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The Edmonton Oilers lost one game. It was ugly and it was the season opener, but it was just one game. Still, considering how the team started 2-9-1 last season and it wound up costing then-coach Jay Woodcroft his job, panic mode is already starting to set in among some Oilers fans.
Kris Knoblauch, the Oilers’ current coach, likely has a much longer leash than his predecessor. However, there are things he should avoid doing if he wants to evade the fan base calling for his head.
Mistake 1: Playing McDavid and Draisaitl Together Too Often
When the Oilers went down early to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, it took less than two full periods before Knoblauch went back to the well and put Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line again. This is the natural thing almost every coach that has ever had these two on their team has done, but it’s often a mistake.
The Oilers went out and signed Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson for the sole purpose of giving Draisaitl wingers he could play with. If the score had been 3-2 and the Oilers needed one goal, putting the two top stars on the ice together in the dying minutes would have made sense. In a game where things were already out of reach, just let the lines ride and see who can build chemistry. That game was done by the midway point of the second. Pushing Draisaitl and McDavid to get more ice time in a nothing game is a mistake.
Overplaying the stars is one of the Oilers’ biggest flaws. This includes Evan Bouchard, who has a history of getting off to a rough start in NHL regular seasons. Previous Oilers coaches have a history of not giving lines time to gel. It’s too early to be pulling out the blender in a 5-0 game.
Mistake 2: Forcing Players into the Wrong Roles
Knoblauch quickly needs to identify which defensemen can handle the responsibilities being asked of them and who can’t. If it’s discovered that Ty Emberson can’t play the minutes a top-four defenseman would play, he can’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole. That means Knoblauch will need to put his history with the player aside and do what’s right.
On the wing, Knoblauch can’t overplay veteran Corey Perry in the absence of Evander Kane. Perry is nearly 40 and is simply inconsistent, and at times, sluggish. The Oilers need to sit him, even if he’s one of the few agitators on the roster.
There is less physicality on the team, but those minutes should go to someone like Vasily Podkolzin and not Perry.
Mistake 3: Playing Skinner If He Isn’t Feeling It
If Stuart Skinner has a rough go early in the season, Knoblauch can’t be afraid to go to Calvin Pickard. The team signed him because they think he’s a capable backup. They need to let him prove it. Pickard did a wonderful job of staying prepared last season, despite long breaks between starts. He shouldn’t have to sit so much if it looks like Skinner is struggling physically or mentally.
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News Summary:
- Three Mistakes Oilers' Kris Knoblauch Should Avoid That Past Coaches Didn't
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