Edmonton Oilers hire three new coaches

Originally posted on The Oil Rig | By Karim Kurji | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 1:26 PM ET

The Edmonton Oilers have officially made three new hires to their NHL coaching staff. This move has been in the works for some time now, as the Oilers were expecting to need replacements for several bench jobs.

NEW COACHES

The #Oilers have added Paul McFarland (assistant), Peter Aubry (goaltending) & Conor Allen (skills) to their coaching staff.https://t.co/XmAqHluQWD
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 14, 2025

Assistant Coach Paul McFarland

Paul McFarland is just 39 years old, from Richmond Hill, ON. The Oilers lost former Assistant Coach Glen Gulutzan as he is now the Head Coach of the Dallas Stars, and McFarland will replace Gulutzan to run the powerplay.

McFarland was previously the Head Coach of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, but has been an NHL assistant before: three seasons in Seattle from 2021-2024, one season in Toronto from 2019-2020, and two seasons in Florida from 2017-2019.

Goaltending Coach Peter Aubry

Much maligned goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz’s contract was not renewed by the Oilers, and Peter Aubry will be the new goaltending coach going forward. Aubry is 48 years old from Windsor, ON, and was part of the goaltending coaching staff for the Chicago Blackhawks for eight seasons between 2015 and 2023. This overlaps with the time Oilers GM Stan Bowman was in Chicago as well.

Most recently, he was an Associate Coach for the NCAA’s University of Nebraska-Omaha. Aubry was a goaltender himself, not making it to the NHL but playing in three AHL games for the Saint John Flames in 2002-03.

Skills Coach Conor Allen

The Oilers have also hired a new skills coach to replace Paul Coffey, who will be returning to his previous role as Advisor to the Owner and Hockey Operations. When Coffey joined the bench staff in 2023-24, his intention was never to remain a fixture in the on-ice operations. With the hiring of Conor Allen, Coffey can now return to his regular role with the organization.

Allen’s role will be to work with the Oilers’ defencemen. Allen is 35 years old from Chicago, IL, and previously served as an Assistant Coach with the US National U17 Team in the NTDP. Allen had a long professional hockey career spanning nine seasons. He played in seven NHL games for the New York Rangers.