Oilers coach makes bizarre comment on team's identity, fans blown away
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers Raw
The Edmonton Oilers are officially off to yet another slow start to the season with a 6-6-2 record, and the Coach is lost in terms of what the identity of this team is.
After a blowout 9-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, there's blame to go around for every facet of the organization. Insider Bob Stauffer captured it perfectly, pointing out flaws with forwards, defence, goaltending, coaching, and even the GM.
Maybe, it's just the entire mix.
Oilers coach Knoblauch gives bizarre answer on team's identity, fans hate it
Speaking to the media after practice, Coach Knoblauch was pressed on the big picture issue developing for these Oilers: What is the identity of this team?
Coach Knoblauch says the identity of this group is just McDavid, Draisaitl, and the defence.
In previous years, the Oilers were a high flying offence who could outscore any problems. As they matured, they bought into a team-defensive game while keeping their offence. Either way, a team identity encapsulates something about the whole group.
To reduce everything else and rest the entire offensive burden on McDavid and Draisaitl is absurd from the coach. Fans are blown away by this answer from Knoblauch.
Judging by this comment, maybe it's not surprising no new player has fit in well on the Oilers this season.
Andrew Mangiapane had a strong start, that was shifted around in the lineup until he's become a ghost. Trent Frederic is entirely lost. David Tomasek was given a smidge of ice time before being cast off. The two rookies in Savoie and Howard were never trusted from day 1.
When Knoblauch thinks so poorly of the rest of the team to structure their play around only 2 forwards, the remaining 10 will perform well below their potential.
Right now, not much is working at all for the Oilers. If this is how the coach is viewing the team, they may be in trouble.
TRENDING NOW
