Oilers Coach Knoblauch rightfully fading multiple bottom six forwards
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
In a recent article of The Edmonton Journal, hockey writer and analyst Kurt Leavins wrote about Kris Knoblauch's lack of trust for his bottom-6 forwards.
Kris Knoblauch will run into some trouble if he cannot trust his bottom six more. That issue was acutely obvious in Saturday's setback. What exactly is Trent Frederic supposed to do in 7:15? Max Jones in just 7:36. Mattias Janmark in a mere 8:46. Andrew Mangiapane barely broke 10:00 of TOI, Adam Henrique 11:00-ish.
- Kurt Leavins
- Kurt Leavins
Player mismanagement possible issue for Oilers
While it's expected that a team's top players will get more ice-time in a game, playing the bottom-6 forwards for less than 8:00 minutes on average does not promote trust in the lineup.
This issue has been ongoing since the puck dropped on the 2025-26 season, when McDavid and Draisaitl were regularly playing extended minute, while the bottom-6 battled for the remaining minutes.
Several articles were written about this in recent weeks, though the spotlight has shifted somewhat since Edmonton started its climbs up the Pacific Division.
Success will do that; but the post-season is a different beast altogether. What can be tolerated in the regular season can't in the playoffs. The Oilers must find a way to get more from its depth players, to state the obvious.
In last night's loss against the Flames, a total of one-shot on goal was recorded between Mangiapane, Jones, Frederic, Henrique and Janmark.
You can argue that a player must earn his minutes first; that the bottom-6 have not and is the reason they're not being played much. Perhaps.
Except, there are serviceable forwards that are top of the AHL class in Bakersfield right now, who aren't getting a call to help the Oilers' bottom-6.
The runway to fix the bottom-6 issue is growing shorter with each passing game. Whether the answer is in Bakersfield, playing the bottom-6 more, or in a trade for help, it's something they need to figure out quickly.
The Oilers can't afford to lose winnable games. Especially not if players are not being given the chance to compete.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 28 | 686 ANSWERS Oilers Coach Knoblauch rightfully fading multiple bottom six forwards How can the Oilers get more production from its bottom-6 forwards? | ||
| Call-up players from Bakersfield | 213 | 31 % |
| Trade for a new 3rd-line center | 324 | 47.2 % |
| Give them more minutes | 149 | 21.7 % |
| List of polls | ||