Often, the finer points are obscured by the broader picture – which perhaps best describes Kris Knoblauch`s impact over the last 18 months in elevating the Edmonton Oilers into a leading Stanley Cup contender. Every journey has a starting point. At first glance, the Oilers` progression to consecutive Western Conference Finals might seem to have begun with their comeback against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round after falling behind 2-0.
However, a closer examination suggests the Oilers` true momentum started in November 2023, when they replaced Jay Woodcroft with Knoblauch. Since then, Knoblauch has steered the Oilers through arguably the most successful period the franchise has seen since their last Stanley Cup win in 1990.
“He`s a very analytical and composed person,” said Oilers forward Connor Brown. “I believe he maintains clear vision in high-pressure situations. His judgment is quite sharp. After he was hired last season, we put together several winning streaks. It was the beginning. We achieved absolute clarity on our positioning, our individual responsibilities, and then we started to gain momentum from there.”
Coaching is inherently a complex profession. It requires a macro perspective – assessing the team as a whole – while simultaneously incorporating the micro view, evaluating how each player fits or doesn`t fit within the system. It involves understanding that split-second, in-game decisions can determine whether a franchise succeeds or is left wondering about missed opportunities.
It`s about having faith in Plan A, but possessing even greater confidence in knowing precisely when to pivot from Plan A to Plan B, Plan C, or an entirely new strategy on the fly. Knoblauch has reached this point by expertly navigating these challenges, all while acknowledging that this is still his inaugural NHL head coaching position.
Regardless of the outcome of Game 1, the adjustments made for Game 2 are crucial in shaping the direction of a series. This is a lesson Knoblauch understands deeply, and it heightened the anticipation for Friday`s game. He witnessed the Oilers build a 3-1 lead in Game 1 against the Dallas Stars, only to see his team concede five unanswered goals in a 6-3 defeat. Now, the focus shifts to observing what changes Knoblauch will implement as the Oilers strive for a return to the Stanley Cup Final.
“He makes the right moves, and we have an experienced group here that understands how to play effectively and knows what it takes to win hockey games at this time of year,” stated Oilers star center Leon Draisaitl. “That certainly helps significantly. But we`ve seen him do an excellent job of delivering the appropriate messages at the opportune times.”
It`s not that previous Oilers teams lacked success before Knoblauch`s arrival. They did achieve success, but it was a different kind. They qualified for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2022, with their peak being reaching the conference finals in the 2022 postseason.
The last time the Oilers made the playoffs for more than four consecutive seasons was between 1996 and 2001, when they achieved it five times in a row. Advancing to consecutive conference finals is something the Oilers hadn`t experienced since 1987 and 1988. So, what is Knoblauch doing to maximize his roster`s potential, bringing about the most prosperity in three decades?
“His temperament, that calm demeanor, works well for our group,” Brown explained. “It suits our team very effectively. We are a highly self-motivated group. You don`t require as much enthusiastic hype, especially in the playoffs, because players are already ready to go. Having that composed presence behind the bench is advantageous for us.”
Knoblauch`s calm demeanor – and its effect – was evident throughout their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Even after the Oilers allowed the first two goals in Game 1, Knoblauch remained composed behind the bench before using the intermission to implement necessary changes. These adjustments led to the Oilers allowing just one shot on goal in the second period and scoring four unanswered goals over the subsequent two frames. The reactions of the coaches to the comeback also presented a contrast. Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy displayed visible frustration from the bench, while Knoblauch maintained the same composure throughout the game, despite the Oilers having cause for celebration.
Not only did they secure their first win of a playoff series in nearly a year, but it was also their fifth consecutive comeback victory in the postseason, setting an NHL record. The Oilers used another comeback effort to win Game 2 en route to defeating Vegas in five games; notably, three games were decided by a single goal, with two extending into overtime.
“It`s simply about not altering our mindset or the way we intend to play,” Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse commented on that period. “We never really chase the game. We stick to our style and trust that if we execute enough things correctly, the outcomes will favor us. I believe that`s the most significant aspect of our group. There`s no real panic. We`re just adhering to our game plan and not deviating from it.”
But that`s the essence of Knoblauch: he fosters a level of team investment that prevents players from panicking. It`s not an isolated incident; it occurs so frequently that it becomes an ingrained element of the team`s identity.
The Golden Knights ranked fifth in goals per game during the regular season and were in the top 10 for shots per game, scoring chances per game, and high-danger chances per game. They had 11 players finish with over 30 points and 11 players with more than 10 goals. Yet, against the Oilers, they struggled to achieve consistent offensive production from both their primary and secondary scorers. Top stars like Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl were held without a single goal, while breakout players such as Pavel Dorofeyev, who missed the first two games, and Brett Howden, who scored a career-high 23 goals, also failed to score.
Knoblauch and his staff devised a strategy that limited the Golden Knights to zero goals in Games 4 and 5, after Edmonton lost Game 3 on a fortunate, last-second goal. They accomplished all of this after reinserting goaltender Stuart Skinner into the lineup following an injury to Calvin Pickard. Keep in mind that Mattias Ekholm – one of their top defensemen – missed the entire postseason due to injury.
“He`s a smart coach,” Edmonton forward Corey Perry said about Knoblauch. “These are the things intelligent coaches do – in-game, from game to game, day-to-day – and it`s been effective, it continues to be effective, and hopefully, it will continue even further.”
What is it that enables Knoblauch to unleash his team`s potential while keeping opponents off balance?
“I think when you have many talented players and a good team, when you switch to Plan B, it often appears like that was a good plan and a wise decision to make that change,” Knoblauch reflected. However, before he could continue, someone nearby prompted him to “take the credit.”
“During my time here, we`ve had numerous good players and many individuals who perhaps haven`t previously been in prominent roles,” Knoblauch elaborated. “Then, when you alter things, it provides them with a small boost, a little energy, just… it changes the dynamic. You also sometimes consider that even if you don`t make a change, things might have shifted anyway. It was just the natural flow of the game.”
After outlining his philosophy, Knoblauch delved into how the decision to make a change is balanced by knowing when *not* to make one. This isn`t merely a coach offering pre-scripted answers for the media; this is genuinely how he operates, and it`s an approach his players have grown very accustomed to.
“He possesses a talent for making adjustments at the opportune moment and avoids making adjustments solely for the sake of making one,” Nurse observed. “I think sometimes, when the game isn`t unfolding as desired, adjustments are made that are probably unnecessary. But he has an exceptional mind for discerning when they are genuinely needed.”
Nurse stated that this became apparent from the moment Knoblauch took charge of the Oilers in November 2023, and it has been a part of the Oilers` identity ever since. Knoblauch inherited a team that had won only three of its first 13 games before he and his staff established the foundation for them to win 46 of the subsequent 69 contests. It involved discovering those extra avenues that allowed Zach Hyman to become a 50-goal scorer or Evan Bouchard to solidify his position as a top-pairing defenseman, while also seeing other players find their roles so that the Oilers became more than just superstars Connor McDavid and Draisaitl.
The question then became whether this success could translate into the 2023/24 postseason. Knoblauch replaced Skinner with Pickard in Games 4 and 5 of the second round against the Vancouver Canucks, before Skinner returned in Game 6 to help them clinch the series in seven games. They again fell into a 2-1 series deficit in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars, only to rally and win in six games – thereby avoiding a winner-take-all showdown against arguably the greatest Game 7 coach in North American sports history, Peter DeBoer.
Yes, they lost the initial three games of the Stanley Cup Final. But they fought back to force Game 7 and came within one goal of achieving what would have been perhaps the greatest comeback in Stanley Cup Final history. Brown, like McDavid, was part of an Erie Otters team in the OHL that went from missing the playoffs to qualifying in Knoblauch`s first full year with the club.
“He was the same way back then too,” Brown recalled. “He took a struggling team and orchestrated some incredible series in Erie, and there are many parallels to that time. I think he`s done a great job of staying true to himself and sticking to what has worked for him.”
Fast forward to this year. Knoblauch managed the situation of being down 2-0 to the Kings in the first round after giving up 12 goals in two games; he turned to Pickard, made the necessary adjustments to win the series and initiate a comeback sequence that extended into the second round. And then, when Pickard was injured, he called upon Skinner, who delivered shutouts in Games 4 and 5.
Another adjustment that now appears masterful? The decision to deploy Kasperi Kapanen – whom the Oilers acquired via waivers in November – in Game 5. Kapanen netted the game- and series-winning goal in overtime, making him the 14th Oilers forward to score this postseason. These are more than merely effective moves; they serve as tangible evidence that Knoblauch and his capacity for making adjustments are the critical details that might get lost in the big picture – in fact, they are fundamental reasons why a big picture exists at all.
They are also why, in a league known for frequent coaching changes, Knoblauch ranks as the 10th-longest-tenured head coach in the NHL – and why he might currently be regarded as one of the premier tactical minds behind a bench.
“I believe there`s a profound sense of confidence within this team,” Brown affirmed. “So when we are trailing, doubt doesn`t creep into our minds. We genuinely believe we can overcome any deficit against any team. When you possess that belief, you focus on the task at hand, and it happens.”
Knoblauch mentioned that coaches throughout the NHL are constantly contemplating different strategies to improve their teams. One method he employs is seeking feedback from his players. If a player is performing well, Knoblauch takes note of what`s working. But when they are struggling, he reflects on conversations he`s had with players about who they prefer playing with, hoping that forming a new line can help a struggling player regain success.
“These are things I pay close attention to, and obviously, the coaching staff does as well,” Knoblauch stated. “It involves considering if we need to be more physical against a certain line, or if we need to be more defensively oriented, or add more speed. Then we also have those discussions, and during the game, when we need to make a decision, it`s about `Who is playing?` and then all the information you`ve gathered beforehand can be utilized to make your subsequent choices.”
