Head coach Kris Knoblauch has turned the Edmonton Oilers into the most boring team in hockey, and it’s causing problems at all levels of the roster.
It’s hard to believe that this is the same coach who just led the Oilers to two straight Stanley Cup Finals, and just inked a 3 year contract extension. Since the start of this season, he’s made decisions that’s left everyone puzzled - likely even his players.
Unable to generate any offence this year, Edmonton Oilers collapse entirely vs. Colorado Avalanche
Since the beginning of the season, Coach Knoblauch has come in with some new bizarre lineup decisions, and even worse system changes.
The high-flying Oilers offence that carried them to success in the last two years has grinded to a halt. At 5v5, the Oilers are second last in high danger scoring chances.
Here is an unfathomable stat. 5v5 high-danger chances per 60 minutes this season:
— Mike Gould (@miketgould) November 9, 2025
Flames - 10.86 (19th overall)
Oilers - 8.82 (31st overall)
Somehow, Coach Knoblauch’s new directives have completely taken the Oilers offence to a halt. For a team with McDavid and Draisaitl, that’s an absurd failure of coaching.
Oilers analyst Allan Mitchell directly called out Knoblauch for his new ultra-conservative style, which wastes the team’s offensive talent and puts more pressure on their weak goaltending.
It’s my belief this Oilers team is playing a system that runs counter to the talent available to coach Kris Knoblach.
Knoblauch has successfully turned a team that should be exciting into the least interesting hockey club in the NHL. Tough to do, but we are here.
- Allan Mitchell
On top of all this, players are lost in line shuffles to no end.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are playing near 25 minutes a night including penalty kill, while the rest of their teammates sit without a sweat on the bench.
Rookies who are critical to the team’s future like Savoie and Howard have been consistently kept on the bench, despite evidence that they could help contribute now.
Every other role player has been bounced around the lineup so much that they’ve struggled to fit any role. Trent Frederic has been useless. David Tomasek was given a 5 game chance. Andrew Mangiapane has disappeared.
There’s more struggles going on with the Oilers defence and goaltending personnel too, but the directives from the Coach have clearly turned the team upside down.
This blowout loss to Colorado needs to be the wake up call for everyone, including Coach Knoblauch, to finally speak up and demand a change.
.png){kind=spacer}