune performance and finally get over the championship hump.
Perhaps the most prominent move sees Hall of Fame defenceman Paul Coffey transition from his role as an assistant coach focused on the defence to a position as a special adviser to ownership and hockey operations. This moves the Oilers legend from the day-to-day responsibilities behind the bench to a more strategic, “upstairs” capacity. Knoblauch expressed his appreciation for Coffey`s contributions over the past two years and noted that his insight will still be sought and valued from his new advisory post.
Addressing specific areas for improvement, the Oilers have made key hires. Paul McFarland joins the staff as a power-play specialist, filling the void left by Glen Gulutzan, who departed to become head coach of the Dallas Stars. McFarland brings a wealth of experience from previous NHL assistant coaching roles with Seattle, Toronto, and Florida, as well as a recent stint as a WHL head coach. Tasked with overseeing a unit that, despite featuring elite talent, saw its top-tier performance dip last season, McFarland`s mandate is clear: reignite the league`s most dangerous power play.
Goaltending consistency also appeared to be a factor during key moments of the recent playoff runs. To provide a new perspective and push the netminders, Peter Aubry has been hired as the new goaltending coach, replacing Dustin Schwartz, who had served in the role for over a decade. Aubry comes with a background in developmental goaltending coaching within the Chicago Blackhawks organization and collegiate experience. The objective is to help the Oilers` goaltenders reach and maintain their peak performance more consistently.
Further adding to the support structure, Connor Allen joins the team in a skills development role. Allen`s background includes working with younger players in development systems, aiming to enhance individual player capabilities within the roster.
Amidst the changes, some continuity remains crucial. Mark Stuart, who previously handled the penalty kill, has had his contract extended and will now also assume responsibility for the defencemen, taking over the duties Coffey previously held. Video coach Noah Segall also received a contract extension, maintaining stability in that department.
Structurally, Head Coach Knoblauch will operate with two assistant coaches directly on the bench during games next season, a reduction from the three assistants he had alongside him previously.
These carefully considered coaching staff adjustments underscore the Oilers` relentless pursuit of their ultimate goal. By bringing in new voices for specialized roles and strategically repositioning club icon Paul Coffey, Edmonton is clearly hoping these calculated moves will provide the final push needed to transform deep playoff runs into a long-awaited Stanley Cup victory.