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

[Ritchie Valens]

If the LRT is heading north
And the wind is coming from the east
Which way is the smoke blowing?

There is no smoke. That mofo is electric.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

When?

IIRC I heard in todays PC either during or just after the Heritage Classic. I thought that I saw more D chasing above the faceoff circles the last handful of games.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

We completely agree that the coach really wasnt the problem.
I am skeptical about the Leadership group and their ability to commit to structure.
No issue at all about Coffey taking over the defence.

My issues lies with the murkiness of this arrangement. The fact that Coffey is such a close advisor reporting directly to Katz. What this means is that there really is no clarity in terms of the Management structure. Having Coffey in that role provides an opportunity to bypass all the appropriate channels that were previously in place. The chain of command which existed 24 hours ago is now essentially irrelevant.
This hire effectively removes the Managerial leadership which was previously in place.
So this move muddy's the water regrading the entirety of the Management team.
In terms of Hockey Operations...this ship now (essentially) has no Captain. Its rudderless.

IMO this is an untenable arrangement and yet this is the direction the owner decided was best.

The Oilers regrettably never do anything the easy way. It's always been chaotic and reactive since the early Rebuild 1.0 lilted sideways. This is another chapter including with a new GM to be hired who will inherit a coach he didn't hire. All is out of synch.

I believe Holland is only a figure head riding out this year though still the frontman for pony shows like today's coaching announcement and on the ground grinding with other GM's trying to truffle find several missing personnel pieces for this team. But Jackson is flexing his job description power with this coach choice and two weeks into his tenure replacing the amateur scout tied to Holland. As the Tom Hanks movie proclaimed "I'm the Captain now!"

For this to work Coffey has to be accepted and trusted by the players. Secondly with this coaching staff. His most important work I think will be to help with the mental side of this team through his deep experience and credibility as a multiple Cup winning player. Help Knoblauch too in his transition to NHL coach and help support the systems and technical work new coach 10 wants to imprint on this team.

Generally speaking, one can accept Coffey will stay in his new lane or if one's skepticism is high because the Oilers are often a chaotic trainwreck by past reputation, regardless of either pov, we all wait to see if this high wire gamble pays off or not. Oilers certainly took the path less travelled on this.

 

[MessierII]

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

Other maybe more random fact he played with Dustin Schwartz for the Bears.

 

[guymez]

The Oilers regrettably never do anything the easy way. It's always been chaotic and reactive since the early Rebuild 1.0 lilted sideways. This is another chapter including with a new GM to be hired who will inherit a coach he didn't hire. All is out of synch.

I believe Holland is only a figure head riding out this year though still the frontman for pony shows like today's coaching announcement and on the ground grinding with other GM's trying to truffle find several missing personnel pieces for this team. But Jackson is flexing his job description power with this coach decision and two weeks into his tenure replacing the amateur scout tied to Holland. As the Tom Hanks movie proclaimed "I'm the Captain now!"

For this to work Coffey has to be accepted and trusted by the players. Secondly with this coaching staff. His most important work I think will be to help with the mental side of this team through his deep experience and credibility as a multiple Cup winning player. Help Knoblauch too in his transition to NHL coach and help support the systems and technical work new coach 10 wants to imprint on this team.

Generally speaking, one can accept Coffey will stay in his new lane or if one's skepticism is high because the Oilers are often a chaotic trainwreck by past reputation, regardless of either pov, we all wait to see if this high wire gamble pays off or not. Oilers certainly took the path less travelled on this.

That is an answer a diplomat would be proud of.

I think it is a concern because there is no way to know if Coffey is staying in his lane. How can Katz resist getting information (about how the team is being run and how the players are responding to management) directly from his trusted friend and advisor? Especially with the chaotic train wreck that this team has been in past years under Katz.
Its a lot to ask that everyone just believe that Coffey wont use his direct conduit to Katz.

Referring to this as the path less traveled is being very kind.

 

[tiger_80]

Eakins sounded like a King when he talked lol. How did that go for ya? Talking about how he doesn't care how much a guy makes, yada yada.

Don't worry about talking. Worry about what you see implemented on the ice surface.

Eakins, the swarm defense and Eberle/Hall/RHN should be playing 30 mins a night. lol.

 

[Cloned]

Other maybe more random fact he played with Dustin Schwartz for the Bears.

Oh dear McJesus, it’s all connected.

The Oilers regrettably never do anything the easy way. It's always been chaotic and reactive since the early Rebuild 1.0 lilted sideways. This is another chapter including with a new GM to be hired who will inherit a coach he didn't hire. All is out of synch.

I believe Holland is only a figure head riding out this year though still the frontman for pony shows like today's coaching announcement and on the ground grinding with other GM's trying to truffle find several missing personnel pieces for this team. But Jackson is flexing his job description power with this coach choice and two weeks into his tenure replacing the amateur scout tied to Holland. As the Tom Hanks movie proclaimed "I'm the Captain now!"

For this to work Coffey has to be accepted and trusted by the players. Secondly with this coaching staff. His most important work I think will be to help with the mental side of this team through his deep experience and credibility as a multiple Cup winning player. Help Knoblauch too in his transition to NHL coach and help support the systems and technical work new coach 10 wants to imprint on this team.

Generally speaking, one can accept Coffey will stay in his new lane or if one's skepticism is high because the Oilers are often a chaotic trainwreck by past reputation, regardless of either pov, we all wait to see if this high wire gamble pays off or not. Oilers certainly took the path less travelled on this.

How do we know Coffey didn’t hire Knoblauch?

 

[Oilers333]

Id set the over under at 150 games for this new guy. Should I even learn how to properly say his name lol?

 

[TheNumber4]

What if Connor and Leon absolutely hate hate hate this move? Like despise it in their bones and think it’s the stupidest play to get rid of Woody who they’ve all supported publicly and believed in.

That seems to be a pretty important consideration that could tank any chances of a resigning.

I hope the Holland talked to vets part is right and Jackson was just covering.

 

[Oilslick941611]

The amount of coaches this organization has had in the Connor McDavid era is embarrassing.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

That is an answer a diplomat would be proud of.

I think it is a concern because there is no way to know if Coffey is staying in his lane. How can Katz resist getting information (about how the team is being run and how the players are responding to management) directly from his trusted friend and advisor? Especially with the chaotic train wreck that this team has been in past years under Katz.
Its a lot to ask that everyone just believe that Coffey wont use his direct conduit to Katz.

Referring to this as the path less traveled is being very kind.

Without significant more information and direct access I can't answer the question. I'm speculating the value proposition Coffey can provide to players and a green banana coach. There's no way anyone takes an interim assistant coaching job without tacking on years. So this gives Knoblauch some bench support with an in-house option.

Not sure what Coffey would squeal about to Katz. As he said in his presser he's now part of the coaching staff so can trust he'll stay in his lane or not. As outsiders it comes down to how we view Coffey. This is a high risk gamble with the central issue of going with a non-NHL head coach.

 

[TheNumber4]

Venturing out of HF to see the general consensus on this decision. I thinks genral consensus from Oilers fans is that this was a dumb move and Woody didn’t deserve the firing.

When Oilers fan universally agree on something they are probably right. And management will look dumb in short order.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Oh dear McJesus, it’s all connected.


How do we know Coffey didn’t hire Knoblauch?

Well Jackson was clear on his professional interactions with Knobloch were the sell factors. But Oiler be Oilering maybe there's a secret deal to promote The Knob to GM. haha

Course he also knows that coaching is only about 20% of the puzzle so why not go for a land grab!!

 

[guymez]

Without significant more information and direct access I can't answer the question. I'm speculating the value proposition Coffey can provide to players and a green banana coach. There's no way anyone takes an interim assistant coaching job without tacking on years. So this gives Knoblauch some bench support with an in-house option.

Not sure what Coffey would squeal about to Katz. As he said in his presser he's now part of the coaching staff so can trust he'll stay in his lane or not. As outsiders it comes down to how we view Coffey. This is a high risk gamble with the central issue of going with a non-NHL head coach.

Well...I agree with your assessment that its a high risk gamble.

Outside of the poor optics of his prior (and potentially ongoing) relationship with Katz...Coffey has no AHL or NHL coaching experience so an argument could be made that he isnt even an appropriate hire at this time. When the existing staff already has an experienced assistant in Gulutzan (who has been an NHL head coach as well) I really dont see how Coffey (someone with no pro coaching experience) fills the support role for a green banana coach.

Despite the fact that I dont think Woodcroft deserved this fate (something we agree on) I see this being less of a gamble with Knoblauch and more of a gamble with Coffey.

We shall see how it plays out.

 

[Mr Positive]

Well...we know that Coffey has a direct conduit to the owner.
That reality essentially removes the proper chain of command in the organization.

Even though I think that Holland and the players failed Woodcroft (more than the other way around) I have no issue with Knobby as coach. By every account he is a young and bright coach.

I do however have an issue with installing a friend of the owner in a position like this because it affects a lot more than his role as a coach.

We don't know if he was made assistant because he knew the owner or if that relationship was just how the org could know him in the first place and recognize how he could be useful.

There just isn't a good way to truly get to know candidates. There are limits to what stats and interviews tell you. Even with trades, usually one trade between GMs leads to more because a relationship is established. We as fans don't appreciate how in the dark everything is

I'd say it this way. If this were just a case of giving Coffey a job because he knows the owner, they didn't have to make him assistant coach. They could have given him some PR job like Gretzky got.

 

[guymez]

We don't know if he was made assistant because he knew the owner or if that relationship was just how the org could know him in the first place and recognize how he could be useful.

There just isn't a good way to truly get to know candidates. There are limits to what stats and interviews tell you. Even with trades, usually one trade between GMs leads to more because a relationship is established. We as fans don't appreciate how in the dark everything is

I'd say it this way. If this were just a case of giving Coffey a job because he knows the owner, they didn't have to make him assistant coach. They could have given him some PR job like Gretzky got.

One way that we can know a coaching candidate is by their resume...(their experience coaching).

Coffey has no pro experience at all. Nothing.
Its extremely likely that he wouldnt even have gotten a sniff with this job if he wasnt friends with the owner.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Well...I agree with your assessment that its a high risk gamble.

Outside of the poor optics of his prior (and potentially ongoing) relationship with Katz...Coffey has no AHL or NHL coaching experience so an argument could be made that he isnt even an appropriate hire at this time.

Despite the fact that I dont think Woodcroft deserved this fate (something we agree on) I see this being less of a gamble with Knoblauch and more of a gamble with Coffey.

We shall see how it plays out.

I don't see much risk with an assistant coach. This team is fragile mentally and could use people around them that have won and help the mental aspect that's learned through winning. I felt that important in a new head coach. I think it's a support Coffey can provide. We'll see how Knoblauch tweaks his coaching staff and their portfolios.

The precedent was Martin St. Louis walking away from a Pee Wee hockey coaching career straight into an NHL head coaching gig in one of the toughest markets in the world. An ex-player as an interim assistant coach isn't unheard of. Biggest challenge is hoping new non-NHL head coaching guy can match the elevator ride up the last guy enjoyed when this team re-set itself after bottomed out, indifferent play. Knoblauch doesn't have a healthy McDavid and Mike Smith to help drive the same success.

 

[guymez]

I don't see much risk with an assistant coach. This team is fragile mentally and could use people around them that have won and help the mental aspect that's learned through winning. I felt that important in a new head coach. I think it's a support Coffey can provide. We'll see how Knoblauch tweaks his coaching staff and their portfolios.

The precedent was Martin St. Louis walking away from a Pee Wee hockey coaching career straight into an NHL head coaching gig in one of the toughest markets in the world. An ex-player as an interim assistant coach isn't unheard of. Biggest challenge is hoping new non-NHL head coaching guy can match the elevator ride up the last guy enjoyed when this team re-set itself after bottomed out, indifferent play. Knoblauch doesn't have a healthy McDavid and Mike Smith to help drive the same success.

To my understanding Coffey was already around the group.
Talking with them and advising them as well.
Its quite clear that firing Manson was more about providing a bigger opportunity for Coffey than it was about firing a man who wasnt getting the job done.

In any event (because i am a fan) I am hoping that this works out but I just dont like the optics around any of this.

 

[GOilers88]

I’m kinda pulling for Coffey here.

It’d be hilarious if he was the member of the OBC to actually be consistently good as an NHL executive.

It’d be some nice personal redemption for him too. The guy that left the dynasty early for money and was persona non grata to the Oilers for so long comes back and saves the organization.

This board would probably implode from the shock.

I hope it's for the best. Coffey said it wasn't him lobbying for the job and it was the team that approached him and he made a snap decision.

The optics of having the owners special advisor as an assistant coach seems....less than ideal. Not even just the optics, but how players will actually take to it. Not sure how I feel.

Don't try the new knob hotdog.

Bobby Nicks as the new mascot. The Knob Gobbler.

 

[mkatcherin00]

Woody ditched the zone, so whatever differences he outlined don't matter because we are back to a zone tomorrow.

I don't think the zone was ever an issue, but around here people did.

When did he ditch the zone? They were doing a sort of hybrid from the looks of it. I never seen a dman go chase anybody up tot he blueline. They would stop and switch up with a forward.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

To my understanding Coffey was already around the group.
Talking with them and advising them as well.
Its quite clear that firing Manson was more about providing a bigger opportunity for Coffey than it was about firing a man who wasnt getting the job done.

In any event (because i am a fan) I am hoping that this works out but I just dont like the optics around any of this.

Disagree, Woodcroft and Manson came in as a package deal. They were in synch with coaching philosophy. It's just the same as Tippett and Playfair leaving the building together as well. The fundamental issue is goal prevention and defending.

We don't know if Coffey will airlift into the defense coach role or if Knoblauch tweaks his staff's roles and responsibilities. Fyi, a coaching impact study I posted stated an NHL coach's ability to impact is greatest for goal prevention versus goal creation.

The optics are shitty. However we'll see how things transpire under Knoblauch's direction.

 

[I am the Liquor]

Paul Coffey is going to coach defense? That’s like hiring Gretzky as a boxing coach. Completely bizzaro world. I watched Coffey play a lot, he was terrible at defense.

 

[guymez]

Disagree, Woodcroft and Manson came in as a package deal. They were in synch with coaching philosophy. It's just the same as Tippett and Playfair leaving the building together as well. The fundamental issue is goal prevention and defending.

We don't know if Coffey will airlift into the defense coach role or if Knoblauch tweaks his staff's roles and responsibilities. Fyi, a coaching impact study I posted stated an NHL coach's ability to impact is greatest for goal prevention versus goal creation.

The optics are shitty. However we'll see how things transpire under Knoblauch's direction.

Jackson got his man in Knoblauch.
I guess the bottom line for me is that the optics around the Coffey hire is worthy of extreme skepticism.

 

[ZJuice]

There is no smoke. That mofo is electric.

It’s probably the steam from the burst radiator of the car that turned right in front of the LRT

 

[Tarus]

One of the media podcast guys with an old Coffey story about how he was brought into Arizona when Gretz was coaching to help with the powerplay, and he showed a video of the 80s Oilers and told them to do that

Not a flattering story to say the least