Edmonton Oilers Fire One of Their Coaches as Major Staffing Changes Loom

Schwartz, who's been on the job since 2014, reigned over a decade of inconsistency in the crease. Despite the comings and goings of so many goaltenders over the past decade, the Oilers have never been able to accomplish stability in the position.

That failure and cumulative achievement at the spot have now forced the need for change. On '32 Thoughts: The Podcast', Elliotte Friedman noted that Edmonton is ready to move on from Schwartz.

Changing the goalie coach is a cheaper alternative than acquiring an expensive netminder

In addition to performance, the goaltending market has tightened and inflated, which diminishes the chances of a cap-burdened club like the Oilers solving the problem through a trade. A change in coaching is the cheaper alternative.

Aside from a new goalie coach, the Oilers are looking to hire a specialized skills coach, an aspect of management that they think has room for improvement.

These roles are part of a broader coaching staff refresh, as most assistants are due for new deals. Even head coach Knoblauch himself is entering his final year under his current deal.

The short-term future of Edmonton's coaching configuration is clearly in doubt, but this summer is a definite step to mend lingering issues, most importantly, in the net, without sacrificing the future.