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Edmonton Oilers: Todd McLellan Isn’t The Coach This Team Needs

By Warsame A

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Todd McLellan of the Edmonton Oilers watches the action from the bench against the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on November 3, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Oilers defeated the Wings 4-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 03: Head coach Todd McLellan of the Edmonton Oilers watches the action from the bench against the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on November 3, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Oilers defeated the Wings 4-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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With the Edmonton Oilers sporting a 9-10-1 record in 20 games, it’s time for the franchise to re-evaluate Todd McLellan’s future as head coach.

The Edmonton Oilers lost two straight games this past weekend, and one word has come to mind: why? Why are the Oilers reverting to what they were last season after the successful month they had in October. Losing six games in two weeks have turned this franchise upside down, but why?

There are a lot of reasons why the Edmonton Oilers have fallen off a cliff lately. You can blame the blue line which has been sub-par since the season started. Their play has forced the goalies to clean up their mistakes which cost the Oilers a lot of wins.

But the one major issue that this team has had in a long time is head coach Todd McLellan. Some have said that the head coach has lost his touch on this team and they are correct. Whatever improvements he made last month that allowed the Oilers to rack up a lot of wins have dissipated in a mere two weeks.

The same energy and consistency that enveloped the team evaporated as soon as the Oilers headed for their first road trip in November. That right there is a coaching issue, not a talent issue.

Todd McLellan’s job is to prepare the team for any obstacle put in their way. He has to gameplan every scenario that can thwart their chances of winning that respective game. It’s sad to say that he hasn’t done any of that sort. Changing up the lines are apparent adjustments, but it’s the in-game tweaks that he hasn’t done as much.

In both games against the Flames and the Golden Knights, the Oilers had the lead but seemed more concerned in maintaining the lead instead of adding on to it. If the head coach is letting his players play it safe after scoring two goals early in the game, then he has to go.

That type of mentality usually fractures a team’s psyche especially if they have the best player (Connor McDavid) in the world on their lineup.

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