It might seem like a rash decision to move on from a head coach after back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, especially when the story of this year’s team is still being written.
However, if the Oilers do not make a deep playoff run, is it really hard to imagine them exploring a coaching change, especially after Kris Knoblauch has faced some indirect public criticism from a few of the team’s best players about the way it plays structurally?
You only get so many years of players such as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Most teams never get one player that good, let alone two at the exact same time.
When you do get them, you owe it to them, yourself, the team, the fans and everybody involved to do everything you can to deliver a championship. The Oilers are still chasing that with this group. While there are serious roster issues—from scoring depth to defensive depth to goaltending—there is also a potential need for a coaching upgrade.
A big-name coach whose name is on the Stanley Cup could be intriguing to the Oilers if this postseason does not go well.