With a 0-3-0 record so far in 2024-25, thoughts have already turned back to last season's 2-9-1 start that was the worst start though 12 games in team history. Although at least last season the Oilers had registered a win in their opening three contests and allowed less goals. (13 compared to 15 this season, and that's including the 8-1 embarrassment on opening night in Vancouver.)
It's still extremely early and while we're not saying there should be no concerns full stop, you would like to think the talent on the Oilers roster makes a turnaround in fortunes inevitable. And yet, there are apparently already those who believe a coaching change is on the cards sooner than later.
As per Allan Mitchell of The Athletic, some Oilers fans are apparently convinced the first big move by general manager Stan Bowman, will be the announcement of Joel Quenneville as the team’s new head coach. The two have a relationship dating back to their time together in Chicago, helping the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cups between 2009-10 and 2014-15.
Quenneville isn't replacing Knoblauch
Now we appreciate that in his role as general manager, one of Bowman's tasks includes deciding who coaches the team. At least that's the theory, but there are several reasons why Quenneville coming to Edmonton to take over as head coach is a non-starter.
To begin with, it's just too early -- in fact way too early -- to be firing Kris Knoblauch, verging on the asinine. This is the same man who came in just last year, rejuvenated the whole team and took them to within just one win/two goals of the Stanley Cup in his first season as an NHL head coach.
Knoblauch has more than earned the benefit of the doubt in being giving the time and patience to right this ship. Just by virtue of having done just that last season, when he took over a 3-9-1 team and then proceeded to have the best record in the NHL during the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.
We appreciate there are those who will point to Knoblauch's predecessor being fired arguably too early himself. In fact we were among those saying he similarly deserved to be given more time, after all he had achieved in Edmonton in recording the best winning percentage in team history at that point.
However, this brings us to why there will be no coaching change for the forseeable future. The reality is, that for all the control Bowman theoretically has, he's not going to have the final say on Knoblauch's destiny in Edmonton.
Knoblauch has a lot of support in Edmonton
In this respect, the buck is going to stop with Jeff Jackson, the CEO and President of Hockey Operations. The reason for this, is that Knoblauch was Jackson's pick to take over from Woodcroft, not that of previous general manager Ken Holland.
As per Bruce McCurdy of the Edmonton Journal, Jackson was a fan of Knoblauch long before he offered him the gig of Oilers head coach. Referencing an article from ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, six years earlier Jackson had said about Knoblauch:
""Connor McDavid was going to go play in the NHL no matter if Kris coached him or not, but he made Connor a better player. He teaches a culture of winning and speed and puck movement, but he empowers all the kids.""
Now we're not going to say serious questions won't be asked if the losing ways continue in Edmonton, but we just don't envision Knoblauch going anywhere. He's going to be given a much longer leash than Woodcroft was, by virtue of having Jackson in his corner.
At the same time, we will also stop short of stating 100 percent Quenneville has no chance of eventually ending up in Edmonton because of his involvement in the controversy which engulfed the Blackhawks. If this was the case, then Bowman wouldn't be the Oilers' general manager!