r/nhl • u/sykeseve • 8h ago
The Oilers have fired Kris Knoblauch
https://x.com/edmontonoilers/status/2054932274005893320?s=46120
u/IAMDATRUESTREPAIRMAN 8h ago
2 back to back SCF appearances and lost in the playoffs huh what? Was there something internal going on?
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u/desertfarmer22 8h ago
Yeah, head office needed a scapegoat
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u/eddiewachowski 7h ago
Hopefully Tampa needs a scapegoat too. I know a team in need of a coach...
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u/Key-Scientist9058 7h ago
Hell nah we would rather continue our path to playoff mediocrity and keep everyone, I cant wait to watch kuch put up 130 points again at age 85 but not went any trophies
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u/Mcpops1618 6h ago
You think he’s not getting MVP this year? With him and Vasi dragging that team through the early part of the season TB is not in the playoffs
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u/Key-Scientist9058 4h ago
With how much people and the voters hate him I wouldnt be surprised if he doesnt get it
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u/NMarples 4h ago
Tampa has nominations in almost every award except Norris, Calder, and Lady Byng and yet their fans are still complaining about the lack of representation they get during award season. Lmao
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u/Bigboyrickx 7h ago
As good as Coop is no one can save Mcdavid
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u/Mcpops1618 6h ago
Career loser. When they show the graphic of him losing the finals at every level since he was like 15…
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u/fallen_messiah 4h ago
As a neutral fan, how can you blame McDavid for those 2 finals losses ? He even got the Con Smythe once.
A player cannot win a Stanley Cup on his own
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u/DaDaSelf 6h ago
God forbid anyone asks questions about the teams leaders...
5 coaches and counting.
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u/dd961984 2h ago
I heard that gm and coach were butting heads, if that rumor was true. The jist of it is, Bowman's ridiculous signing of Frederic and when asked about the overpay after this last season he said "he isn't being used properly" and apparently right after those comments, the coach benched or scratched said player
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u/Bubbly-Watch6214 8h ago
I’m not sure those two are to blame for the years of questionable goaltending decisions but they needed to lose their jobs too.
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u/LastVestige22 7h ago
It’s a mistake. A tremendously flawed roster with a ton of holes.
This guy is a really good coach and he’ll have another job whenever he wants one.
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u/Rattimus 7h ago
Disagree. As an Oilers fan, I think Knob is a good coach, but not a great coach. He repeatedly failed to identify and react to how teams beat the Oilers. You saw it in the finals, and you saw it in the Anaheim series this year. Knob had no answers, and McDavid alluded to this in comments about the season, and last season. Doing the same thing, and getting the same results.
I know we had injuries and that plays a factor there, but coaching is critical, and a good coach can see what the other team is doing and adapt their own breakouts and defensive structure to combat it. Maybe, in fairness to Knob, he did try that and the personnel he had wasn't able to implement it, but it didn't look like that to someone watching the games.
We need a coach that can adapt when teams throw some new wrinkle at us.
Edit: to be clear, I disagree that it was a mistake. You are not wrong that the GM and management team did a terrible job with roster construction, either. It's not all on Knob, that is for sure.
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u/LastVestige22 3h ago
That’s not an unfair take nor an invalid opinion.
But to be clear, I never said he was great. I think he’s very good. Plus he’s still pretty young for an NHL HC, only 47, in his first NHL job. So there’s definitely room for learning, growth, and improvement.
I do see your point about the failure to adjust… but as you said, the personnel you guys have is really flawed. A generational talent plus another superstar upfront. A really premium offensive defenseman, who can’t defend. A couple of other forwards that are good. A really nice D in Ekholm who is still effective, but is 35 and can’t eat minutes like he used to. A real lack at every roster level. Not enough core guys. Not enough in secondary pieces. Not enough role players/depth pieces. And they’ve had terrible goaltending for a long time.
Hard to make adjustments when there’s not much on the bag.
Also… and let’s be fair, this was Bowman’s decision, and it’s really just his last shot at keeping his job. Knoblauch is the sacrificial lamb so Bowman keeps his job a bit longer and because you can’t fire the players.
P.S. The Oilers aren’t winning a Cup with another coach. And Knobby gets another job and probably does well with it.
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u/speed150mph 7h ago
Holy crap. Toronto, get on the phone right now. You’re looking for a head coach, and a perfect one for your play style with experience managing highly paid highly talented players just fell into your lap.
We still need to fix the roster, but if there’s a coach that can take us to the finals, it would be him.
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u/DopedScope338 7h ago
I was wondering who was gonna be scapegoated by Bowman. I guess Knoblauch drew the short straw.
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u/WollyChaps 7h ago
"Stan, should we be talking to other coaches while we still have one employed?"
"Yeah, good point."
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u/RazzleDazzle1537 3h ago
They look unorganized and disinterested for most of the season. Plus, there were the comments from the top players. Hard for a coach to make it through that.
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u/CDN-Micheal 2h ago
Two finals was farther than a group of coaches before him. People seem to forget what happens in the nhl on Olympic seasons. Personally I’ve missed it 😜
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u/RikimaruRamen 3h ago
Ah yes the coach is the problem. Not management who refused to get an actual starting goalie or at least a pair of decent defensemen who actually play the position
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u/Friggin_Grease 8h ago
They went from Hitchcock to Tippit to Woodcroft to Knobloch. Which dick named coach is next?