Earlier today I posted an article about how the change in the Edmonton Oilers coaching staff will affect how players will be used. Jay Woodcroft had his players he liked to use in certain scenarios, but he also had players that were in the doghouse.
With Kris Knoblauch coming in, there is going to be a shuffling of which players will be in which spot. My last article focused on the three players that will now need to be worried about getting the new coach.
In this article, I will look at the players who will be excited to have a fresh start. There are several reasons for a player to be excited about a new head coach. The main one is there used to be a similar type of player who got an elevated role, because of a good relationship with the old coach.
8 Things to know about new Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch
With the news that Kirs Knoblauch is replacing Jay Woodcroft as Oilers coach, we get to know the new man behind the bench in Edmonton.
Another reason is you are a younger player, but a veteran has been getting the ice time over them because of a long-standing history. If there was ever a time for these types of players who are stuck at the bottom of the lineup to make their move, it is now.
Edmonton Oilers New Coach Needs To Leave His Mark
With Knoblauch coming in it is time for players to prove their worth. Knoblauch will want to put his stamp on this team. That means he is going to make some changes. I think the easiest change for him to instantly make is a change in the lines and lineup.
There are only a handful of players that are safe from being moved around. The bottom six players on the other hand may see a lot of change. Knoblauch may want to give some players from the AHL a chance or he may just want to send some of the current NHL players down to prove a point.
This is a time of influx for the Edmonton Oilers, so expect some changes. With these changes, here are the three players I think should be excited to get a new coach behind the bench.