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Oh boy, this team's in trouble.

"A firestorm erupted following comments made by Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid regarding the team's coaching, specifically after a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Comments: Following a loss where the Lightning were seen as "perfectly coached," McDavid highlighted the contrast in coaching, which was interpreted by many as a "dagger" aimed at the Oilers' current coaching staff, specifically Kris Knoblauch.

thehockeywriters.com

Oilers’ McDavid Seemingly Calls Out Coach, Team After Tough Loss to Lightning - The Hockey Writers Edmonton Oilers Latest News, Analysis & More

In this article, we look at a quote from Connor McDavid following the Edmonton Oilers' 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
thehockeywriters.com thehockeywriters.com
 
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^ Not only that... but as athletes, they are learning from their mistakes so (theoretically) they are learning and improving from errors and then we trade them??? What sense does that make?
 
McDavid‘s comments seem like a poor choice of timing, being that things are so tight down the stretch run, but I suspect this is all geared towards next season.
I agree with others that there will be a coaching change this summer. I don’t know that it’s all Knoblauch’s fault, but either way a change will be a refresh.
 
I wouldn’t say it’s all Knoblauch’s fault but he controls two things that affect everyone and everything else: (1) who plays with who and when and (2) how much ice time everyone gets and when they get it.

(Mis) managing those two things while simultaneously doubling down on his decisions without providing consistency would appear to be his biggest faults.

I also think his apparent lack of emotion both when the team and individuals perform well and when they don’t doesn’t help.

The end result has been a fragile and much too predictable team that has become too easy to play against.
 
IanO said:
Is it the coach or GM?

You can only coach what you have before you.
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Understood, and agreed. I don’t necessarily believe Knoblauch is at fault, but sometimes a coaching change is a good way to hit the reset button.
The current GM is still fairly new but doesn’t escape all of the blame. He’s had a couple years to bolster the team, but today we’re no further ahead than when he started. We’re stuck in a position where we have two superstars and 2-3 good players, followed by a cast of middling players.
Even the Flames, have managed to find not only one, but two good goaltenders 😡 if a hapless organization like the flames can do it why can’t we?
With Bowman, we will have to see in a year or two down the road turn off for sure if he’s good or bad.
 
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I don't think there was anyone saying the Bowman signing was a good idea at the time, except for Katz and Bowman himself. Even before that, almost everyone I know though the Holland signing was also not a good idea (especially when they were interviewing Bill Zito and elected to go with Holland instead).
 
TAS said:
I heard OEG has increased playoff tickets 15% over last year and also announced a 20% increase on top of that for 2027 post season.

Finances must be tough for the 3rd richest team in all of sports.
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I’m happy to say I haven’t gone to a single game this season. Love the Oilers but hate the Management and don’t like the Ownership (happy they invested in the arena, Ice District and such, but they could’ve done all that without the public money).
 
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