The Edmonton Oilers had another disappointing home loss, losing 4-0 to the Florida Panthers. This was another game that the Oilers didn’t show up for. They were playing the team that defeated them in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, but this felt like a preseason game. They should’ve come into this game motivated and ready to compete, but they fell flat, and the coaching staff should be somewhat responsible.
The coach’s responsibility is to motivate his players and have them ready to play, but often, the Oilers come out of the gates sluggish. They weren’t prepared for the battle, and that falls on head coach Kris Knoblauch. The Oilers’ bench boss hasn’t had a good season, and he hasn’t instilled much confidence in the fan base.
Related: 3 Takeaways From Oilers’ 4-0 Loss to Panthers
He’s a laid-back, level-headed coach, which has been a detriment to this team. He’s too calm, but he should be more animated when things aren’t going well. His demeanour rarely shifts, and that’s a problem for the Oilers.
Knoblauch Gave Concerning Answers in the Loss to the Panthers
After another embarrassing loss on home ice, Knoblauch had some questionable comments postgame. He said, “I thought our effort was there; we just couldn’t find a goal.” Was Knoblauch watching the same game? That effort was putrid and nowhere near good enough. The Oilers have more problems if he considers that a strong effort. This was a disappointing press conference, and the fan base should be angry about his comments.
Effort means winning battles, getting to the front of the net, and outworking the opposition to create time and space for scoring chances. However, that was nonexistent against Florida. Edmonton was content passing around the perimeter, looking for the perfect play. That’s not a winning formula. They were held to just 21 shots and didn’t apply consistent pressure. Most of their chances were one-and-done.
They refused to funnel pucks on the net and create chaos in front of the netminder. Those are simple effort plays that the Oilers were uninterested in making. On the flip side, the Panthers are known for their physicality and effort, which was on full display. On Florida’s third goal, they shot the puck and forced a rebound. This resulted in a scramble in front, which caught Edmonton out of position. Then, Florida got to the rebound and buried it. They wanted the loose puck more than the Oilers and worked hard for it.
So no, the effort wasn’t there. If you’ve listened to one of Knoblauch’s postgame pressers, you’ve heard them all, because they all sound the same. He’s too passive when talking to the media, and he doesn’t call out his players. When the team underperforms, the coach should call that out and hold players accountable, but that rarely happens. He says the same things, but nothing ever changes on the ice. The Oilers have been far too inconsistent, and that starts with the coach and how he carries himself with the media.
Oilers Have Adopted Knoblauch’s Personality
The players have adopted Knoblauch’s personality, and that’s not a good thing. Knoblauch doesn’t show much emotion during his interviews or on the bench, and that rubs off on his team. The Oilers have had far too many lifeless and emotionless efforts so far this season. That’s indicative of the coach’s behaviour and personality.
Knoblauch is too calm and lackadaisical, which translates on the ice. The Oilers don’t play with enough grit, determination, effort, or urgency, and that’s a major concern. They have the skill, but that will only get them so far.
Far too often, Knoblauch doesn’t stand up for his players. For example, when the official makes a call that he doesn’t agree with, he rarely argues. It’s okay to talk back and defend your players respectfully. That would show the team that you have their back, and their performance may reflect that. If Knoblauch shows some more pushback off the ice, the Oilers might show some pushback on the ice, which is desperately needed.
If the Oilers’ play doesn’t improve and they don’t have another lengthy playoff run, Knoblauch could be on the hot seat heading into next season.
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