Oilers considering firing one longtime assistant coach, per NHL insider
Photo credit: Brandon Esscott
The Edmonton Oilers are considering parting ways with their goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz this offseason, according to Elliotte Friedman.
Schwartz has been with the Edmonton Oilers for over 10 years now, and the goaltending results he's overseen have long been below average. Fans have been calling for his firing for a long time, and they may finally see a change happen.
NHL insider reports Oilers are likely to make a change with goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz
On the most recent edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman noted specifically that the Oilers are considering a change with their goalie coach Dustin Schwartz, and all other assistant coaches also need contracts.
Under Schwartz's entire 10 years as goalie coach in Edmonton, Oilers goalies have been a weak point on the roster. No goalies measurably improved under their time with him - in fact, they've got worse and then improved in new environments.
One of Stuart Skinner's major weaknesses through the last two seasons has been his lateral movement ability. NHL analysts and other teams have identified this weakness, but there's been little improvement from Skinner. That's both on the goalie, and the coach.
Not only are other teams exploiting Oilers' goalie's weakness, Edmonton themselves have let some promising goalies slip through the organization with Schwartz around. Anthony Stolarz, Anton Forsberg, and Devan Dubnyk are just a few examples.
Oilers fans have long called for firing of coach Dustin Schwartz
Oilers fans are smart hockey fans, and haven't been impressed with the results from Schwartz specifically over the years. They've even booed him during coach's introductions at the start of the year.
More changes are coming to the coaching staff too, with assistant Glen Gulutzan being offered the head coach job of the Dallas Stars.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman has recently said the team is considering running back the Skinner and Pickard tandem again next year. At the very least then, a change with the goalie coach is a must - and looks very likely to happen.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 29 | 1057 ANSWERS Oilers considering firing one longtime assistant coach, per NHL insider Do you think the Oilers will fire Dustin Schwartz? | ||
| Yes | 948 | 89.7 % |
| No | 109 | 10.3 % |
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