I think one of the reasons Kris Knoblauch lost his job as Oilers coach surrounds usage of Stan Bowman’s acquisitions. NHL general managers acquire players they believe are solutions, and Knoblauch faded many of Bowman’s most expensive recruits.
Names like Trent Frederic, Tristan Jarry, Andrew Mangiapane didn’t get the run Bowman’s top additions (Vasily Podkolzin, Jake Walman, Ty Emberson, Jack Roslovic, Kasperi Kapanen, Colton Dach, Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson) enjoyed last season.
A more veteran coach of Bowman’s choosing may well make the same decisions, but it’s my belief Bowman may have raised a Spockian eyebrow when Jarry was passed over for the final game of the season.
Teams should always hire the GM before the coach. The Oilers have done it out of time before, hopefully the new arrangement (Bowman hiring his coach) will settle it.
Which brings me to today’s question: was Bruce Cassidy the choice for Bowman? I think you could make a case for it. If that’s true, then checking down creates another bit of fury that may impact the season to come. It’s important for the manager and coach to be on the same page.
Even now, with Bowman about to trade Darnell Nurse, it would be damned handy to have the coach for next season in place. Perhaps that coach would have a specific player type he would like added to the group, or have some input in one or more of the names under discussion.
I know sometimes it feels like everyone is picking on the Oilers, but every time they are hiring someone of importance it looks like a crash landing. Why can’t this team find a way to interview the 10 best candidates, bring four back for a second interview, finalize the target and close the deal?
Why does it have to be so clumsy. The Oilers remain a franchise that does things for reasons other than winning. It’s obvious. It’s ridiculous. It’s tiresome. Straighten up and fly right, Oilers! This isnt a comedy.
So according to Shannon, even though it was the NHLPA asking the NHL to investigate Babcock, the issue that caused him to resign in Columbus involved support staff.
Stan Bowman was a transgressive hire. Obviously. The league-wide reaction was “Why are they doing this to themselves?” Local damage control was needed.
Has he been any good? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ He’s been about what you’d expect, some good some bad. But seriously, was he the best they could have done? Please. No obvious process that any plugged-in insider reported on.
Mike Babcock would be a seriously transgressive hire. We’re beyond damage control and into “NHLPA requests the league at least own this” territory.
Mike Babcock??? You want to convince the world that there was a sane, professional, process here and the result in 2026 was…Mike Babcock????? I mean, fine, the leak over Cassidy and apparently Laviolette was brought in and Berube talked to, sure. But to get from there to…MIKE F-WORDING BABCOCK?? I’m not even really talking about baggage. I’m talking about he was a thing like a decade and a half ago.
I agree completely with LT on this. There’s never a professional process on the major hires. And Bowman and…I still can’t believe we have to type this, Mike Babcock, come from somewhere on high and have elements of decisionmaking that suggest things other than winning are influencing what happens.
Stan talks to Scotty. Scotty believes Babcock is good from 20 years ago with their time in Detroit.
Stan reaches out to Babcock.
And we are here …… The Oilers way
I feel the owner should stay out of all decision-making. It’s like Yakupov 2.0.
Kevin Weekes
@KevinWeekes
Per sources, although a deal isn’t imminent , I’m told the NJDevils are
gauging market interest from clubs on
G Markstrom.
2 X $6 million remaining
Nurse and Jarry for Hamilton and Markstrom. Old fashioned hockey trade.
Markstrom turns 37 during this season, is more expensive than Jarry and a is declining fast – I think there is more of a chance for a bounce-back in Jarry.
How much of Hamilton’s value is on the PP?
This is true I thought Markstrom was year younger. He is getting long in the tooth.
DK is one of the wealthiest owners and people in Canada. You don’t get there from a successful local business not knowing how to run a very good ship. Anyone who thinks that his pet project runs off the cuff with no planning and no oversight doesn’t understand business, especially big business. It’s not just cups of coffee and eye test old boy things
If they are right or competent is open to debate
I don’t want Babcock as the Coach but I do believe K.K was just in his getting fired. Next man up if Stan picks Babcock so be it. Babcock is a stern hockey systems coach he’s not a criminal for heavens sake and neither is Bowman to say otherwise is hiding behind a screen or trolling. No one’s forcing anyone to spend money or time watching the Oilers. If anyone thinks Scotty Bowman was a princess to the Habs players in the 70’s then they’re gullible. A lot of these ex-players have podcasts and the Babcock piling on gets hits and likes. I myself wanted to see a ex-Oiler like Guérin-Weight-Grier guide this team to victory instead of retreads from Chicago-Detroit or Boston. As the saying goes Beggars can’t be choosers. I do think Sather taught a trick or two to ex-Oilers with management aspirations.
I can’t get over how crowded the decision making group is right now:
Daryl K*tz
Harrison K*tz
Jeff Jackson
Stan Bowman
5 AGMs
No wonder things are leaking. I also wonder why it seemed like there was ownership interference with Chiarelli, finally seemingly none with Holland, and now it is back more transparently and aggressively than ever? Why?
There is only one thing abnormal here and that’s the owner’s son (who is the alternative governor and has gradated NYU with an MBA, etc.), other than that:
owner
POHO/CEO
GM
Multiple AGMs
Leask are normal – we hear about pretty much everything in the NHL before it’s made official. We know all about the 55 coaches the Leafs have interviewed including many names (and names that haven’t).
What’s making everything so loud is not because of abnorma leaks but abnormal situations:
1) Vegas saying no to Cassidy, abnormal. If they had permitted what is routinely and consistently permitted in this league, Oilers probably hired their coach 3 weeks ago and everyone is ecstatic.
2) Babcock – a very famous/infamous name who comes with controversy and, it appears, additional steps needed prior to hiring.
Yes, they brought the Babcock noise on themselves but I think they are just fine with the noise – they want the guy and are willing to have it be noisy.
Nobody cares about the Jets-Canucks-Flames-Sens except for a few. Bottom line Oiler news sells good or bad lots of jealous trolls in these Cities with 1Cup between them.
.
To me, combined with the players interviewing coaches i cant imagine how they can have a productive process. And as Daniel pointed out i forgot Paul Coffey in between K*tz and Jackson.
The Avs, before McFarland left had
owner
PoHO
GM
Two AGMs
Special assistant
Canes have
owner
GM
Associate GM
Assistant GM
Special Advisor
Vegas has
Owner
POHO
GM
Two AGMs
And I imagine the owners of the above teams generally stay out of the way. It just seems like a lot of cooks in the kitchen here to me. And everything over the last month or so has seemed sloppy which doesnt instil confidence.
on the Cassidy situation – it is apparently not normal at all for a team to ask for permission to talk to another teams coach when they don’t have a vacancy – Thats from Rishaug on his podcast.
There is also Paul Coffey in there as Special Advisor.
Are you blaming Coffey who came in was professional in settling down our D. Oilers franchise could have easily imploded with the dirt being shovelled on them after the dreadful 2-9-1 start by the Stanley Cup odds on favourite to win.
And what about the people we don’t know for sure about? They’re always there.
Dont forget the leadership group
I was wondering similar things about Chiarelli. I’m assuming he was considered good in Boston?
I think so, but there were definitely warnings before he came. I can’t remember what they were. A lot of the big pieces were acquired/drafted before he got there (Lucic, Bergeron, Krejci, Marchand etc.). I do believe he he had a hand in recruiting Chara though.
I thought the common wisdom is that more voices heard is better, helps it not be an echo chamber. The decisions still are made by the same people as always – owner, POHO, GM
Vegas is cutthroat as they come they’ve been to the Final 3 times in 9 years. Oilers 2 times in the last 3 years. I wouldn’t exactly call the management group in Tampa or Florida being wallflowers. This is high stakes poker being played especially with the pressure on. Most of the executives are former competitors at a high level. Only losers enjoy losing this is not a participation job where everyone gets a shiny ribbon. The Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in all of sports and this is why I enjoy hockey so much.
In answer to your question LT, “Why are the Oilers so clumsy on this stuff?” The obvious explanation for me is the franchise is a cash cow.
Whether they’re good, bad, or mediocre, the fanbase will fill the seats and slop up the overpriced concessions. This is not an org that has to maintain its focus to stay competitive to avoid losing its fanbase. Management can be and is sloppy here because they’re the only major league game in town and they know it. Sorry Elks, your league is dying.
I mentioned yesterday that a good organization leaves no stone unturned in trying to improve. The Oilers leave plenty of stones untouched imo. Why? Because they can. There is no significant penalty for mediocre management in this market.
I was going to challenge your “cash cow” assertion, based on my perceptions from the past 26 years. However, when doing a deep dive, I see that you are correct.
i agree with you on all the points you’ve laid out here.
The long playoff runs make a big difference to the coffers and the owner definitely noticed the first round exit.
Pretty solid assement. If they blow this Mcdavid cup win window, which seems probable, will that be the last straw for some?
Nope.
Shayna Goldman:
Darnell Nurse has requested a trade from the Oilers, let’s discuss:
– the blueprint for this kind of trade
– the risk of his game + what he has left in the tank
– potential trade partners, from the Sharks and Kings to the Flyers, and more
free to readhttps://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/270d.svg nytimes.com/athletic/73550…
Link:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7355065/2026/06/13/oilers-darnell-nurse-trade-destinations/
I think Bowman and K.K were mostly on the same page to begin with. Once K.K had some travelling money in his pocket after being rewarded with a nice 3 year contract things changed. My 3 picks in random order why K.K was fired was 1) The usage of the biggest trade in the offseason for the Oil “Howard” 2) The benching of “Frederic” who was playing well against a big fast team in Anaheim. 3) The usage of “Jarry” who was apparently healthy. GM’s don’t like to somewhat be undermined by the team he puts forward for the Coach.
4) The owner was angry. Someone had to pay. Easiest thing to do is fire the coach, dress it up with rumours about 1, 2, 3.
ps. LT saw this coming months and months ago. Or maybe he was just looking at Oilers’ history?
Yes Sir it comes down to Survival. When the Bossman loses out on tens of millions he wants answers. Why did you trade our pride and joy handpicked centre in O’Reilly for a Hobey Baker shoot first winger when the coach didn’t feel he was up to playing in the NHL except for spot duty on the 4th line. Why did you sign an aka power forward in Frederic to a 8 year deal only to be benched in the playoffs? Why did we fuking trade for a goalie and contract only to have him opening and closing the bench gate. When the bossman asked these questions how do you think Bowman answers and still has a job? I was taught at a young age shit always runs downhill.
“When the bossman asked these questions how do you think Bowman answers and still has a job?”
Thanks. This is exactly what intrigues me about this organization: the bossman is the money guy, and has a fiduciary responsibility to his investments, but he’s not, to my knowledge, a hockey guy. Typically, a smart owner hires smarter people to run a business he knows little about, other than the money side.
-Chiarelli comes to the organization from success in Boston, performs poorly here. Big swings and misses. Uncharacteristic? Or not? How did he answer the bossman’s questions, respond to the bossman’s suggestions?
-Holland, apparently got to do his thing. Five years later, Game 7 SCF. A goal away from an OT win. Why no re-signing?
-Bowman, successful viz Cup wins over several seasons, has to be rescued from purgatory by this organization for irresponsibilities as a GM. Already in a weak position, how does he respond to bossman’s questions, suggestions, anger?
When running a company your success is determined by your ability to determine what your strengths and weakness’s are and then going about hiring the best talent you can afford to manage the areas that you are weak at. Then get out of their way and let them do their job.
It would seem that this is not what Oiler ownership is doing with this organization. And OP Harrisons degrees mean dick unless he spent that time studying hockey related subjects which I don’t think there are any courses at any university that I know of .
Tom Dundon is very involved in hockey operations in Carolina BUT he reportedly is mainly interested in spending efficiency not in dictating hockey decisions or personnel matters.
The Hurricanes who now seem poised to win a cup have likely the cleanest cap sheet in the league, Kotkaniemi an exceptional legacy contract aside and likely to be resolved soon, all their core players locked up at reasonable deals and $12 million in cap space.
It’s notable they have accomplished this while having 4 first round picks in the next 3 drafts and an unofficial farm team in the KHL.
Players know they’re well down the ladder on choices to spend money on in the North Carolina region. I believe the State flat tax is the lowest in the country add in a beautiful place to raise a family. Do you think anyone besides an Alberta resident would know If they ran into Taylor Hall buying a case of beer at the grocery store? It’s a nice place to live life in harmony a place where Monster Truck night is the biggest game in town.
1. Pissed away the preseason
2. Loaded up October
3. Everytime something worked, he immediately changed it.
4. Scratched players for scoring
5. Scratched players for standing up for each other
6. Made lineups to piss of management
7. Terrible penalty kill
8. Terrible penalty kill
9. Terrible penalty kill
10. Terrible penalty kill
All I can say it’s a hell of a lot better being an Oiler fan now with a Boss who has deep pockets. We always spend to the cap plus buyouts etc. Some of you won’t remember how close this team was from going the way of the Dodo on several occasions in the 90’s. The only thing saving the Oiler on the last occasion was bottle drives using wooden nickels and Lloydminister Oiler money. If we didn’t have the 5 Cups behind us we would have been just another Winnipeg-Whalers-Nordiques lost franchise talked about by few. So what we have eccentric Boss whose Son will be taking over soon. How many people talk of the Flames-Jets-Canucks. It’s always Oiler talk for good and bad but it’s still Oiler talk front and centre. For a northern city no one in the world would have never heard about if not for this skinny kid named Gretzky that was on the most exciting team in all of sports history.
That stretch after ‘91 was a lot uglier than the DOD for me.
Me as well, I tuned out. The team had no hope of getting anywhere near where they had been. They were stuck in the mushy middle. The team was broke and vulnerable to moving. The hockey was boring in the dead puck clutch and grab era
Stats and high draft picks made it more interesting, and obstruction being reduced after the lockout
I still like to go back and look at the rosters from those seasons. There was some interesting players I thought had a chance and then they were gone.
It was brutal the threat of being sold year after year after year. The Alberta Treasury Branch was suckered by Pocklinton into big cash that almost sank the Bank add in Principal Trust blinking of 1000’s of hard working Albertains life savings. Nobody was doing the Oilers any favours it was a miracle how Sather kept this franchise afloat. At the moment we as fans are blessed to see the fastest man on 2 skates eclipsing the Russian Rocket along with a goal scoring centre that happens to be the best backhand passer the game has ever seen.
I thought this was about winning?
But yes, give the owner major kudos for what he’s done, not just for the team and for Edmonton (though that too), but for setting a high bar for player facilities and fan experience. And hats off to him for making a relatively small northern city host to one of the most profitable pro sports franchises on the planet.
That said, please Mr. Owner, look at other long term successful pro sports franchises and learn about patience and keeping an arm’s length relationship. Hire good people who know the game. Sit back. Enjoy the show!
12 years from now the Kid will have McDavid-Leon running the show with Nuge-Hyman involved in management. The Boss sounds super-loyal if the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree there will be a new OBC. Some of the younger generation that didn’t watch any of these players will bitch and moan about these players like they do about Coffey-Lowe-MacTavish. It’s super hard to be number 1 facing 31 other franchises just as hungry. It’ll be sad to see the core broke up with Nurse moving on to a team of his chose. It may backfire on Bowman but having a media driven auction might bring more teams into play that will convince Nurse he’s the right fit.
I’m not that sentimental about players moving. I wish they could all stay, but watching certain guys not hit the mark often repeatedly and losing sucks way, way more. Yes they’re humans but they chose to be pro athletes and regular folks have to deal with moving and separation without the perks
He has proven he won’t stay at arms length away and neither will his kids apparently. He cant/won’t/doesn’t think he needs to change. This is how it will be.
“Why can’t this team find a way to interview the 10 best candidates, bring four back for a second interview, finalize the target and close the deal?
Why does it have to be so clumsy?”
Are these rhetorical questions?
This pattern predates anyone in mgt, no?
It reeks of management by emotion .Not one with a well thought out game plan .
I mentioned it last year on several occasions if the Oilers don’t win a Cup the Habs will. Gorton-Hughes are smart cookies building the Habs. Everywhere Gorton goes he’s involved on building from the foundation up. I do wish we had these two or Billy Guérin. I’ll see how Bowman does on the vital trade of Nurse. I enjoyed watching the Hawks team that was so big-fast-skilled the up-tempo team he created with the Hawks were the closest team to the Oilers of the 80’s. Has Bowman lost his edge we are about to find out this season.
How much of the Hawks team was his dads promptings from the press box as the Hawks special advisor?
Another question: How much did Hawks ownership meddle?
A lot
And much owing to Dale Tallon who built the foundation?
Justly or unjustly the current G.M-Coach get all the credit if they win and all the heat when they lose. How would you have liked to have been Stan when the shitstorm hit Chicago. There was no playbook on how to handle the unique situation in Chicago. It looked to me like Stan fell on the sword for the owner and league. If you see it any differently I value your opinion on such a delicate topic.
I too am taken by how HuGo run things.
The other really interesting —and I believe very important, esp viz Oilers— thing about the Habs is that the Molson family keeps its distance from operations. They hired people like Pollock in the old days, and HuGo now, and —as per Scotty— only appeared or were heard from for the pre-season photo and the Cup photo. Most recently, when the post-2021 rebuild started, Geoff Molson told HuGo he wasn’t in a hurry; he wanted it done “right.”
If the Habs had prime McDavid and Leon would they have been as patient? The Boss has tried every trick in the book from the OBC to recent Stanley winning GM in Peter to past multiple winner in Holland who he gave 5 years of unlimited money and resources. Now it’s Bowman kick at the can if doesn’t win in the next 2 years and if Bowman doesn’t get a huge haul for Connor-Bouchard then it’s next man up. Life can be cruel yet these people getting fired are well taken care of. The Oilers are a print money making machine the mob is a very knowledgeable fan base. They realize it’s Go time and not sit on our hands time.
Text book bad asset management. The exception might be Holland, and I’m curious about what went south between he and ownership.
re your earlier comment about the organization in the future, w the kid and Connor-Leon running things… Will anyone have learned to be patient, strategically, by then? Or will the dopamine delusion of churn still be fuelling management decisions? I suggest the time to start thinking about the “10-year solution” is now.
He was a Lame Duck in his final year after the 2-9-1 start. No way Holland fired Woody and hired K.K on his own. No way Holland hired Jackson. These moves were coming sideways and above. The only reason I don’t think Holland was not fired after the 2-9-1 start was because Holland deserved as much keeping his legacy intact. I think it surprised everyone including Holland after we made the Final. If we win game 7 no way they don’t resign Holland or his Son to a 3-5 year extension.
Thanks
I’m sure remember this one from a young age. Don’t trust everything you see, even salt looks like sugar.
“And I had heard that, as I’ve said a couple of times now, I believe a lot of what has happened in Edmonton since their loss has come from the top.
I believe the owner, was incredibly upset about the way this season ended, as were a lot of people around the oilers organization and their fans.
But I believe he was determined to act. And what adds to this is the fact that McDavid is only on a two-year extension.
Like everybody is super paranoid about what that could mean. And I think he was the driving force behind the coaching change. I think he was the one really pushing Cassidy.”
From 32 Thoughts: The Podcast: Playing With House Money, Jun 10, 2026
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/32-thoughts-the-podcast/id1332150124?i=1000772003108&r=1693
“And I think he’s one of the people who was really interested in Babcock and pushed Babcock. I had heard, I don’t know if it’s true, they’ve definitely spoken. I had some people say they met face to face, but I’ve never confirmed that.”
From 32 Thoughts: The Podcast: Playing With House Money, Jun 10, 2026
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/32-thoughts-the-podcast/id1332150124?i=1000772003108&r=1754
Bowman (and Jackson) running for cover and from responsibility, just like he did in Chicago, blaming higher ups and lower downs.
A GM, particularly one coming off of what happened in Chicago, can say, I am not doing that sir. Let me do the job you hired me to do.
Stauffer saying HK interviewed Babcock is a tell.
Bowman has had familiarization with Cassidy to some degree, I would say not a lot with Babcock although I’m sure he would be familiar with Babcocks checkered past. I can’t say for sure, but IMO this wouldn’t be Bowman’s hire. This comes from the ownership who has all of a sudden decided to come to the forefront and that is where the chaos is generated.
Who do you trust? Good question, I’d sooner trust Stan Bowman than I would Mike Babcock. Ownership would be wise to just let Stan do his job.
Stan’s father got to know Babcock quite well during his 3 seasons working as a Special Advisor in Detroit. Father then moved to the Blackhawks where he worked with his father for 12 years or so.
I am sure he received a lot of intel on Babcock from his still very sharp 90+ year old father. As well as from his own hockey network. Also, who knows what things SB may have done to try to sabotage this hiring.
If I were in his shoes, I would have followed the boss’s instructions, but would also take some clandestine measures behind the scenes to throw some wrenches into the works.
But that is just me.
LT, journalistic question here: what’s it like writing for The Athletic?
As well, Mr. DNB departed. Do we see another Oilers beat writer in the future?
I love writing for The Athletic. Absolutely love it. Seriously.
Don’t trust all the ex jock media in Edmonton, chaos is good for selling stuff and getting clicks. And here we are again.
Enjoying the ride is impossible in our mid size market. This team is has been very good most nights.
We could have a fortress mentality, BUT we continue to send contributors the “train station”. As players examine life in LA, Miami, Dallas, Vegas or Edmonton running another out of town will be another reason to avoid ice district.
The people that think players don’t want to come to Edmonton are mainly Oiler fans. Everyone with ties to the league I hear say the opposite. Rich Winter says that changed the day they drafted Connor, reinforced by having among the top facilities in the league. A lot of teams don’t, and won’t spend on it
i read and here this all the time and never agree.
We may not agree with the ownership or the management with their decisions and think they inhibit winning but I have zero doubt the decisions are made by the decision makers, in the name of winning – they may be wrong but they are made with the goal of winning as primary – no doubt.
I suggest LT’s comment is hyperbole born of frustration, because yes, every decision had a perspective that made it about winning. Otherwise, professional malpractice.
My curiosity is about how much latitude mgt is given by owner to pursue their vision of “decisions made in the name of winning?”
Someone recently pointed to Holland’s (no Cup, but otherwise successful/winning) tenure, and how it was allowed to fade into the sunset. I’m not advocating for Holland’s decisions, but those decisions built a Game 7 SCF team (and its echo, Game 6, the following year). I’d love to know the thinking that went into that decision (to not renew Holland), as well as the decision to hire GMSB.
It’s not just LT using it today, I read/hear it fairly often along with “this is not a serious organization”. Everything this org has done since it drafted McDavid has been about winning.
I think most agreed it was time for Holland to move on at the end of his 5-year contract. He did lots of good, and also lots of bad, just like Chiarelli before and Bowman after.
Lets not forget, Holland had an elite Bouchard at $4MM and a top of the league Drai at $8.5MM – Bowman didn’t have those cap efficiency luxuries to help off-set some to the cap graves.
I think the mood, generally, in Oilerville borders on despair right now. Much gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair.
I’m new, but I’d prefer stability and humility.
To my mind, last year was year-1 of the post-Holland transition. I have no confidence that this season is year-2. It’s looking like it might be another year-1. Or even year-minus-1, depending on choice of coach.
The problem was not moving on from Holland, but having no succession plan. Jackson had about 10 months here, would have known Holland wasnt returning and somehow didnt have a replacement lined up. That is just incompetence and it came back to bite us.
Maybe it wasn’t Holland being fired but tHolland saying “I don’t want to work for you folks any longer because you interfere too much “
Is there any evidence of this?
More than a few think the coaching fire was more the doing of ownership than management and Bowman was prepared to keep the coach.
I am just fine with Knob being let go. He is a good coach (was very good in 2023/24) but he had a really bad season. Highly questionable decisions from how camp was run through the first game of the season and right through the playoff defeat.
Not just easy to pick on things like deployment but breakout structure, lack of in-game and game to game adjustments and, more than anything, he just could not get this team to play the way he wanted them to. Thats on the players of course but it’s also on the coach to get them to do what he should demand.
I am still hopeful for Cassidy.
He’s too nice of a guy. In the way many people think Babcock can’t change his spots can Knoblauch? Would they be as good still? If Knoblauch pushed harder would it work because it’s not his nature?
Which is why I think Sather believes and said he likes a coach to be confident to the point of arrogant. People like that don’t have to try to lead or think much about having talks with people. If they are right and good at things that can work really well. If they are wrong it’s a probably a mess
MacT is a pretty confident guy. He mentioned he took Guerin aside and told him he was playing like a rookie. To the point and clear, but you have to have the relationship built and personality for it to not just offend the guy. You can be hard but if you don’t have any charm it wears thin quickly. That to me hard with some charm sounds like Cooper, Maurice, Quenneville and some others
Knoblauch is a players coach. I can’t say I exactly know what Babcock is, but it would appear he goes too far in the opposite direction from Knoblauch. With Cassidy they could find some common ground. If he is no longer the #1 choice I would be shocked, and so might Glen Sather.
Knoblauch was not good without Gulutzan.
Or just maybe Injuries played a part as did two long years of exhausting hockey and oh some bad July 1st pick ups by the manager.
Or maybe its that he wasn’t good without Dustin Schwartz?
Based on what we know, forward deployment was more consistent with Gulutzan, defensive play was better with Coffey, and goaltending was better with Schwartz based on SV%. Have to wonder if Schwartz is a Jarry whisperer and how Jarry-Cossa would look with their old coach.
The great thing about time is that the truth usually comes out .I am looking forward to hearing about KK’s view of things almost as much as I am of Hollands reason for moving on. Was Holland fired or did he quit ??
I hear Maurice had a bad season in FLA. Didn’t even make the playoffs, loser.
I hear Bednar’s Prez Choice team got whacked in the second round – again. Loser.
I hear Gulutzan’s Stars lost the WCF – again. Loser.
I hear Cassidy’s VGK couldn’t win the Pillow Fight Division without him being fired, this after losing, badly, to Knoblauch’s Oilers in 2025 second round. Loser.
In some organizations it’s accepted that consecutive years of relative failure by good teams (the Oilers are a good, not average, team who had an average season – I’m paraphrasing you, I believe, and I share this view) doesn’t mean “push the panic button.” Apparently Oilerville (owner?) is different. Maybe Vegas too, though they allowed McCrimmon and Cassidy several seasons of “failure” after their Cup.
Maybe this impatience gets the owner his “McD Cup.” I’m skeptical. I’m still looking for an example, in the NHL, where this level of churn begets Cups. And Cups, plural, is what this team is worthy of. If any reader here can show me an example, please show me. I’m serious.
Ps. If Cassidy is the “10-year solution,” I’m in.
Throw in Cooper as well, 4 straight first round exits.
I can’t opine on what the issues were in all those other markets where teams fell short of expectation but I can formulate and informed opinion on what happened in Edmonton and the coach was right in the center of it. in my opinion.
A large part of it was the overall mind-set of a large part of the team that didn’t respect the regular season – the players admitted it and so did Knob at year’s end. I’m not one that thinks the coach needs to pump up his players before every game but it IS on the coach to ensure his team not playing with a 4-month long millaise – he was not able to get his team engaged.
Damn! I forgot coach Cooper! Not only did his TBL tumble to the fresh, fast, young upstarts in first round (that sounds familiar…), he only won Olympic Silver!
Good example. (How many first round losses since a SCF?)
It makes sense that the coach is at the centre of a team’s success or failure. But to fire the guy who was central to two SCFs runs because of an “average” season (where he still was part of the team making the playoffs)?
I don’t care how many superstars you have on your team, or who your coach is, there will be disappointing seasons. As I understand it, the NHL is a bit of an impatient league, compared to other pro sports. That means, at the very least, your team and organization is losing out on building longer term success because of the churn and burn of “win now.” This seems to be an acute condition in the RNH Era (I believe it will be 10 coaches in 15 years; how many GMs?).
ps. I’m a coach Cooper fan. I think TBL ownership and mgt are wise to give him time to do what he can do.
Being successful in Real Estate takes planning ,patience and a lot of attention to detail .You would think that taking that business model over to your Hockey operation would be simple and second nature. Something is getting lost in the translation by this owner who seems to be making a lot of impulsive decisions over the last number of years .We go thru coaches and GM’s like the average folks change underwear.
Interesting point.
The vicissitudes of building long term human-performance related success (sports team, family, marriage)… my experience is that “success” with humans is elusive for most of us. Especially so if we are successful in business and have the hubris to try to overlay our successful business model. We get impatient, fast, when humans be humans.
Many times in my career Ive seen folks that are successful in one field think that they can just go transport the skills/lessons learned to another fields and be just as successful . From building say residential towers and now building shopping centres ..Bankrupcy usually follows not long after ..
Yup.
This is not a comedy – LT
more like “a tragedy wrapped in a comedy”.
Gifted the golden ball in 2015. Since that draft, it seems the Oilers make massive mistakes every 2-3 years, mistakes that take years to overcome. Hence heading into year 11 of McDrai and one could argue the Oilers are in more of mess now then they were 7 years ago.
Patrick Roy
Florida has made an offer for Dylan Larkin.
https://www.thefourthperiod.com/jun-2026/florida-trying-to-acquire-larkin-makes-offer
Man Zito is aggressive
Going after every single available player that is better than any one of your players should be part of the job.
The fact it doesn’t happen is a combo of laziness and feelgoodism.
Does the 9th overall and Lundell get it done?
~15M in Cap space~
Need a #1 goalie
a 4th line C
another PKer
depth D
Should have plenty of dollars left.
That makes a lot of sense.
While Lundell is a very good player, Larkin is on another level especially in goal scoring.
Boqvist and Rodrigues can both at 4C if required.
Their choice of goaltender will be key.
Lundell > Larkin, is younger, and is on a better contract, one of the best value contracts in the league. Take away Larkin’s power play production, and Lundell produces as much as Larkin.
I think Zito is bluffing to drive up the price for others (Tampa).
Larkin scored 18 EVG and 67 EVP last season.
Lundell scored 12 and 25.
Lundell has never scored 20 goals in a season…Larkin has scored more than 30 six times.
There is no comparison.
I know BS suggested McD will likely sign a seven year extension, but man, McD has to look at how poorly run the Oilers have been and think “this is no way to build a Cup champion.”
Nobody Trusts Jackson more than McDavid does. That’s not an issue at all.
Could be the case. If true, an argument can be made that Mcdavid trusts someone he shouldn’t.
The Oilers aren’t poorly run, there are other obstacles in the way. Once Connor McDavid sees he can’t win a Stanley cup in Canada he will be gone.
The argument of that the Oilers have been poorly run is a major over exaggeration by Oilers fans. Every team signs bad contracts or makes bad trades.
Florida- Bobrovsky was a bad signing when it happened, took too much of the cap, they didn’t win till the 5th season of his contract. 12.26% of the salary cap on a goalie when it was signed.
Tampa- Tanner Jeannot trade- Cal Foot, 2025 1st (top 10 protected), 2024 2nd, 2023 3rd, 4th and 5th.
You can go down every team and find them.
Oiler fans just like a lot of fans of the most popular teams are doom and gloom on their management, coaches etc. So many of us live like it’s 2010 again, the moment something that can be interpreted as bad happens we immediately bring back what it was like to cheer for those teams and be studying the draft for what players might be chosen with the 3rd round pick.
The Oilers made it to the finals 2 years in a row, then were out in the first round. 3 of the past 5 years they have made kt
to the conference finals, 4 of the past 5 years they have made it out of the first round.
For context everyone who was enamoured with Colorado this past season, 5 years ago won the cup, 3 out of the past 5 years made it to the second round, 2 of the past 5 were bounced in the first round.
All a player can ask for is to be competitive. There is no guarantee to win the cup, if there was the Oilers of the 80’s would have won every single year and the Penguins of the 90’s would have won every year.
I also think Connor at least is starting to realize, really get, that he Leon and Bouch aren’t enough. That them eating so much cap makes it a tougher job for the GM. And that wanting the same guys to be on the team out of friendship and loyalty and wanting to win together, puts a lot of obstacles in the way of winning a Cup, which as you said is really hard to do without all of that
The way the league is structured, a GM can’t just some in and revolutionize things right away. Especially on a successful team, and one with multiple elite players. It was one thing for Zito to come in and blow up the panthers because they weren’t that good, it was different for Bowman
I’ve said I think Bowman chose to respect the group after seeing the lay of the land, and give things time to play out. A choice between not getting better right away and not rocking the boat too much. I’m sure he already had ideas of where he wanted to head. He has the guys with movement clauses getting older
The goalies didn’t get where they wanted so that was the first thing. The early exit opened the door to moving long time Oilers, and I think we will see structural changes as we go that are bigger than they have been. Only the big 3 are keepers
I do not fault Knoblauch for fading Mangiapane. He never should have been acquired in the first place. There wasn’t anything to support it, not by eye nor by stats.
Ya. That was like eating a jalapeño when you don’t like hot peppers. Don’t order the pepper in the first place.
Am I wrong to remember that McD was keen on the player, when acquired?
Perhaps, but then KK that I can remember never had the group all playing well consistently at the same time. There were always guys struggling, and that I think is why they moved on
Haha! I posted something very similar the other day. Coaching changes happen so frequently in the nhl it should be a pretty basic task to complete. Yet the Oilers turn it into a three ring circus. Incredible
Vegas and the NHL turned it into a 3-ring circus.
I agree. Bowman is dealing with all of that which nobody would have expected because nobody does it. I think we should add that he is very likely dealing with wishes from above as well. I would be surprised if Babcock was his idea, he has to go along with it if his bosses say so
That could be but that is still an Oilers problem. It’s been going on for far too long
Agreed
Have you read the terms of Cassidy’s contract or are you just speculating?
That doesn’t really have anything to do with it. He’s not the only coach that has ever had such a contract. Teams don’t do that, because it’s such a dick move
It does if he signed a non-competition clause, his delay has to do with the contract he signed with Vegas.
That only means they have the right to not allow which we know. There is no way Cassidy is the only coach that has ever had that clause, they don’t use standard contracts for coaches, lawyers put all kinds of things in contracts
Teams don’t use it because it’s a dick move to not allow someone to work that you fired, and they can’t ask him to do something else for them. Times two when the guy won you a Cup
Of course it does.
There’s no such thing as a standard coaches contact.
Unless you know what clauses it contains that Cassidy agreed to when he signed it, then you’re speculating.
The league knows and has deemed Vegas is within its rights to withhold permission.
This is barely connected to what I said. You should have another cup of Joe
Hey troll, have you read the terms of the contract for every other coach or are you just speculating.
I haven’t…which is exactly my point.
There is no standard form contract but there is 100% market standard forms and market precedents that are used routinely (and likely without exception).
Daley made the comment that there are some contracts the non-compete protection that Cassidy’s contract does but, if we are being honest, we know that is the vast exception and most of the contracts are siminlar in substance to Cassidy’s on this issue.
Vegas had to talk to PHI to hire Torts. Vegas had to take to Boston to hire Cassidy before that.
There is no disputing that the clause is there and it provides for Cassidy to require team consent to be a head coach of another NHL team (although, as we know, these types of clauses are open to challenge and there is a high bar – if Vegas his blocking Cassidy from a $30MM contract, that would be important evidence in a challenge).
The issue is not if Vegas is permitted to do with via the terms of the contract, that is agreed to be all – the issue is that the vast majority of NHL coaching contracts are like this and we’ve never had a situation where a tea blocks a fired coach from interviewing elsewhere.
100% normal course over the history of this league would have had Cassidy available to all other 31 teams upon firing.
Piss off. That has very little to do with it and you damn well know it.
Vegas didn’t give them Babcock’s number.
LT I think you nailed it; the biggest problem with not having a Cassidy in place already is that Bowman will be making personnel decisions half blind.
What if Cassidy or Babcock (spits) thinks that within his system and structure he can turn Nurse into the 5 tools defenseman we have been pinning for the last 10 years?
I’d love to see that, or at least would feel more comfortable with the process to have a coach advise on that decision. But alas we will never know.
Names like Trent Frederic, Tristan Jarry, Andrew Mangiapane didn’t get the run because they were all equal measure terrible.
If anything, they should have been faded far more and far faster than what Knoblauch did.
Having said that Knoblauch fading Skinner and Arvidsson was a wrong decision.
So in conclusion: stubborn coaches and all that.
Knoblauch didn’t show the ability to bring veteran players along. The best coaches can, not every player responds to the same things, and if they had sideburns he didn’t seem to even want to really try
He did some things as LT mentioned that were counter productive. At least once he scratched Fred when he was starting to play better. From what I’ve read about Fred that is not they way to handle things with him
Everyone sees him as getting another NHL gig, but to me he’s a top AHL coach and not at least at this point more than a bottom NHL coach. He was a lot better with rookies. He’s geared that way
They didn’t get to two finals because of him. A lot of coaches would have with that firepower. Some might have even won
Respectfully disagree, air/ma’am. The Oilers limped into the playoffs last year, and KK took them to the SCF.
Agreed, SS doesn’t give Knoblauch nearly enough credit for the 2024 and 2025 runs to the SCF.
I remember, vividly, the adjustments he made in the 2024 run. He was touted as a bit of a savant. And those 2025 series’ against Cassidy’s Vegas, DeBoer’s Stars… things of beauty, after just an OK season.
There’s a lot of criticism for the stretch passes and high flips against FLA. Maybe that’s all on the coach. But I’m seeing a fair bit of that these playoffs, and especially Hurricanes v Vegans.
An interesting comment by Tortorella recently, re impact of “coaching” in the SCFs. I’m paraphrasing, but words to the effect of, it’s on the players now, at this point. There’s not a lot of coaching going on.
In the end, the owner got angry and someone had to lose their head. A panic move that GMSB has to wear, publicly. We could, like the folks in FLA, COL, DAL be disappointed in a less-than-ideal playoff outcome, but also preparing for draft day and free agency, trusting our GM and coach to be building the “10-year solution.” But, as LT asks, who do we trust?
In Oilerville, we’re now here, disappointed and in the midst of rumour, hyperbole, and melodrama. We are without leadership (and BS stirs the pot).
I think we are seeing the beginning of a change in direction. I don’t think it could have started right when Bowman came in, because the team was very successful. There were a lot of opinions, owners and players, and a tight long term core group that had gone through a lot of battles together. First the changes in management structure, more hands on deck, and Nurse being asked to move/ask for a trade
This season and early exit changed the dynamic. Connor and Leon are clearly on board for things to change. They know it has to, nothing has ended up working to their goals
There will of course still be challenges with movement clauses and the cap, and whatever the owners want. For me we are now clearly in to the Bowman era, the Holland era has completely closed. I hope the owners step back. We will see if those that think Bowman is a dufus are right, or those that don’t
Thanks
We all have our takes no worries. For me the success they had was because they have three of the best players, any competent coach could run with that. He obviously played his part as did the other coaches, but to me it’s those players hitting their peak levels that drove the bus on the two runs
That they limped in to me is a lot to do with that the coaches couldn’t do enough getting the team organized. Then the trio kicks it into high gear in playoffs. Gulatzan and Coffey leave and it was a mess this season
It has been a very clumsy spring going into Summer here. Leaks, misses, etc.
I don’t know if Babcock comes here or not. I am not a fan and I am sure some players are not either. If he doesn’t come then Who? I don’t think they have a clue either.
I agree with you LT that a coach needs to be in place and has to have some input into what players he will need to put it all together to. Push this team over the top. If he doesn’t like guys and won’t give them proper slots in the lineup to get the best out of them ( like Knobby did) , then it won’t work out.
I hope they interview Sutter to be honest with you. From all indications he got the best out of every player he coached. He was an honest guy that told you what he wanted and what he expected. His teams were always hard to,play against 5 on 5 and he did hold you accountable. But not even sure he is on This GM’s radar.
I do wonder if they don’t have a coach in place by July 1 that it does affect any UFA buying.
I think Spec said yesterday that Murphy would like to come back but is waiting to see what happens with the coach and Nurse. If Nurse is traded , Murphy is a must resign.
As for Nurse, no clue who we trade with. Someone mentioned Philly is. I doubt They trade Tippett for Nurse unless the Oil Add and eat some $. I am not even sure they want to move Tippett. But what about Couturier straight up. That could be your 3rd line Cman. And you save a couple million . He is unreal in the faceoff circle and is a very strong pk guy. He is big at 6.4/212 and will get you 10-15 goals. He is not a fast guy anymore , but is still a very useful player.
If Nurse goes, let’s hope Murphy resigns and I would llike to see Oleksiak signed as well for size and replace Nurses toughness.
should be an interesting 2 weeks leading into the draft and Free Agency July 1
Goaltending , Coach, Nurse, hopefully are all figured out by the draft
I think the leaks are coming from elsewhere. Cassidy’s agent to apply pressure, Friedman said the Nurse thing was because other teams caught wind – Bowman would have reached out to the teams on his list and they talk with other teams of course
The Oilers aren’t saying anything about it so as to not make the difficulties worse
I think the Babcock leaks are probably right from Babcock himself – a long relationship with Dreger, who is breaking much of it.
From accounts, Philly is very interested and wants to be added to Nurse’ trade team list.
That’s a good start.
Tippett is a pipe-dream – take away any negative value of Nurse and then we probably still need to add the 2028th 1st rounder and probably Podz (I don’t think they want a younger/rookie in Howard).
I’m thinking some like Nurse with $2MM retained for Seeler. What I want is Noah Cates and I wonder if the Oilers adding a 2nd round can get something done around Cates.
Good morning LT, you are up early today. Hoping that everyone on the Oiler fandom has an awesome day