After the Edmonton Oilers, who were expected to be a Stanley Cup contender, dropped ten of their first thirteen games,Kris Knoblauch was fired as head coach.
After the team’s road journey concluded on Saturday night with a 4-1 victory at Seattle, Kris Knoblauch was fired on Sunday. Following a four-game losing skid, which included an ugly 3-2 loss at home to the NHL’s worst team, the San Jose Sharks, earlier in the week, Woodcroft’s career was not saved by that victory.
Dave Manson was fired, and Kris Knoblauch, Connor McDavid’s junior hockey coach, was appointed as Woodcroft’s replacement. Hall of Famer Paul Coffey also joins his team as an assistant. In 15 seasons, Knoblauch is the organization’s tenth and fifth coach.
Following Thursday night’s defeat in San Jose, Woodcroft expressed his lack of concern for the stability of his employment.
“With where we are at, nobody is happy,” Woodcroft remarked. “We are all its owners. I’m concentrating on how we can improve.
Under Woodcroft, who was relieved of his duties in February 2022 after Dave Tippett was sacked, the Oilers had become disengaged. They were losing due of a mix of league-worst goaltending, poor defense, and a lack of accountability, even though they had the reigning MVP in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Asked on Thursday night, “I don’t really know what to say,” Draisaitl replied. “We probably constantly out-chance other teams and outshoot them in shots on goal. Not in time at the moment.
Goaltenders Jack Campbell, who was waived and sent to the minors earlier this week, and Stuart Skinner have a collective save percentage of.866.
The player with the longest contract on the team, forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, stated, “We can’t really be looking at the standings right now.” “It feels a little different just because the season is starting. But as a team, we remain unchanged from the beginning. Right now, something doesn’t feel right.
More bizarre? McDavid was kept off the scoresheet in the last two games against the team, despite having the most points of any player since 1995–96 (153).
Despite missing time due to an unexplained upper body injury last month, McDavid has managed to score 10 points in 10 games, while Draisaitl leads the club with 15. Nonetheless, the Oilers’ 2.69 goals per game average is only surpassed by six teams.
It was anticipated that this would be the Oilers’ year to overcome their
