Oilers Should Pivot and Hire John Tortorella

The Edmonton Oilers may have been eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they continued to be one of the most talked about teams all the way through the Cup Final. Part of the chatter was about their poor season, which resulted in the firing of head coach Kris Knoblauch.

Since Knoblauch’s firing, the Oilers have expressed interest in several coaches including Bruce Cassidy, Craig Berube and Peter Laviolette. None of those names came as a surprise, though what’s really gotten people talking is their continued interest in Mike Babcock.

Since expressing interest in Babcock, the NHL and NHLPA have re-opened an investigation as to what led to his firing from the Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s created an entire media circus which was completely avoidable. The good news for the Oilers is that there is still time to change course.

The Oilers have yet to officially hire Babcock, which has kept their options open. Ideally it seems they would like to hire Cassidy, though the Vegas Golden Knights may continue to prevent that from happening. That may have led to the Babcock conversation to begin with, but, there is good news for the Oilers, as another coach with winning pedigree is now available.

Tortorella Out with the Golden Knights

One of the more surprising coaching changes this season came when the Golden Knights chose to relieve Cassidy of his duties just weeks before the playoffs. They chose to replace him with a very familiar face in John Tortorella. That decision wound up working out masterfully, as the Golden Knights advanced all the way to the Cup Final before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes.

One would have assumed that Tortorella would have been brought back given the success he had in his short stint with the Golden Knights. That won’t be the case, however, as the organization announced on Tuesday morning that he will not be returning, giving the Oilers another option.

The biggest thing going into the Oilers coaching search this offseason was to find somebody with a long resume who has won at the NHL level. Tortorella certainly fits the bill. Not only did he win a Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2004, but he’s also sixth all time in games coached with 1,628.

Another element going into the Oilers’ coaching search is finding somebody who will push the teams’ buttons and challenge them more. Things got too easy and stale under Knoblauch, which is why they are aiming for a coach known for being tougher on his players. That description fits Tortorella to a tee.

One issue many will point to when it comes to Tortorella, and perhaps why the Golden Knights moved on so quickly, is that he has a short shelf life. His demanding style and tactics often get great results early, but can wear on players over time. That won’t be the case for the Oilers.

The thing in Edmonton is that they aren’t looking for a coach who they hope to have hired for the next decade. They are in a true win-now mode, as this may wind up being the final season they have with Connor McDavid. They need a coach who is going to get fast results, and seeing what Tortorella just did with the Golden Knights suggests he could be the right man for the job.

Tortorella Might Be the Best Option Available

As mentioned, if the Oilers had it their way, they’d be naming Cassidy as their head coach. Assuming he isn’t available, however, there is serious reason to believe Tortorella may be the best man for the job. Berube’s results with the Toronto Maple Leafs cause reason for doubt, and, of course, Laviolette is no longer an option after being hired by the LA Kings. Perhaps management continues to wait longer in hopes of landing Cassidy, but if that doesn’t pan out, Tortorella should be at the top of their list.