Report: Expect lots of changes behind the Edmonton Oilers bench next season

Two new assistant coaches are expected

The Oilers lost former assistant coach Glen Gulutzan earlier this summer, after he was hired by the Dallas Stars to be their new head coach. The former Flames and Stars Head Coach was overdue for a return to being the bench boss, but leaves a big void on the bench.

Further, it is expected that former Oiler Paul Coffey won’t return to the bench next season. Moved over from his role as Special Advisor to Owner and Chairman, Coffey always felt like a front office guy more than an on-ice guy, and this move makes a lot of sense.

The one coach that is expected to remain is Mark Stuart, who has managed the penalty kill in the past. This is a bit surprising, given how poor the Oilers were on the PK. The team finished third-last in penalty kill percentage in the playoffs, at just 67.1%, and this was one of the key reasons why the team was unable to secure the victory in the finals against the Florida Panthers. Maybe the team sees more in Stuart than the numbers, but whatever the case may be, the results need to be better next season to justify his role.

More off-ice moves

The team has also allegedly moved on from Goaltending Coach Dustin Schwartz, who was with the team for the last decade. While not surprising, this is a big move for the organization, which will be looking to shore up the role while likely retaining its goalie tandem from last season. Expect Mike Smith and scout Jeff Salajko to be on the short-list for this role, along with the two names mentioned by Gregor.

Finally, skating coach David Pelletier, known for his career as a figure skater, has left the Oilers and joined Gulutzan and the Stars as an Assistant Coach. The team will be looking to replace him going into next season, which is yet another open position to fill this summer.

Lots of work for the Oilers this summer

The Oilers have had a relatively quiet off-season, with some smaller moves to shore up depth to this point. However, there is a lot of work now to be done to add to Knoblauch’s coaching staff. He’s going to be a busy man for the next few weeks interviewing potential coaches. Hopefully, this is the start of a new era behind the bench for this team.