Locker room concerns raised with Oilers coach as multiple quotes spark debate
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The Edmonton Oilers are mired in yet another mediocre start to the season, and now some fans are raising concern that the Coach has lost the locker room.
Oilers insider Bob Stauffer went on an extended heated rant recently calling out the flaws in multiple positions of the team, including the coaching staff. Though they managed a comeback win vs. Columbus, it still wasn't an inspired effort from the team - which was shocking after a 9-1 loss.
Oilers fans raise concern that Coach Knoblauch has lost the locker room
As the Oilers continue to struggle with generating offence at even strength, and many are pointing to the strategies and deployments from Coach Knoblauch as the reason why.
The coach seems to be preaching a heavily conservative playstyle with intense focus on limiting turnovers. That strategy takes away freedom from skilled players to make plays - and in tandem with benching the rookies, the Oilers can't generate offence.
This major developing issue for the Oilers harkens back to some passionate comments from Connor McDavid after their Cup Final loss last year - saying the team was «trying the same thing over and over again banging our heads against the wall.»
NHL analyst Jesse Courville-Lynch revisited the comments from McDavid, and shared a worry that Knoblauch may be losing the room entirely.
The fact that he mentions trying the same thing over and over seemingly suggests that the Oilers had no sort of changes throughout the series, which would make sense given how quickly the Panthers were able to take over and close it out in six games.
Through 17 games, it still feels as though the Oilers are trying to figure out a new way to have success on a consistent basis.
- Jesse Courville-Lynch, THW
Through 17 games, it still feels as though the Oilers are trying to figure out a new way to have success on a consistent basis.
- Jesse Courville-Lynch, THW
As the Oilers head out on a 7-game road trip, the urgency to find their game needs to increase. By the time they return to Edmonton, they could be further down the standings with the way they're currently playing.
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