We've discussed this point quite a bit (because it's the one aspect of the club the Oilers refuse to address), but there is most definitely a problem with the coaching at the NHL level of the franchise. Naturally I dont mean the Head Coach as the Oil have shown no reservations changing their HC in the past 5 years or so. The issue is that the Assistant Coaches have been granted exceptional status at Rexall Place. The biggest problem they face now is that the Oilers organization has a few candidates among the coaching ranks who probably deserve promotions
While the Assistants for the Oilers have been failing to teach players like Sam Gagner how to navigate the defensive zone for years the Oklahoma City Barons and the Oil Kings have been getting top notch educations from their staff. The contrast between what the big club is getting and what the affiliates can provide is getting starker by the minute. I think we are finally starting to see more pressure put on this situation because we are reaching something of a critical mass.
The AHL Barons Head Coach Todd Nelson is receiving plenty of praise for taking very inexperienced teams to the playoffs and for turning guys like Arcobello and Marincin into NHL players. Nelson was a career minor league Defenseman who entered the coaching ranks upon the end of his playing career. He started in the UHL (?!) but quickly found his way as an Assistant in the AHL. In his final year as an Assistant for the Chicago Wolves he won the Calder Cup, moved on to be an Assistant with the Atlanta Thrashers then the lead position with the Barons in 2010.
Nelson's greatest accomplishment is probably the fact that both Marincin and Arcobello came out of his tutelage and contributed greatly to the Oilers. In fact the duo not only impressed by eye but also in the underlying numbers as well. Arcobello was the Oiler forward with the best Corsi% and Marincin was the Oiler defenseman with the best Corsi%. Neither prospect were expected to step onto the team and do much at all. They werent heralded the way Klefbom or any of the Wonder Kids were before they donned NHL sweaters, but the unlikely pair were groomed well in the minor leagues and came prepared for NHL duty.
The WHL Oil Kings are lead by Derek Laxdal who has been a winner everywhere he has coached. He won the ECHL title in 2006-2007 and was given the keys to the still young Oil Kings franchise in 2010 that had just missed the playoffs in a 16 Win season. In his 1st year he almost doubled the win total, and then he went on a run of 3 straight 50 Win seasons. The three-peat 50 Win seasons has only been done twice in WHL history. Only Laxdal's Oil Kings and Hitchcock/Renney's Kamloops Blazers have accomplished the feat. Under Laxdall the Oil Kings have 2 WHL Titles and a Memorial Cup Championship. Not bad.
In addition to the Wins Laxdal continues to develop quality young players who are breaking into the professional ranks. Players like Reinhart, Moroz, Lazar, Jarry, Broissoit, and Samuelsson are highlights on the coach's CV. His players have a reputation for their hard work and attention to detail in addition to whatever they bring offensively. The team is a mirror of the coach's philosophy with their best Offensive players also the best Defensive players. That doesnt always happen in Junior hockey.
That brings us back to the Oilers' situation. They currently employ a couple assistant coaches with less than convincing coaching records and it's time to move on. The verbal from the organization hasnt changed. They still plainly say that Dallas Eakins has complete control over his coaching staff. He is free to fire and hire whomever he wants. He is completely free to fire his bosses' (GM, President, and Owner) best friends. He is completely free to fire two legacy hires from the Glory Years and send them on their way. He is completely free to do the exact thing that the last 4 Head Coaches were not allowed to do. That, of course, is complete garbage.
The decision to move on from Bucky and Smith will have to come from somewhere else than the office of Dallas Eakins, and it should be coming soon. The Oilers have 2 coaches due for promotions. Laxdal will likely garner interest from a few teams this summer, same for Nelson. Is it too easy to envision Nelson moving up to the NHL, Laxdal taking Head Coaching duties for the Barons, and Laxdal's assistant Hamilton stepping up for the Oil Kings?
The only thing standing in the way of that happening is a free pass that was given to a few old guys because 25 years ago they helped raise some banners in the old Coliseum.
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