Top NHL insider reports Oilers “will look different” after Olympic break
Top NHL insider Elliotte Friedman is reporting that the Oilers are discussing some major changes to be implemented following the Olympic break.
Rumours have surfaced that the Oilers may be considering a coaching change following the Olympic break with the addition of Paul Coffey, but Elliotte Friedman is now reporting that even more could “look different”.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports Oilers will make changes following Olympics
On the most recent edition of OilersNow, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers will likely look different after the break. With a significant presence of NHL General Managers at the Olympics including Stan Bowman, there’s been lots of trade discussion.
STAUFFER: Do you envision the Oilers at all looking different when they come back after the Olympic break?
FRIEDMAN: I think they will look different. I just don’t know if it’s going to be that fast. There’s a lot of managers here - I think there’s going to be a lot of talk. I’ve wondered about Paul Coffey - I was told it’s not going to happen.
FRIEDMAN: I think they will look different. I just don’t know if it’s going to be that fast. There’s a lot of managers here - I think there’s going to be a lot of talk. I’ve wondered about Paul Coffey - I was told it’s not going to happen.
With the statement shutting down Coffey’s addition to the coaching staff, any changes the Oilers will make after the Olympic break would be via trade.
Edmonton has two needs mostly heading into the trade deadline: a top-9 forward, and a top-4 right shot defenceman. Out of the two, the latter seems to be the biggest priority.
The Oilers defence has taken a nosedive since the new year, now ranking 25th in goals against and 26th in penalty killing. They need to find a way to stabilize Darnell Nurse’s pairing, and Walman isn’t succeeding playing his off-side. They could split up the Bouchard and Ekholm pairing to balance out the defence, but that comes at the cost of separating one of the NHL’s best pairs.
A shutdown partner to pair with Darnell Nurse needs to be their biggest priority, and if the Oilers are going to look different after the break, that’s where the changes should be.
Also read on Edmonton Hockey Daily :
Team Canada confirms line changes, goalie plan before first Olympic game tomorrow
Team Canada confirms line changes, goalie plan before first Olympic game tomorrow
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