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Edmonton Oilers: Coaching Staff Must Address Team Woes

By Warsame A

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Head Coach Glen Gulutzan of the Calgary Flames looks on from the bench against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 22, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 22: Head Coach Glen Gulutzan of the Calgary Flames looks on from the bench against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on February 22, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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It was reported last week that the assistant coaches of the Edmonton Oilers have started to reach out to the players. Is this the first step on the road to success?

It was well known that the Edmonton Oilers didn’t put their best foot forward last season. Especially since they were heralded as a Stanley Cup favorite, but expectations crumbled before their very eyes. You can say it was too much too soon for the young team.

Peter Chiarelli was turned into the villain of the city while Todd McLellan was keeping his head out of the media frenzy. Both of these men knew that time wasn’t on their side especially with the new season on the horizon. If next year transforms into what happened the year prior, both men will lose their jobs in a heartbeat.

That’s why hearing the report the other week of the new assistant coaches contacting the players is long overdue. That should have happened months ago but starting the conversation now also doesn’t hurt as well.

Improvements

Dialogue is vital for the coaches to implement their gameplay and what they expect out of the players once training camp begins next month. With the prospects and players that have been added to the fold last month, it’s time for the coaches to have an idea of how they need this team to gel together.

That’s why it’ll be interesting to see how Todd McLellan will lead this team moving forward. Will he be hands off and allow his assistant coaches to draw up the plays and run the practices. One would have to wonder if he’ll let them to completely overhaul the special teams and make use of the talent they acquired during the summer.

Expectations will have to be set before training camp and define roles have to be assigned. No more of Connor McDavid doing absolutely everything for the team by himself, everybody has to step up. If the coaches can consistently bring that to attention during the next few weeks and all the way to training camp.

The Edmonton Oilers will start off strong to kick off the season in October.

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