Confirmed with Link: Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson fired - no more Woody during NNN - Kris Knoblauch hired, Coffey as assistant

[Faelko]

I think it’s obvious Jackson wanted Knoblauch the minute he got here and the teams play gave him the chance he needed.

If McDavid suddenly starts to play better…maybe it was intentional by McD

I expect them all to play better tomorrow for sure, guess we’ll see after that.

 

[Sheikyerbouti]

The most hilarious part of this is that Knoblauch uses a zone, so we are going back to system everyone was blaming for the record.

Woody just ditched the zone lol It's a surrealist clown world in this organization

 

[Stoneman89]

just wait for all the trades that will be made over the next two years.

last year was the best it will get.

Bouchard and McLeod will be demanding trades. They will argue that they can’t win with this group Of players.

Drai will be traded to the Wings for a second rounder and a back up goalie.

McLeod is about the last one who should be "demanding a trade" or arguing he "can't win with this group of players". He's been absolute trash this year.

 

[quickfeet]

We don’t even have a GM in place after this year. What a backwards organization. Jackson is looking like an idiot today.

I thought they made it abundantly clear today that Paul Coffey is the GM moving forward. There will be no “new” gm in the off-season with his own staff coming in.

 

[Stoneman89]

The most hilarious part of this is that Knoblauch uses a zone, so we are going back to system everyone was blaming for the record.

Woody just ditched the zone lol It's a surrealist clown world in this organization

There was never anything wrong with the system we were playing. Just some stupid brain cramps from certain individuals at crucial moments and far too often, combined with substandard goaltending. If Skinner plays only average last year in the playoffs, the Oilers likely come home with the cup.

 

[brentashton]

Schwartz catching strays haha

That f***er is bullet proof. Don’t worry about friendly shrapnel for him.

 

[Ibanez]

McLeod is about the last one who should be "demanding a trade" or arguing he "can't win with this group of players". He's been absolute trash this year.

McLeod can gtfo. Butter soft

 

[Heavy Dee]

One thing Reid Wilkins said then other day really stood out. He half joking mentioned how Woodcroft was famous for chasing guys around the hotel with his laptop to show video.

I just think he was too scripted as a coach and didn't have the interpersonal skills to have everyones respect. That he always spoke in clichés etc. That wears thin no matter how well you know the game. Some guys are just better suited to an assistant role.

 

[RegDunlop]

I just listened.

It’s surreal what appears to be happening. This falls on ownership.

I’ve been giving Katz a lot of rope and space, a guy like him doesn’t build what he does without having a lot of smarts and having good people, but I’m beginning to think when it comes to pharmaceuticals he had his dad and others, with real estate he had good property people and with the hockey club he continues to believe that the OBC are THE experts and the only ones.

Well, not in this day and age of the NHL. He needs a new circle of advisors on the hockey front. I thought it was Jeff Jackson and a runway given to him to build and create but this Paul Coffey influence is beyond being a large irritation. Shit show.


Probably you are right. Why can’t he understand that Coffey is yesterdays man when it comes to understanding todays NHL. Some Xers here will be surprised to hear a boomer say something like that.

It is quite unbelievable

 

[Oilers]

At this point I’m just waiting for us to announce we hired McDavid’s dad as GM

 

[gordonhught]

At this point I’m just waiting for us to announce we hired McDavid’s dad as GM

what a mess.

 

[bellagiobob]

He’s benched Connor before, so that’s a good sign that he’s got some balls. Junior is different than pro though, so guess we’ll have to wait and see.

 

[Drivesaitl]

i bet this blows up. I hope it works, but I bet this whole situation gets worse.

fired a.650 coach who has a roster without a competent goalie.

Holland can get f**ked.

Woody was a .250 coach when fired. I think thats the point. The team was clearly sinking with him as coach. This is how pro sports works. Its what are you doing now. I've already dispelled this anyway. Woodys record was due to coachign the back end of seasons twice when McDrai superheat. In either season BEFORE NYE Woody record is cumulative sub .500

 

[Drivesaitl]

Not really. Once McDavid leaves this org will never be in contention ever again.

A beacon of positivity here.

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

What possible f***ing reason did they have to do this

I hate this organization

Good thing the NHL doesn’t have a coaching cap like the CFL

 

[McFlash97]

The most hilarious part of this is that Knoblauch uses a zone, so we are going back to system everyone was blaming for the record.

Woody just ditched the zone lol It's a surrealist clown world in this organization

That is what I took from this press conference. What type of idiotic clownshow , goofball organization continues to shoot itself in the foot as often as this one. They abandoned zone last game and boom 4-1. Lol the stupidity is laid out Front of people. Do these guys think fans are this gullible ?

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

 

[oobga]

There was never anything wrong with the system we were playing. Just some stupid brain cramps from certain individuals at crucial moments and far too often, combined with substandard goaltending. If Skinner plays only average last year in the playoffs, the Oilers likely come home with the cup.

So many ways to teach and implement a system, even if the basic concept is the same. Like vs Vegas, we say we were playing man on man, but how many coaches would think it's acceptable for D to chase guys from the net to the blue line with no one else covering for the open ice left behind? Probably not many, but we kept doing it over and over. I'm sure many coaches would go nuts on their players for doing such stupid stuff.

Almost all systems can work if taught and done properly and the coach isn't overcomplicating the implementation and properly accounting for the players he has. And of course you need to be able to adapt, both the players and coaches, and change things up depending on the opposition, especially in playoffs.

 

[MessierII]

That is what I took from this press conference. What type of idiotic clownshow , goofball organization continues to shoot itself in the foot as often as this one. They abandoned zone last game and boom 4-1. Lol the stupidity is laid out Front of people. Do these guys think fans are this gullible ?

They didn’t abandon the zone last game not sure why I’ve seen that here they just executed it properly for the first time. Bieksa was even breaking it down in the intermission.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

You should be a happy man today.

Vindicated lol. Let’s see how Knoblauch does but I like his approach to the game. A more aggressive zone and a 1-2-2 N zone. Less passive and should compliment our skaters.

Curious if 29 & 97 had mentally thrown in the towel over the coaching thus affecting their play.

Will see what Monday brings.

Now to sit back and enjoy the KISS concert here in Shelbyville tonight!

 

[Wreckus]

I don't mind the change (think I said that earlier) and I think it was needed.

Was Knoblauch the right choice? maybe, maybe not. But time will tell. I do like the Coffee hiring as it's a bit outside the box and maybe it's something that was needed.

Tomorrow's game should be interesting.

 

[McDoused]

One thing Reid Wilkins said then other day really stood out. He half joking mentioned how Woodcroft was famous for chasing guys around the hotel with his laptop to show video.

I just think he was too scripted as a coach and didn't have the interpersonal skills to have everyones respect. That he always spoke in clichés etc. That wears thin no matter how well you know the game. Some guys are just better suited to an assistant role.

I agree. Dont get me wrong because I think Woody was exactly what we needed when he was hired. Hes a smart guy and was a great communicator with the media. I just don't see the same coach anymore. When Jay started he had buy-in from the depth guys, didnt run mcrdai together for 25 minutes a night and did a better job of protecting our blue line.

Woodcroft has this team firing on all cylinders after the deadline. I think his inability to make adjustments and coach in the playoffs was his first strike. At no point did the Oilers have control over a series and barely made it out LA. Playoffs are a different beast and I dont think Woody prepared his team well enough against their specific opponents. Ridding Skinner over Campbell at the time was baffling not to mention his involvement in keeping VD instead of bringing in another veteran.

The second strike was his inability to coach the new system. Now I dont know who made the decision to change to a zone defence but at the end of the day he failed to implement the new system. It's hard to blame the players when they came weeks early to learn the new system. It's obvious guys didnt know where to go. Maybe he would figure it out but how much rope do you give him? This is a results oriented business and going 2-9-1 is unacceptable. You have two Ferraris in the garage that are both capable of stealing games. Neither guy looks good under the new system and that's alarming. So if they arent changing the system they need a coach that can find success.

The third strike is the accountability. Players that make mistakes just get put back onto the ice. Bouchard makes a brain fart but still plays 22 minutes. How hard is it to bench a guy for 5 minutes? Why arent the veteran plays held to the same rules as the rookies and depth players?

Dont even get me started with the 11-7. It's hard to blame the "4th line" of two players who dont know who their linemates are, when they are going on the ice, etc. Playing VD, Broberg, Erne and Holloway 5-8 minutes a night doesnt help build anyone's confidence. You have to give your guys a chance and let them get their feet wet or send them to the minors if they arent ready.

I do get the feeling that his big head wasnt fitting through the door. I do get the feeling that the fun is no longer there. Like let the guys go out and play the game they enjoy. It's just the regular season.

 

[guymez]

The most hilarious part of this is that Knoblauch uses a zone, so we are going back to system everyone was blaming for the record.

Woody just ditched the zone lol It's a surrealist clown world in this organization

I agree that (based on what I am hearing) Knobby will likely employ a zone but I am not so sure that Woody ditched the zone.

He may have modified it a bit but I definitely saw a more engaged team yesterday.

 

[Cloned]

So one thing I haven’t seen mentioned yet.

Woodcroft’s first game as head coach was against the Islanders.

Knoblauch’s first game as head coach here will be against… the Islanders.

 

[McDNicks17]

Random fun fact of the day: Knoblauch played with Jarret Stoll in the WHL.